tajriba

Tajriba is a noun used in Uzbek and related languages to denote experience or practical knowledge gained through life, work, or study, and it can also refer to an experiment or trial conducted to test something. The term is borrowed from Arabic tajriba (تجربة), meaning “experience” or “an attempt,” and has entered Persian and Turkic languages through historical linguistic contact.

In everyday use, tajriba covers both personal experience and empirical testing. For example, it can signify the experience one accumulates in a profession, or the practical know-how that comes from repeated practice. In scientific and technical contexts, it can mean an experiment or a controlled test designed to observe outcomes and validate hypotheses.

Common expressions in Uzbek illustrate its dual sense: tajriba orttirish (to gain experience), tajriba o'tkazish (to conduct an experiment or trial), and tajribali kishi (an experienced person). The term is closely related to cognates in other languages, such as tecrübe in Turkish or təcrübə in Azerbaijani, all sharing a common root that emphasizes testing, trial, and learned knowledge.

Tajriba is often discussed in relation to theory, with a contrast between empirical knowledge gained through experience or experimentation and theoretical understanding. It anchors practical reasoning in observed outcomes and real-world practice, making it a central concept in education, professional development, and scientific inquiry.