Habit of Kazakhstani people charmed foreigners and went viral online

Tengrinews.kz - How often do you notice interesting features of different cultures? Recently, a blogger shared a video about an unusual Kazakh habit that charmed internet users.

A video gaining popularity on social media features a blogger named Batuhan sharing his impressions of life in Kazakhstan. In the clip, he highlights the unique Kazakh habit of responding to a call with a simple sound – "au."

"When I first heard it, I didn’t understand what it meant. In Kazakhstan, if someone calls out to you, you reply with 'au.' In Turkey, we say 'efendim.' The difference between our countries is so cute! I tried to figure out this habit for a long time, and now I find it very amusing. How would you react if you heard it for the first time?" the blogger asked his followers.

The video has garnered over 180,000 views and numerous comments. Users from different countries found the habit endearing and shared their own observations.

"In Turkey, we say 'aaa?' instead of 'au.' It sounds sharper but livelier. 'Au' seems soft and friendly," "At first, I didn’t understand what it meant, but then I got used to it. It’s truly unique," "In Kazakhstan, 'au' is used only among close acquaintances. If you say it to a stranger, it might come across as impolite," users commented under the video.

Some users from Kazakhstan admitted that they amused foreigners by using the word "au" abroad. One user recalled working with Turks, who were surprised by the interjection, describing it as "a sound similar to a wolf’s howl."

We reached out to Batuhan to learn what inspired him to start his blog about Kazakhstan. It turned out he was born in Belgium and visited Kazakhstan for the first time in 2019.

"I started my blog batuhaniche in September 2024. I noticed that Kazakhstan deserves more exploration, but there are very few resources about the country in foreign languages other than Russian and Kazakh. Since Turkish and Kazakh people are historically connected, I decided to create a blog to introduce Turkish-speaking people worldwide to Kazakhstan.

I was born in Belgium, a multicultural country with three official languages: French, Dutch, and German. I speak German fluently. I lived in Istanbul and adore multiculturalism. In 2019, I visited Astana for the first time and fell in love with the city. Before this trip, I knew almost nothing about Kazakhstan or Astana. I was struck by the city’s modernity and thoughtful design—it strongly resembles European capitals. This shattered my stereotypes: Kazakhstan isn’t just steppes, as commonly believed; it’s a modern country with incredible people," he shared.

According to Batuhan, he has already visited the National Museum of Kazakhstan six times and enthusiastically introduces his friends to Kazakh culture.

"I've been living in Kazakhstan for about seven months now. However, I've visited Almaty, Astana, Shymkent, and Aktau many times before. In 2021, I got married in Astana. I work here and enjoy life with my wife. We find this city very cozy and modern. People here are often friendly toward me, especially when they learn that I’m a foreigner trying to understand their culture. I can read in Russian and Kazakh, but handwritten text is still challenging for me. For instance, the handwritten letter 'm' looks like 't,' and it takes some getting used to. But I'm trying!

I truly love exploring Kazakh culture. I've visited the National Museum of Kazakhstan six times already. When my family or friends come to Astana, I become their tour guide," the blogger shared.

Batuhan noted that every culture has its unique communication quirks.

"In French, it's often hein, in English – what? or sorry, what did you say? In Turkish, it’s efendim. But in Kazakhstan, it's simply 'au'. The word is easy to pronounce and seems endearing to foreigners. Why? Because in Turkish, 'au' is the sound wolves make. When I first heard 'au' in 2019, I wanted to laugh at it. For a long time, I didn’t understand how it was used. But after moving here, I got used to it and noticed I often use the word myself. Winters in Astana are extremely cold, and longer words would be inconvenient to say in the freezing weather. 'Au' saves time," he emphasized.

Batuhan believes the popularity of his video stems from the uniqueness of the content.

"My video received many positive comments. Viewers shared their own similar experiences abroad. Many Kazakhs living outside the country used the word au with foreigners, which made them laugh because it sounded unusual. Turks also find the word funny since, to them, it’s the sound a wolf makes.

The video went viral. I believe this happened because you can't read about such small details in any source. Most foreign pages about Kazakhstan usually cover the basics: 'Astana is the capital,' 'Kazakhstan is a beautiful country.' Kazakhs were surprised that I, as a foreigner, knew such specifics about them, and they had the opportunity to show this to their friends. The video didn’t have subtitles; I just said 'au'. Users translated the title into different languages and shared the video with their foreign friends. That’s when I realized I was doing something special.

I don't stick to stereotypes or basic facts but talk about jokes, culture, and everyday life. My videos give Kazakhs the chance to showcase their culture to people who don't know Cyrillic and usually avoid content in that alphabet, thinking they won't understand it," the blogger noted.

Batukhan encouraged travelers not to shy away from exploring new cultures.

"I advise travelers to always have the courage to learn something new. Don’t be afraid to study other cultures, talk to people, and improve yourself through what you’ve learned from them. It’s important. During my travels, I’ve changed my personality, abilities, and habits. I’ve taken the best from each culture and incorporated it into my life to become the best version of myself," he concluded.