কি
ki
The Bengali word for "what" is কি (ki).
The word is an interrogative pronoun. It can also function as a particle to transform a statement into a yes/no question.
Meaning: what? (interrogative pronoun) (pron)
Which one should you use?
There is a distinction between কি and কী. The form কি is used as a particle to form yes/no questions, whereas the form কী (pronounced with a long vowel) is used when asking for specific information.
How do you pronounce it?
ki
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often confuse the two forms of "ki": use কি for yes/no questions and use কী when you mean "what" to ask for specific information.
Did you know?
- In certain emotional contexts, repeating কি কি (what what) is used to ask for a detailed list of items, rather than just a single piece of information.
- The word কি is a direct descendant of the Sanskrit word কিং, which has been used in the Indo-Aryan language family for millennia.
- The distinction between the short কি and long কী is often ignored in casual texting and digital communication, though it remains vital in formal writing.
Examples in context
- তুই কি হতে চাস?What do you want to be?This sentence is useful for practicing the form কি in a question about desires.Tatoeba #5521558 by tanay, translation #16263 by CK
- আমাকে বল কি চাস।Tell me what you want.This sentence shows how to use কি when asking someone to tell you something.Tatoeba #5280152 by mahir256, translation #25020 by CK
- আমি এখন কি লিখছি?What am I writing now?This sentence demonstrates the use of কি in a question about a current action.Tatoeba #5279821 by mahir256, translation #1798678 by Amastan
- কি করছ তুমি?What are you doing?
- 98 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Akash and Ananya are talking about a gift.
- আকাশ Akashতোমার হাতে ওটা কি?tomar hate ota ki?What is that in your hand?
- অনন্যা Ananyaএটা একটা ছোট উপহার।eta ekta choto upohar.This is a small gift.
- আকাশ Akashউপহারটা কি?upohar-ta ki?What is the gift?
- অনন্যা Ananyaএটা তোমার জন্য একটি বই।eta tomar jonno ekti boi.This is a book for you.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries কি, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
