କଣ
kaṇa
The Odia word for "what" is କଣ (kaṇa).
କଣ is used as an interrogative pronoun to ask "what". It also functions as an interrogative particle to transform a statement into a yes/no question.
Meaning: what? (interrogative pronoun) (pron)
Which one should you use?
The word କଅଁଣ is used specifically as an expression of surprise or as an interrogative determiner, whereas କଣ is the standard pronoun for "what".
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
As a particle for yes/no questions, କଣ is typically placed immediately after the subject or the verb to signal that a question is being asked.
How do you pronounce it?
kaṇa
Did you know?
- The word କଣ is an example of a homonym in Odia, as it can mean 'what' but also share the same sound as the word for 'grain' or 'particle' in certain contexts.
- Because Odia is a pro-drop language, କଣ can sometimes stand entirely alone as a complete sentence to mean 'What is the matter?' or 'What happened?'
- In certain contexts, the phrase କଣ is used rhetorically to express an absolute refusal, essentially meaning 'How could I?' or 'Why would I?'
Examples in context
- ମଣିଷ ମାନେ କଣ କରୁଛନ୍ତି!!What are humans doing!!This sentence shows how to use କଣ to ask about an action.Tatoeba #8159484 by anjan, translation #8159494 by anjan
- ସେ କଣ ଚାହୁଁଛି ମୁଁ ବୁଝିପାରୁନାହିଁ |I can't make out what she wants.This sentence demonstrates using କଣ to refer to an object of desire.Tatoeba #7999957 by IAteYourCookies, translation #249991 by CK
- କଣ?What?This sentence shows a simple use of କଣ as a direct question.Tatoeba #8159636 by anjan, translation #36088 by brauliobezerra
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Akash and Ananya are talking about a strange sound in the kitchen.
- ଆକାଶ Akashଅନନ୍ୟା, ରୋଷେଇ ଘରୁ କଣ ଶବ୍ଦ ଆସୁଛି?Ananyā, rosei ghara ru kana śabda āsuchi?Ananya, what sound is coming from the kitchen?
- ଅନନ୍ୟା Ananyaମୁଁ ମଧ୍ୟ ଜାଣିନାହିଁ, ଆକାଶ।Mu madhya jāṇināhi, Ākāsha.I don't know either, Akash.
- ଆକାଶ Akashସେଠାରେ କଣ ଅଛି?Sethāre kana achi?What is in there?
- ଅନନ୍ୟା Ananyaଚାଲ, ଯାଇ ଦେଖିବା।Chala, jāi dekhiba.Come, let's go see.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “what” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
