किम्
kim/kím/
To ask what in Sanskrit, use किम् (kim).
किम् (kim) is the interrogative pronoun what. It also appears in rhetorical questions such as what is the use of something.
Meaning: what? (interrogative pronoun) (pron)
How does it change in a sentence?
किम् is the neuter singular nominative form. The pronoun changes with case and gender. The masculine nominative is कः, asking who or what. As a masculine direct object it is कम्. By what or with what is केन, of what or whose is कस्य, for what is कस्मै and in what is कस्मिन्.
How do you pronounce it?
kim is one syllable, pronounced /kím/.
Did you know?
- The Sanskrit word किम् is a distant relative of the English word 'who'. Both originate from the same ancient Proto-Indo-European root used for asking questions.
Examples in context
- धनेन किं यो न ददातिWhat is the use of wealth to him who does not give?किं here asks what use wealth is to someone who does not give.
- किं विलम्बेनWhat is gained by delay?किं with the word for delay asks what is gained by waiting.
- त्वम् किम् वदसि?What are you saying?किम् comes before the verb to ask what someone is saying.
- किम् अस्ति?What is it?
- किम् तत्र अवश्यं दृश्यते?What is necessarily visible there?
Example conversation
Ananya and Vivan are standing in a library.
- अनन्या Ananyaतत्र किम् अस्ति?tatra kim asti?What is there?
- विवान Vivaanतत्र एकं पुस्तकं अस्ति।tatra ekaṃ pustakaṃ asti.There is a book there.
- अनन्या Ananyaकिं तस्य नाम अस्ति?kiṃ tasya nāma asti?What is its name?
- विवान Vivaanतस्य नाम 'रामायणम्' अस्ति।tasya nāma 'rāmāyaṇam' asti.Its name is 'Ramayana'.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “what” translations and entries किम्, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries किम्, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
