ਇਹ ਕੀ ਹੈ?
eh ki hai?
In Punjabi, "what is this?" is said as ਇਹ ਕੀ ਹੈ? (eh ki hai?)
This phrase is used to ask for the identity or name of an object.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of ਇਹ (eh) meaning 'this', ਕੀ (ki) meaning 'what' and ਹੈ (hai) meaning 'is'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Majhi dialect, "What is this?" can be expressed as ਇਹ ਕੀ ਏ?
How does it change in a sentence?
The word order follows a Subject-Question Word-Verb pattern, which is standard for simple questions in Punjabi.
How do you pronounce it?
eh ki hai?
Did you know?
- The word ਇਹ comes from the Proto-Indo-European root *éy, making it a distant relative of the English word 'he'.
- Depending on the tone used, ਇਹ ਕੀ ਹੈ? can be used as a rhetorical expression of disbelief or disgust, similar to saying 'What on earth is this?' in English.
- While ਇਹ ਕੀ ਹੈ? is grammatically correct, in casual street-side Punjabi, you might hear people drop the 'is' entirely and just say ਇਹ ਕੀ?
Examples in context
- ਇਹ ਕੀ ਹੈ?ih kī hai?What is this?
- ਮੇਰੇ ਹੱਥ ਵਿੱਚ ਇਹ ਕੀ ਹੈ?mere hath vich ih kī hai?What is this in my hand?
- ਤੁਹਾਡੇ ਮੇਜ਼ ਉੱਤੇ ਇਹ ਕੀ ਹੈ?tuhāḍe mez utte ih kī hai?What is this on your table?
Example conversation
Manpreet and Ravinder are looking at a gift box on the table.
- ਮਨਪ੍ਰੀਤ Manpreetਰਵਿੰਦਰ, ਇਹ ਕੀ ਹੈ?Ravinder, ih kī hai?Ravinder, what is this?
- ਰਵਿੰਦਰ Ravinderਇਹ ਇੱਕ ਤੋਹਫ਼ਾ ਹੈ।ih ik tohfā hai.This is a gift.
- ਮਨਪ੍ਰੀਤ Manpreetਕੀ ਇਹ ਮੇਰੇ ਲਈ ਹੈ?kī ih mere laī hai?Is it for me?
- ਰਵਿੰਦਰ Ravinderਹਾਂ, ਇਹ ਤੁਹਾਡੇ ਲਈ ਹੈ।hān, ih tuhāḍe laī hai.Yes, it is for you.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ਇਹ, ਕੀ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
