ఇది ఏమిటి?
idi emiti?
The English phrase "what is this?" is translated into Telugu as ఇది ఏమిటి? (idi emiti?)
This phrase is used to ask for the identity of an object. You can use క్షమించండి, ఇది ఏమిటి? to say "Excuse me, what is this?"
How does it change in a sentence?
The word idi (this) is used for objects that are near the speaker.
How do you pronounce it?
idi emiti?
Did you know?
- The word ఏమిటి ('what') is derived from the Dravidian root for 'which' or 'what', which is a linguistic ancestor to similar sounding words in Tamil and Kannada.
- When asking 'what is this?' to an elder or someone you respect, you might add the honorific suffix అండి (andi) to the end of the sentence to sound polite.
- While ఇది ఏమిటి? is a direct question, adding a slight rising intonation to ఇది ఏంటి can turn the phrase into an expression of disbelief, similar to saying 'What on earth is this?'
Examples in context
- ఇది ఏమిటి?idi emiṭi?What is this?
- నీ చేతిలో ఉన్నది ఏమిటి? ఇది ఏమిటి?nī cētilo unnadi emiṭi? idi emiṭi?What is in your hand? What is this?
Example conversation
Kiran and Kavya are looking at a strange fruit in a market.
- కిరణ్ Kiranకావ్య, ఇది ఏమిటి?Kāvya, idi ēmiṭi?Kavya, what is this?
- కావ్య Kavyaఇది ఒక రకమైన పండు, కిరణ్.idi oka rakamaina paṇḍu, Kiran.This is a type of fruit, Kiran.
- కిరణ్ Kiranఇది తియ్యగా ఉంటుందా?idi tiyyagā uṇṭundā?Is this sweet?
- కావ్య Kavyaఅవును, ఇది చాలా రుచిగా ఉంటుంది.avunu, idi chālā ruchigā uṇṭundi.Yes, it is very tasty.
