کون
kaun
The English word "who" is translated into Urdu as کون (kaun).
Meaning: who? (interrogative pronoun) (pron)
How does it change in a sentence?
کون is an invariant interrogative pronoun, meaning it does not change its form regardless of the gender or number of the person or people being referred to.
How do you pronounce it?
kaun
Did you know?
- While کون means 'who', there is a homograph spelled the same way that refers to a 'corner' or 'angle'.
- The word کون is a linguistic survivor from ancient Sanskrit, sharing a common ancestor with the Sanskrit phrase kaḥ punar.
- In poetic Urdu, the question کون is often used rhetorically to imply that nobody is capable of a certain feat.
Examples in context
- یہ لوگ کون ہے؟Who are those people?This sentence is useful for asking about the identity of a group using کون.Tatoeba #1562475 by nabeel_tahir, translation #942184 by spockofvulcan
- اس گھر میں کون رہتا ہے؟Who lives in this house?This sentence is useful for asking who resides in a specific location using کون.Tatoeba #1600214 by nabeel_tahir, translation #1358863 by CM
- کون چاہے گا کہ وہ مر جاَئے۔Who would want them dead?This sentence is useful for asking about a person's desires using کون.Tatoeba #4367343 by nabeel_tahir, translation #3904495 by CH
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sara and Ahmed are waiting for a guest at the door.
- سارہ Saraدروازے پر کون ہے؟Darwaze par kaun hai?Who is at the door?
- احمد Ahmedشاید یہ ہمارا دوست ہے۔Shayad yeh hamara dost hai.Maybe it is our friend.
- سارہ Saraآپ کو کون لگ رہا ہے؟Aap ko kaun lag raha hai?Who do you think it is?
- احمد Ahmedمجھے نہیں معلوم۔Mujhe nahi maloom.I don't know.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries کون, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
