কিয়
kiy/kiɔ/
The Assamese word for 'why' is কিয় (kiy). Wiktionary also lists কেলেই (kelei) and কেলৈ (keloi).
Meaning: (interrogative) for what reason (adv)
Ways to say it
| Assamese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| কিয় | kiy | /kiɔ/ |
| কেলেই | kelei | /kɛleɪ/ /kɛle/ |
| কেলৈ | keloi |
Which one should you use?
কিয় is the standard and most common way to say 'why'. The form কেলেই is a colloquial or dialectal variation used in spoken Assamese, while কেলৈ is a variant often used in specific spoken contexts or regional dialects to mean 'for what reason'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
কেলেই and কেলৈ are used in colloquial speech or specific regional dialects.
How do you pronounce it?
কিয় is pronounced /kiɔ/.
Did you know?
- Depending on the tone and context, কিয় can be used not just to ask a question but to express a strong feeling of protest or disbelief.
- কিয় shares a common linguistic ancestor with the Hindustani words क्यों and کیوں, making them cognates.
- In some historical stages of the language, the word was recorded as কিক, a form that has since evolved into the modern কিয়.
Examples in context
- তই একো নকৱ কিয়?Why don't you say anything?This example shows how to use কিয় in a negative question.Tatoeba #12295427 by Mohsin_Ali, translation #5512038 by mailohilohi
- আপুনি কিয় ভোট দিব?Why would you vote?This example shows how to use কিয় when asking about a future intention.Tatoeba #12884931 by Mohsin_Ali, translation #12878290 by rul
- টম্ কিয় ঘূৰি আহিল?Why did Tom come back?This example shows how to use কিয় to ask about a past action.Tatoeba #8620709 by Mohsin_Ali, translation #3419796 by CK
- 199 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mounita and Pritam are discussing a missed phone call.
- মৌনিতা Mounitaতুমি মোক ফোন নকৰিলা কিয়?tumi muk phone nokorila kiyo?Why didn't you call me?
- প্রীতম Pritamমোৰ ফোনটো বন্ধ আছিল।mur phonto bondho asil.My phone was off.
- মৌনিতা Mounitaফোনটো কিয় বন্ধ আছিল?phonto kiyo bondho asil?Why was the phone off?
- প্রীতম Pritamবেটেৰী শেষ হৈ গৈছিল।battery xex hoi goisil.The battery had run out.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “why” translations and entries কিয়, কেলেই, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries কিয়, কেলেই, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
