What are the question words in Kyrgyz?

Ким (who), эмне (what), кайда (where), качан (when), эмне үчүн or эмнеге (why), кантип (how). Unlike English, they usually stay where the answer would go instead of jumping to the front of the sentence.

How do you ask a yes/no question in Kyrgyz?

You attach a question particle to the word you are asking about, and its vowel follows vowel harmony like everything else. No word order to rearrange, no auxiliary verb to fetch — the sentence stays as it was.

How do you say why in Kyrgyz?

Эмне үчүн or эмнеге. They mean the same thing; эмнеге is shorter and is what you will hear most in speech.

Question words in Kyrgyz: who, what, where, and how

The core question words

ким?: kim?who?
эмне?: emne?what?
кайда?: kayda?where? / where to?
кайдан?: kaydan?from where?
качан?: kachan?when?
кантип?: kantip?how?
эмне үчүн? / эмнеге?: emne üchün? / emnege?why?
кандай?: kanday?what kind? / how?
кайсы?: kaysy?which?
канча?: kancha?how much? / how many?
нече?: neche?how many? / what number?
канчанчы?: kanchanchy?which number in order?
кимдики?: kimdiki?whose?

Who and what

Бул ким?: Bul kim?Who is this?
Бул эмне?: Bul emne?What is this?
Ким келди?: Kim keldi?Who came?
Эмне кылып жатасыз?: Emne kylyp jatasyz?What are you doing?Polite.

Where and when

Дарыкана кайда?: Darykana kayda?Where is the pharmacy?
Сиз кайдансыз?: Siz kaydansyz?Where are you from?
Сен качан келесиң?: Sen kachan kelesing?When will you come?
Саат канчада башталат?: Saat kanchada bashtalat?What time does it start?

How, why, which, and how much

Ал жакка кантип барсам болот?: Al jakka kantip barsam bolot?How can I get there?
Эмнеге кечиктиңиз?: Emnege kechiktiniz?Why are you late?Polite.
Кайсынысы жакшы?: Kaysynysy jakshy?Which one is good?
Бул канча турат?: Bul kancha turat?How much does this cost?
Бүгүн күн кандай?: Bügün kün kanday?What is the weather like today?
Бул сумка кимдики?: Bul sumka kimdiki?Whose bag is this?

Yes/no questions

When no question word is needed, add the harmonizing particle -бы/-би/-бу/-бү or -пы/-пи/-пу/-пү. It follows the word being questioned.

Сиз даярсызбы?: Siz dayarsyzby?Are you ready?
Чай барбы?: Chay barby?Is there tea?
Бул жер бошпу?: Bul jer boshpu?Is this seat/place free?
Кыргызча сүйлөйсүзбү?: Kyrgyzcha süylöysüzbü?Do you speak Kyrgyz?

Short answers

Ооба.: Ooba.Yes.
Жок.: Jok.No.
Билбейм.: Bilbeym.I do not know.
Түшүнгөн жокмун.: Tüshüngön jokmun.I did not understand.
Кайталап коюңузчу.: Kaytalap koyunguzchu.Please repeat that.

FAQ

Common questions

What are the question words in Kyrgyz?: Ким (who), эмне (what), кайда (where), качан (when), эмне үчүн or эмнеге (why), кантип (how). Unlike English, they usually stay where the answer would go instead of jumping to the front of the sentence.
How do you ask a yes/no question in Kyrgyz?: You attach a question particle to the word you are asking about, and its vowel follows vowel harmony like everything else. No word order to rearrange, no auxiliary verb to fetch — the sentence stays as it was.
How do you say why in Kyrgyz?: Эмне үчүн or эмнеге. They mean the same thing; эмнеге is shorter and is what you will hear most in speech.

See these question patterns inside everyday conversations.

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