Question Words

1. का?

   Kaa?

   What?

   Usage

   A one-word question used while pointing at something.

   Grammar Note

   "का" means "what", never "of"; Hindi "क्या" is not used.

2. कहाँ?

   Ka-haan?

   Where?

   Usage

   A one-word question asking about a place.

   Grammar Note

   The question word stays where the answer would be. It is sometimes written "कहवाँ".

3. कब?

   Kab?

   When?

   Usage

   A one-word question asking about time.

   Grammar Note

   "When" is "कब".

4. के?

   Ke?

   Who?

   Usage

   A one-word question asking about a person.

   Grammar Note

   "के" means both "who" and "of"; its position in the sentence tells them apart.

5. काहें?

   Kaa-hen?

   Why?

   Usage

   A one-word question asking for a reason.

   Grammar Note

   "Why" is "काहें", not Hindi "क्यों".

6. कइसे?

   Ka-i-se?

   How?

   Usage

   A one-word question asking about the way something is done.

   Grammar Note

   "How" is "कइसे"; "कइसन" means "what kind of".

7. केतना?

   Ket-naa?

   How many? How much?

   Usage

   A one-word question asking about number or amount.

   Grammar Note

   It works for both number and amount; Hindi "कितना" is not used.

8. एकर दाम केतना बा?

   E-kar daam ket-naa baa?

   How much is it?

   Usage

   The basic way to ask a price in a shop or market.

   Grammar Note

   "दाम" is the price and "एकर" is "of this"; Hindi "इसका" is not used. Composed sentence; a native check is advisable.

9. कवन?

   Ka-van?

   Which one?

   Usage

   A question for choosing among several things.

   Grammar Note

   "कवन" means "which" and is distinct from "के" (who); Hindi "कौन सा" is not used.

10. ई का ह?

    I kaa ha?

    What is this?

    Usage

    The basic way to ask about something you point at, in a market or a restaurant.

    Grammar Note

    "X is Y" sentences take "ह", kept apart from "बा" (there is).

11. शौचालय कहाँ बा?

    Shau-chaa-lay ka-haan baa?

    Where is the toilet?

    Usage

    Asks where the toilet is; a word often seen on signs.

    Grammar Note

    "Where is it" is "कहाँ बा"; a question of location takes "बा", not "ह". Composed sentence; a native check is advisable.

12. रउआ के लगे बा का?

    Ra-u-aa ke la-ge baa kaa?

    Do you have it?

    Usage

    Asks in a shop whether they have something. You can name the item first.

    Grammar Note

    "रउआ के लगे ... बा" asks whether the person has the item. Composed sentence; a native check is advisable.

13. रउआ कर सकत बानी का?

    Ra-u-aa kar sa-kat baa-ni kaa?

    Can you do it?

    Usage

    A polite way to ask whether someone can do something for you.

    Grammar Note

    "कर सकत बानी" means "can do"; it ends in "बानी" to match "रउआ". Composed sentence; a native check is advisable.

14. एकर पइसा लागेला का?

    E-kar pa-i-saa laa-ge-laa kaa?

    Is there a charge?

    Usage

    Asks whether entry or use costs money.

    Grammar Note

    "लागेला" is the habitual form of "to cost/take", used for money and time. Composed sentence; a native check is advisable.

15. ई मुफ्त बा का?

    I mupht baa kaa?

    Is it free?

    Usage

    Checks whether something is free of charge.

    Grammar Note

    "मुफ्त" (free) is of Persian origin. Composed sentence; a native check is advisable.

16. ई ठीक बा का?

    I thik baa kaa?

    Is this OK?

    Usage

    Checks whether a way of doing something or an item is acceptable.

    Grammar Note

    Adding "का" to "ठीक बा" makes it a question. Composed sentence; a native check is advisable.

17. ई मना बा का?

    I ma-naa baa kaa?

    Is this forbidden?

    Usage

    Asks whether something such as photography or entry is prohibited.

    Grammar Note

    "मना" describes the state of being forbidden. Composed sentence; a native check is advisable.

18. रउआ ठीक बानी का?

    Ra-u-aa thik baa-ni kaa?

    Are you OK?

    Usage

    Asked to someone who looks unwell or in trouble.

    Grammar Note

    "रउआ" is paired with "बानी". Composed sentence; a native check is advisable.

19. साँचो?

    Saan-cho?

    Really?

    Usage

    A one-word reaction of surprise or a request for confirmation.

    Grammar Note

    Said with a rising tone it becomes "really?".

20. रउआ के पक्का पता बा का?

    Ra-u-aa ke pak-kaa pa-taa baa kaa?

    Are you sure?

    Usage

    Asks someone to confirm that what they said is certain.

    Grammar Note

    "पता बा" means "knows", with "रउआ के" marking the knower. Composed sentence; a native check is advisable.

21. रउआ कहाँ के रहे वाला बानी?

    Ra-u-aa ka-haan ke ra-he vaa-laa baa-ni?

    Where are you from?

    Usage

    A polite question about where someone is from or lives.

    Grammar Note

    "कहाँ के रहे वाला" literally means "resident of where", the usual way to ask origin. Composed sentence; a native check is advisable.

22. राउर नाँव का ह?

    Raa-ur naanv kaa ha?

    What's your name?

    Usage

    A polite way to ask a new acquaintance's name.

    Grammar Note

    "Your" is "राउर", not Hindi "आपका"; "name" is spelled "नाँव" here, not "नाम".

23. राउर उमिर केतना बा?

    Raa-ur u-mir ket-naa baa?

    How old are you?

    Usage

    Asks someone's age; usually kept for once you know each other.

    Grammar Note

    "उमिर" means "age". Composed sentence; a native check is advisable.

24. हमनी एके साथे फोटो खींच सकत बानी का?

    Ham-ni e-ke saa-the pho-to khinch sa-kat baa-ni kaa?

    Can we take a photo together?

    Usage

    Asks permission to take a photo together.

    Grammar Note

    "We" is "हमनी" and "to take a photo" is "फोटो खींचल". Composed sentence; a native check is advisable.

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