Question Words

1. Мӗн?

   Mĕn?

   What?

   Usage

   The shortest way to ask "what?" while pointing.

   Grammar Note

   The interrogative pronoun. For people use кам "who". It also underlies мӗнле "what kind" and мӗншӗн "why".

2. Ӑҫта?

   Ăçta?

   Where?

   Usage

   Asks for a place; put the thing or place name before it.

   Grammar Note

   Placed after the noun ("Вокзал ӑҫта?" = where is the station?). For origin use ӑҫтан "from where".

3. Хӑҫан?

   Khăçan?

   When?

   Usage

   Asks about time.

   Grammar Note

   The interrogative adverb of time ("Эсир хӑҫан килтӗр?" = when did you arrive?).

4. Кам?

   Kam?

   Who?

   Usage

   Asks about a person.

   Grammar Note

   An interrogative pronoun for people only; things use мӗн "what".

5. Мӗншӗн?

   Mĕnshĕn?

   Why?

   Usage

   Asks for a reason.

   Grammar Note

   Built from мӗн "what" + -шӗн "for", literally "for what".

6. Мӗнле?

   Mĕnle?

   How? / What kind?

   Usage

   Asks how something is done or what it is like.

   Grammar Note

   An interrogative adverb/adjective; before a noun it means "what kind of …" (мӗнле кӗпе "what shirt"). епле is a synonym.

7. Миҫе?

   Miçe?

   How many?

   Usage

   Asks about a count.

   Grammar Note

   Asks for a count, and the noun after it stays singular ("Миҫе ҫын?" = how many people?). For amount or price use мӗн чухлӗ.

8. Хӑшӗ?

   Khăshĕ?

   Which one?

   Usage

   Asks which one out of several.

   Grammar Note

   хӑш "which" takes -ӗ to stand alone as "which one". Before a noun use хӑш alone (хӑш кӗнеке? "which book?").

9. Ку мӗн?

   Ku mĕn?

   What is this?

   Usage

   Point at something and ask what it is.

   Grammar Note

   The word order is "this what"; no present-tense copula is needed.

10. Сирӗн ку пур-и?

    Sirĕn ku pur-i?

    Do you have it?

    Usage

    Ask a shop whether they have something.

    Grammar Note

    Possession is expressed as genitive of the owner + пур ("Манӑн икӗ кушак пур." = I have two cats). The question particle -и is attached with a hyphen. Composed sentence — native-speaker review recommended.

11. Эсир ҫакна тума пултаратӑр-и?

    Esir çakna tuma pultaratăr-i?

    Can you do it?

    Usage

    Politely ask whether someone can do something.

    Grammar Note

    "Infinitive -ма/-ме + пултар-" means "can". ҫакна is the dative-accusative of ҫак "this". Composed sentence — native-speaker review recommended.

12. Тӳлевлӗ-и?

    Tÿlevlĕ-i?

    Is there a charge?

    Usage

    Ask whether there is a charge.

    Grammar Note

    тӳлев "payment" + -лӗ "having" gives "paid"; the question particle -и is attached with a hyphen. The opposite is тӳлевсӗр "free of charge". Composed sentence — native-speaker review recommended.

13. Тӳлевсӗр-и?

    Tÿlevsĕr-i?

    Is it free?

    Usage

    Ask whether it is free of charge.

    Grammar Note

    тӳлев "payment" + -сӗр "without" gives "free of charge"; the question particle -и is attached with a hyphen. Composed sentence — native-speaker review recommended.

14. Ку юрать-и?

    Ku yurat-i?

    Is this OK?

    Usage

    Ask for permission or approval.

    Grammar Note

    юрать is a predicate meaning "is fine, is allowed"; the dictionary has "кӗме юрать-и?" (may I come in?). Composed sentence — native-speaker review recommended.

15. Юрамасть-и?

    Yuramast-i?

    Is it not allowed?

    Usage

    Check whether something is not allowed.

    Grammar Note

    The negative юрамасть of юрать with the question particle -и (Кунта чӗлӗм туртма юрамасть. = smoking is not allowed here).

16. Мӗнле пурӑнатӑр?

    Mĕnle purănatăr?

    How are you?

    Usage

    Politely ask how someone is doing.

    Grammar Note

    Literally "how do you live?". To one close person: "Мӗнле пурӑнатӑн?".

17. Чӑнах-и?

    Chănakh-i?

    Really?

    Usage

    Ask "really?" when surprised.

    Grammar Note

    чӑнах "truly" with the question particle -и attached by a hyphen (dictionary example: "вӑл чӑнах авланнӑ-и?" = did he really get married?).

18. Ӑҫтан килтӗр эсир?

    Ăçtan kiltĕr esir?

    Where are you from?

    Usage

    Politely ask where someone comes from.

    Grammar Note

    Literally "where did you come from?", and it is used to ask someone's origin. The same sentence "Ӑҫтан килтӗр эсир?" appears as a dictionary example.

19. Сирӗн ятӑр мӗнле?

    Sirĕn yatăr mĕnle?

    What's your name?

    Usage

    Politely ask a name.

    Grammar Note

    ят "name" with the 2nd-person plural possessive ending -ӑр; literally "how is your name?". Composed sentence — native-speaker review recommended.

20. Эсир миҫе ҫулта?

    Esir miçe çulta?

    How old are you?

    Usage

    Politely ask someone's age (only when needed).

    Grammar Note

    Literally "you are in how many years", with the locative -та. The dictionary has the informal form "эсӗ миҫе ҫулта?".

21. Пӗрле сӑн ӳкерме юрать-и?

    Pĕrle săn ÿkerme yurat-i?

    Can we take a photo together?

    Usage

    Ask whether you may take a photo together.

    Grammar Note

    "Infinitive -ма/-ме + юрать-и?" asks "may I …?". сӑн ӳкер- is "to take a photo". Composed sentence — native-speaker review recommended.

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