varmı/yoxmu

Existential Yes No Question

Level 1

In Azerbaijani, yes/no questions about existence are formed by adding the suffix -mı/-mu directly to the words var (there is) and yox (there is not).

How It Works

The existential question pattern follows the rules of vowel harmony:

  • varmı: Used to ask 'Is there?' or 'Do you have?'. It follows the back unrounded vowel 'a'.
  • yoxmu: Used to ask 'Is there not?' or 'Do you not have?'. It follows the back rounded vowel 'o'.

Nuance of yoxmu:
While varmı is a neutral question, yoxmu often implies that the speaker expected something to be present and is surprised or disappointed by its absence. For example, asking 'Çay yoxmu?' (Is there no tea?) suggests you were looking for tea or expected it to be available.

Orthography Note:
In Azerbaijani, the question particle is a suffix, not a separate word. Writing 'var mı' is considered a spelling error based on Turkish influence. It must be written as varmı.

Examples (5)

  1. Sual varmı?

    Is there a question?

    Word by Word: Question exists-interrogative?

    A standard, formal way to ask if anyone has a question.

  2. Səndə qələm yoxmu?

    Do you not have a pen?

    Word by Word: In-you pen non-exists-interrogative?

    This uses 'yoxmu' to express surprise that the person doesn't have a pen.

  3. Boş yer varmı?

    Is there a vacant seat?

    Word by Word: Empty place exists-interrogative?

    A common question used when looking for a place to sit or stay.

  4. Evdə heç kim yoxmu?

    Is there nobody at home?

    Word by Word: In-house no who non-exists-interrogative?

    Used when someone expects people to be home but finds it quiet.

  5. Səndə də varmı?

    Do you have it too?

    Word by Word: In-you also exists-interrogative?

    Note that when the emphatic particle 'da' is used, the question particle remains attached to 'var'.

Common Mistakes

  • Writing the question particle as a separate word.

    Kitab var mı?
    Kitab varmı?

    In Azerbaijani orthography, the question particle -mı/-mi/-mu/-mü is always attached to the preceding word.

  • Violating vowel harmony.

    Yoxmi?
    Yoxmu?

    The particle must follow 4-way vowel harmony. Since 'yox' has the vowel 'o', the suffix must be '-mu'.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

varmı/yoxmuLevel 1Existential Yes No Question

Learn This First

To understand 'varmı' and 'yoxmu', a learner must first be familiar with the basic existential words 'var' (there is) and 'yox' (there is not), as well as the general rule for forming yes/no questions using the nominal question particle '-mı'.

Words in This Pattern

varyox