hansı (seçim sualı)

Which Question Word

Level 2

Use hansı to ask 'which' among options. It can describe a noun (Which book?) or stand alone as a pronoun (Which one?).

How It Works

1. As an Adjective (Determiner)
When hansı comes before a noun, it acts like an adjective and never takes suffixes. The noun is usually singular, but plural nouns are used if you expect a plural answer (e.g., Hansı kitablar lazımdır?).

2. As a Substantive Pronoun ('Which one')
The root hansı can stand alone as a pronoun. When adding case endings, you must use the pronominal buffer -n-:

  • Hansının? (Which one's? - Genitive)
  • Hansını? (Which one? - Accusative)
  • Hansına? (To which one? - Dative)
  • Hansında? (In which one? - Locative)

3. Partitive Forms ('Which of...')
To specifically say 'which of them', Azerbaijani uses hansısı (adding the 3rd person possessive). A very common synonym for 'which one' used by native speakers is hansı biri.

4. People vs. Objects
Unlike kim (who) and nə (what), hansı is used for both people and objects whenever a choice is involved (e.g., Hansı tələbə? - Which student?).

Examples (5)

  1. Hansı kitabı oxuyursan?

    Which book are you reading?

    Word by Word: Which book-acc you-are-reading?

    Here 'hansı' is an adjective modifying 'kitab'. It does not take any suffixes.

  2. Bu qələmlərdən hansını istəyirsən?

    Which of these pens do you want?

    Word by Word: These pens-from which-one-acc you-want?

    Here 'hansı' is a pronoun. It takes the accusative suffix -(n)ı because it is the object of the verb.

  3. Hansı yolla getməliyik?

    Which way should we go?

    Word by Word: Which way-with we-must-go?

    A common everyday question using 'hansı' as a determiner.

  4. Hansılar daha ucuzdur?

    Which ones are cheaper?

    Word by Word: Which-plural more cheap-is?

    The plural suffix -lar is added to 'hansı' to ask about multiple items.

  5. Hansı şagird cavab verəcək?

    Which student will answer?

    Word by Word: Which student answer will-give?

    Demonstrates that 'hansı' is used for people when selecting from a group.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'hansı' without a case ending when it is the object of a verb.

    Hansı istəyirsən?
    Hansını istəyirsən?

    If 'hansı' stands alone as the object, it must take the definite accusative case.

  • Using the wrong buffer consonant (-y- instead of -n-).

    Hansıya baxırsan?
    Hansına baxırsan?

    When 'hansı' acts as a pronoun, it uses the pronominal buffer 'n' before all case endings, similar to bu or o.

  • Confusing 'hansı' with 'hansısı' when adding case endings.

    Hansısınına baxırsan?
    Hansına baxırsan?

    You can add case endings directly to the root 'hansı' (e.g., hansına). If you use the partitive form 'hansısı' (which of them), you must follow the buffer n after possessive rules, resulting in 'hansısına'.

How It Connects

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

hansı (seçim sualı)Level 2Which Question Word

Learn This First

To use 'hansı' for making choices, you first need to understand the basic question word itself and how it functions as an adjective-like modifier within the standard Azerbaijani word order.

Words in This Pattern

hansıhansı