Everyday Kabul Speech: چی for What

Level 2

چی stands in the same place as چه, so the word order does not change.

How It Works

Everyday speechWritten DariMeaning
چی گپ است؟چه گپ است؟What's up?
این چی است؟این چیست؟What is this?
تو چی می‌خوری؟تو چه می‌خوری؟What are you eating?
چی کار داری؟چه کار داری؟What do you have to do?
تو چی کار می‌کنی؟تو چه کار می‌کنی؟What are you doing?

The sound is chī. In a chat with a friend from Kabul, چی is natural. In school work, letters and news, write چه.

چی stands in the place of the answer, just like چه: تو چی می‌خوری؟ ... چای! (What are you eating? Tea!) Do not mix it up with چای (tea), which sounds like chāy.

Do not copy the Iranian spelling چیه. Dari writes چیست.

Examples (5)

  1. چی گپ است؟

    What's up?

    Everyday speech: چی. In writing: چه گپ است؟

  2. این چی است؟

    What is this?

    Everyday speech: چی است. In writing: چیست.

  3. تو چی می‌خوری؟

    What are you eating?

    Everyday speech: چی. In writing: چه.

  4. امروز چی کار داری؟

    What do you have to do today?

    Everyday speech: چی کار. In writing: چه کار.

  5. نام شما چی است؟

    What is your name?

    Everyday speech: چی است. In writing: چیست.

Common Mistakes

  • Writing the speech form in a letter.

    محترم احمدی، لطفاً بگویید چی می‌خواهید.
    محترم احمدی، لطفاً بگویید چه می‌خواهید.

    A letter uses written Dari. Keep چی for talk and chat with friends.

  • Using the Iranian spelling چیه.

    این چیه؟
    این چیست؟

    چیه is how Tehran spells it. Dari writes چیست, and Kabul speech says چی است.

How It Connects

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

Everyday Kabul Speech: چی for WhatLevel 2

Learn This First

This row is for listening. The written چه comes first, and چی is how people in Kabul say it.

Words in This Pattern

چیچهچیست