kia / kiel: Exclamations
What a ... and How ...
The ki- word at the start shows strong feeling, not a question.
How It Works
| Start | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| kia + noun | Kia bela tago! | What a beautiful day! |
| kiaj + plural noun | Kiaj belaj kantoj! | What beautiful songs! |
| kian + object | Kian bonan libron vi havas! | What a good book you have! |
| kiel + adverb | Kiel bele! | How lovely! |
Kia takes -j and -n like any adjective: it agrees with the noun that follows. Kiel never takes an ending.
The ki- word shows strong feeling. It does not ask anything. Do not use kio for "what a ..."; kio asks a real question. The ki- word usually stands first, often after a small word such as ha: Ha, kiel bele!
Examples (5)
- Kia bela tago!
What a beautiful day!
Kia goes before the noun with its adjective.
- Kiaj belaj kantoj!
What beautiful songs!
Kiaj, belaj and kantoj are all plural.
- Kian bonan libron vi havas!
What a good book you have!
The whole group kian bonan libron takes -n because it is the object of havas.
- Kiel bele ĉi tie!
How lovely it is here!
Kiel goes before the adverb bele.
- Kiel rapide Hiro parolas Esperanton!
How fast Hiro speaks Esperanto!
Kiel shows the degree of rapide.
Common Mistakes
Using kio for "what a".
Kio bela tago!Kia bela tago!Kio is the word for a real question about a thing. "What a ..." is kia, which goes with a noun.
Leaving the plural off kia.
Kia belaj floroj!Kiaj belaj floroj!Kia agrees with the noun it goes with, so floroj needs kiaj.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Kia and kiel start an exclamation.
Related Patterns
Practice kia / kiel: Exclamations in Bubblegum
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