kuna

Since (Kuna)

Level 3

Kuna oli külm, jäime koju means Since it was cold, we stayed at home. A sest-clause cannot start the sentence like this.

How It Works

kuna is a conjunction of reason, close to English since or because. Like every subordinate clause, the kuna-clause is set off with a comma.

  • Reason first: Kuna oli külm, jäime koju. When the kuna-clause comes first, the main clause often begins with its verb (jäime) or with siis: Kuna sa oled juba siin, siis aita mind natuke.
  • Reason second: Ma ei tulnud, kuna olin haige. Here both kuna and sest are possible: Ma ei tulnud, sest olin haige.

The key difference is position. A sest-clause can only follow the main clause. If you want to give the reason first, use kuna. (A short spoken answer that starts with sest, such as Miks? Sest olin haige, is a different case: there the main clause is simply left out.)

kuna has two less common meanings. It can mean while or whereas when it sets two things side by side: Mina töötasin, kuna teised puhkasid (I was working while the others were resting). In casual speech it can even mean when: Kuna sa meile tuled? (When are you coming to see us?) Learn it first as a word of reason.

Examples (5)

  1. Kuna oli külm, jäime koju.

    Since it was cold, we stayed at home.

    The main clause starts with its verb, jäime.

  2. Ma ei tulnud, kuna olin haige.

    I did not come because I was ill.

  3. Kuna sa oled juba siin, siis aita mind natuke.

    Since you are already here, help me a little.

    siis can open the main clause after a kuna-clause.

  4. Kuna buss hilines, jõudsin tööle alles kümneks.

    Because the bus was late, I only got to work by ten.

  5. Pood oli kinni, kuna oli pühapäev.

    The shop was closed because it was Sunday.

Common Mistakes

  • Starting a sentence with a sest-clause.

    Sest oli külm, jäime koju.
    Kuna oli külm, jäime koju.

    A sest-clause must follow the main clause. To give the reason first, use kuna.

  • Leaving out the comma before kuna.

    Me jäime koju kuna oli külm.
    Me jäime koju, kuna oli külm.

    A kuna-clause is a subordinate clause, so it is always set off with a comma.

How It Connects

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

kunaLevel 3Since (Kuna)

Learn This First

kuna gives a reason like sest.

Words in This Pattern

kuna