Yes to a Negative (küll)

Level 3

Kas sa ei tule? – Tulen küll. means Aren't you coming? – Yes, I am.

How It Works

Estonian often answers a yes-no question by repeating the verb. After a negative question or statement this avoids any doubt:

  • Contradicting: positive verb + küll: Kas sa ei tule? – Tulen küll. With olema: See pole õige. – On küll!
  • Agreeing with the negative: repeat the negative: Kas sa ei tule? – Ei tule.

Keep the tense of the question: Kas sa ei käinud? – Käisin küll. For the perfect, answer with olema: Sa pole kunagi Tartus käinud? – Olen küll.

küll comes after the verb here. Before the verb (Küll ma tulen.) it means I will come, do not worry. After a positive question, Tulen küll. is simply a firm yes. In everyday speech ikka is also common: Ikka tulen.

Examples (6)

  1. Kas sa ei tule? – Tulen küll.

    Aren't you coming? – Yes, I am.

    Word by Word: Q you not come – come-I indeed

  2. Sa ei tea seda. – Tean küll!

    You don't know that. – Yes, I do!

    Word by Word: you not know that – know-I indeed

  3. See pole õige. – On küll!

    That is not right. – Yes, it is!

    Word by Word: this not-is right – is indeed

  4. Sa pole kunagi Tartus käinud? – Olen küll, kaks korda.

    You have never been to Tartu? – Yes, I have, twice.

    Word by Word: you not-are ever Tartu-in been – am indeed two times

  5. Kas jääb meelde? – Jääb küll.

    Will you remember it? – I will.

    Word by Word: Q stays mind-into – stays indeed

    After a positive question, küll makes the yes firm.

  6. Kas sa ei söönud? – Ei söönud.

    Didn't you eat? – No, I didn't.

    Word by Word: Q you not eaten – not eaten

    To agree with the negative, repeat the negative verb.

Common Mistakes

  • Answering jah alone when you mean that you are coming.

    Kas sa ei tule? – Jah.
    Kas sa ei tule? – Tulen küll.

    Jah after a negative question is unclear. Repeat the verb: Tulen küll or Ei tule.

  • Changing the tense in the answer.

    Kas sa ei käinud poes? – Käin küll.
    Kas sa ei käinud poes? – Käisin küll.

    The answer repeats the verb in the same tense as the question.

How It Connects

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

Yes to a Negative (küll)Level 3

Learn This First

küll contradicts a negative question.

Words in This Pattern

küll