वा / कि

Saying or

Level 2Sounds Like vā ā ki

वा means or, and in a choice question कि works too.

How It Works

UseExample
offering two thingsचाह लेब कि कॉफी?
two possible timesअहाँ आइ जाएब वा काल्हि?
two possible answersओ राम छथि वा श्याम?

The question has a rising voice. The two choices sit next to each other, and the verb often comes first or stays with the first choice.

In a plain statement, use वा: माछ वा मखान लिअ (Take fish or makhana). In a question, choose either कि or वा.

The word की (with a long ई) is a different word: it asks what, or marks a yes or no question. Keep them apart: कि joins choices, की asks.

Examples (5)

  1. चाह लेब कि कॉफी?

    Will you have tea or coffee?

    कि joins the two drinks.

  2. अहाँ आइ जाएब वा काल्हि?

    Will you go today or tomorrow?

    वा joins the two days.

  3. भात खाएब कि रोटी?

    Will you eat rice or roti?

    कि is the spoken choice word.

  4. ओ राम छथि वा श्याम?

    Is he Ram or Shyam?

    वा joins two names.

  5. माछ वा मखान लिअ।

    Take fish or makhana.

    वा works in commands.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the Hindi word.

    चाह या कॉफी लेब?
    चाह लेब कि कॉफी?

    या is Hindi. Maithili uses वा or कि.

How It Connects

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

वा / किLevel 2Saying or

Learn This First

कि appears in a choice question, and its main example uses the -ब form.

Words in This Pattern

वाकिकी