коли

Question Word Коли

Level 1Sounds Like koli

Коли is the universal Ukrainian word for 'when'. It is used both to ask questions about time and to connect two actions that happen at the same time.

How It Works

1. Interrogative Use (Questions)
To ask 'when' something happens, place коли at the beginning of the sentence. Ukrainian does not use auxiliary verbs like 'do' or 'does'. While the word order is flexible, коли is usually followed by the verb or the subject: Коли прийде поїзд? (When will the train arrive?) or Коли ти будеш вдома? (When will you be home?)

2. Conjunction Use (Linking Sentences)
When connecting two clauses, коли acts as a bridge. In Ukrainian, a comma is used to separate the clauses. If коли starts the second clause, the comma goes before it: Я зателефоную, коли приїду. If the коли clause starts the sentence, the comma goes after that entire clause: Коли я приїду, я зателефоную.

3. Relative Use (Defining Time)
You can use коли to describe a specific time or day. For example: Це був день, коли ми зустрілися (That was the day when we met).

4. Tense Consistency
A crucial rule for English speakers: if you are talking about the future, Ukrainian requires the future tense in both parts of the sentence. While English says 'When he comes (present), I will leave,' Ukrainian says 'Коли він прийде (future), я піду.'

5. Коли vs. Якщо
Use коли when the timing is the only unknown (certainty). Use якщо when the event itself might not happen (condition/if).

Examples (4)

  1. Коли починається урок?

    When does the lesson start?

    Word by Word: When starts lesson?

    A standard question using 'коли' at the beginning.

  2. Коли ти прийдеш додому?

    When will you come home?

    Word by Word: When you will-come home?

    Note that the future tense is used here to ask about a future event.

  3. Я зателефоную, коли буду в центрі.

    I will call when I am downtown.

    Word by Word: I will-call, when [I] will-be in center.

    Notice the comma before 'коли' and the use of the future tense 'буду' (will be).

  4. Коли я був дитиною, я жив у селі.

    When I was a child, I lived in a village.

    Word by Word: When I was child, I lived in village.

    Using 'коли' to describe a specific period in the past.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the present tense for future 'when' clauses.

    Я скажу йому, коли він приходить.
    Я скажу йому, коли він прийде.

    In Ukrainian, if the action will happen in the future, you must use the future tense after 'коли', not the present tense as in English.

  • Using 'коли' where 'якщо' gives a plain condition.

    Different MeaningКоли буде дощ, ми залишимося вдома.
    Якщо буде дощ, ми залишимося вдома.

    'Коли буде дощ, ми залишимося вдома' is correct, but 'коли' treats the rain as something that will happen. Use 'якщо' for a real condition that may or may not happen.

How It Connects

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

колиLevel 1Question Word Коли

Learn This First

The question word 'коли' (when) is a fundamental building block for asking questions about time. It is typically learned alongside basic vocabulary and the Cyrillic script to form simple inquiries.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

коликоли