-ku

But Surely: -ku

Level 4

Word + -ku = but surely, after all: Aytdim-ku! (But I told you!) Bugun yakshanba-ku. (But today is Sunday.)

How It Works

1. Spelling
The official spelling rules write -ku with a hyphen: keldi-ku, bilasiz-ku. Its form never changes.

2. This is obvious, you know
At the end of a sentence, -ku reminds the listener of something they know or should know. It often carries a light reproach:

  • Aytdim-ku! (But I told you!)
  • Siz bilasiz-ku. (You know, after all.)
  • Bugun yakshanba-ku. (But today is Sunday.)

It often teams up with After All: Axir, men aytdim-ku!

3. Surprise
It can show that you have just noticed something: Bu Anvar-ku! (Why, it's Anvar!)

4. As for
After a subject, -ku sets it against someone or something else. The other half often uses What About...? With -chi or lekin:

  • Men-ku boraman, sen-chi? (I'm going, but what about you?)
  • Men-ku roziman, lekin otam nima der ekan? (I'm fine with it, but I wonder what my father will say.)

5. Tone
-ku belongs to everyday speech and friendly writing. Because it can sound like a reproach, use it with care with people you do not know well. For a milder spoken tone, compare Emphatic -da.

Examples (6)

  1. Aytdim-ku, bugun dars yoʻq!

    But I told you, there's no class today!

    Word by Word: I-said-ku today class there-is-not

  2. Siz bilasiz-ku, men kofe ichmayman.

    You know I don't drink coffee.

  3. Nega doʻkonga bording? Bugun yakshanba-ku.

    Why did you go to the shop? It's Sunday today, after all.

    The -ku points to a fact the listener should have remembered.

  4. Bu Anvar-ku! Qalaysan, doʻstim?

    Why, it's Anvar! How are you, my friend?

    Here -ku shows surprise at noticing someone.

  5. Men-ku roziman, lekin otam nima der ekan?

    I'm fine with it, but I wonder what my father will say.

    After the subject men, -ku contrasts the speaker with the father.

  6. Axir, men sizni kutdim-ku!

    But I waited for you!

Common Mistakes

  • Writing -ku joined to the word.

    Aytdimku!
    Aytdim-ku!

    The spelling rules write -ku with a hyphen, like -chi and -da. Only -mi, -oq, -ov and -gina are written joined.

  • Using -ku to ask what about.

    Men choy ichaman. Sen-ku?
    Men choy ichaman. Sen-chi?

    To ask what about you, use -chi. -ku does not make a question; it stresses a fact.

How It Connects

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

-kuLevel 4But Surely: -ku

Learn This First

Builds on What About...? With -chi.