екен
Kazakh
[edit]Etymology
[edit]From a defective verb е- (e-) + -кен (-ken), the root is from Proto-Turkic *er- (“to be”). Cognate with Kyrgyz экен (eken), Tatar икән (ikän), Uzbek ekan.
Verb
[edit]екен • (eken)
- Evidential marker; gives the impression of surprise or indicates that the speaker didn't witness the action himself.
- Ол сені түсінбеген екен. ― Ol senı tüsınbegen eken. ― He didn't understand you, apparently.
- Жан өзенге барған екен, бірақ су суық екен. ― Jan özeñe barğan eken, bıraq su suyq eken. ― Zhan went to a river, apparently, but the water was cold.
- In interrogative sentences, it shows the speaker's interest.
- Кезектің соңы кім екен? ― Kezektıñ soñy kım eken? ― Who's last in line?
- Бұл оның күйеуі ме екен? ― Būl onyñ küieuı me eken? ― Is it his husband?