Question words go where the answer goes
Asking
Question words go where the answer goes
Question words stay in the answer's place, usually just before the verb: Tumi kothay jaccho? (Where are you going?)
Which ending
where
kothay
For example
Kothay jaccho?
Where are you going?
when
kokhon
For example
Kokhon ashbe?
When will you come?
why
keno
For example
Keno hashchho?
Why are you laughing?
what
ki
For example
Tomar nam ki?
What's your name?
how much
koto
For example
Dam koto?
How much is it?
which
kon
For example
Kon-ta?
Which one?
About this rule
How to tell
Say the answer sentence in your head, then swap the answer for the question word in the same spot:
Most question words end up just before the verb, or at the end when there is no verb.
Why it works
English moves question words to the front (Where are you going?). Bangla leaves them where the answer would be, so the question is literally your name what:
Good to know
Keno (why), kokhon (when) and kothay (where) often come first too, especially when the subject is dropped or moved after the verb:
Fronting ki (what), as in Ki tomar nam? (What is your name?), sounds weighty or song-like. Tomar nam ki? (What's your name?) is the everyday order.
Good to know
Ke (who) is usually the subject, so it comes first like any subject:
Good to know
Kemon (how) asks how something is:
Kibhabe (in what way) asks how, by what way:
Examples
Where are you going?
Tumi kothay jaccho?
Word by wordyou where are-going
What's your name?
Tomar nam ki?
Word by wordyour name what
When will you come?
Tumi kokhon ashbe?
Word by wordyou when will-come
Why are you laughing?
Tumi keno hashchho?
Word by wordyou why are-laughing
How much does this cost?
Eta-r dam koto?
Word by wordthis-of price how-much
Which one do you want?
Tumi kon-ta chao?
Word by wordyou which-one want