This page in your language

فارسی

العربية

Deutsch

Español

Français

日本語

한국어

Português

中文

हिन्दी

A1 pronoun 9 min read

кой

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips кой in 30 Seconds

Explanation кой in your Level:

At the A1 level, 'кой' is one of the very first words you learn. It is used in its most basic form to ask 'Who is this?' (Кой е това?) or 'Who is he?' (Кой е той?). The primary goal at this stage is to understand that 'кой' refers to masculine singular subjects. You will also learn the feminine form 'коя' and the plural 'кои' to ask about women or groups of people. Exercises at this level focus on simple identification and matching the pronoun to the gender of the subject in the answer. You will use it in everyday situations like meeting new people, identifying objects in a classroom, or asking about family members. The emphasis is on the interrogative function—asking questions to get essential information.

At the A2 level, you begin to use 'кой' in slightly more complex scenarios, such as choosing between items. You might ask 'Кой град харесваш?' (Which city do you like?) or 'Кой е твоят любим цвят?' (Which is your favorite color?). You start to see how 'кой' functions as 'which' when followed by a masculine noun. You also learn the neuter form 'кое' (e.g., Кое е това дете? - Which is this child?). At this level, you are expected to correctly apply gender agreement consistently and start recognizing the difference between 'кой' (identity) and 'какъв' (quality/description). You also begin to encounter 'кой' in simple relative clauses with '-то' (който), though the focus remains on questions.

By B1, you are comfortable with the gendered forms of 'кой' and begin to use the accusative form 'кого' (whom) in more formal or written contexts, such as 'Кого търсите?' (Whom are you looking for?). You also start using 'кой' in indirect questions, like 'Не знам кой е той' (I don't know who he is). The use of 'който' (the relative pronoun) becomes more frequent in your writing and speaking to connect sentences. You also learn indefinite pronouns derived from 'кой', such as 'някой' (someone), 'никой' (no one), and 'всеки' (everyone - though different root, similar function). You can now use 'кой' to navigate more nuanced social situations, such as asking for specific details in a work or academic environment.

At the B2 level, you use 'кой' and its derivatives with high accuracy and stylistic variety. You understand the nuances of using 'кой' in rhetorical questions and idiomatic expressions. You can handle the dative form 'кому' or the more modern 'на кого' with ease. You also use 'който и да е' (whoever it may be) to express generality. Your understanding of 'кой' extends to its role in complex sentence structures where multiple relative clauses are used. You can distinguish between formal and informal registers, knowing when to use 'кого' versus the more colloquial 'кой' in the object position. You also begin to appreciate the word's use in Bulgarian literature and news media to create emphasis.

At the C1 level, your use of 'кой' is near-native. You can use it in highly abstract or philosophical contexts. You understand the historical evolution of the word and its case system, even if those cases are mostly obsolete in modern spoken Bulgarian. You can use 'кой' to create sophisticated rhetorical effects in speeches or essays. You are aware of regional dialectal variations in the pronunciation or usage of 'кой'. You can analyze the use of 'кой' in classical Bulgarian poetry and prose, understanding how it contributes to the rhythm and tone of the text. You can also handle complex structures involving 'който' in legal or technical documents with precision.

At the C2 level, you have complete mastery over 'кой' and all its related forms and functions. You can use it with total flexibility in any context, from the most informal slang to the most formal academic or diplomatic language. You understand the deepest etymological roots of the word and how it relates to other Slavic languages. You can play with the word in puns, wordplay, and creative writing. You can switch between 'кой', 'кого', and 'кому' effortlessly to achieve specific stylistic goals. Your use of 'кой' is indistinguishable from that of a highly educated native speaker, and you can even identify and correct subtle misuses of the word by others.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

кой in 30 Seconds

Used to ask 'Who?' for males.
Used to ask 'Which?' for masculine nouns.
Changes to 'коя', 'кое', 'кои' for other genders.
Base for the relative pronoun 'който'.

The Bulgarian word кой is the primary interrogative pronoun used to ask 'who' or 'which' in relation to masculine singular nouns. In the Bulgarian linguistic framework, pronouns are highly sensitive to the gender and number of the person or object they represent. While in English 'who' is relatively static, кой is the masculine form of a four-part paradigm: кой (masculine), коя (feminine), кое (neuter), and кои (plural). This word is fundamental for basic communication, serving as the starting point for identifying people, making choices, and navigating social interactions.

Grammatical Function: It acts as the subject or object of a question, seeking to identify a specific entity among many or simply identifying a person.

Gender Agreement: Because Bulgarian nouns have gender, 'кой' must match the grammatical gender of the noun it refers to, even if that noun is not yet known.

Кой е този мъж? (Who is this man?)

Beyond its interrogative use, it serves as the root for the relative pronoun който, which means 'who' or 'which' in a descriptive clause. For a beginner, mastering кой is the key to unlocking the ability to ask for information. Whether you are at a market asking which fruit is best or at a party asking who the host is, this word is your most versatile tool. It is also used in various idiomatic expressions that convey surprise, confusion, or emphasis. For example, 'Кой знае?' translates perfectly to 'Who knows?', reflecting a shared Indo-European heritage in logical structure. However, learners must be careful not to confuse it with 'какво' (what), which asks about things or actions rather than identity. The phonetics are simple but distinct: a sharp 'k', followed by a rounded 'o', and ending with a short 'y' sound (the 'й' or 'i-kratko'). This creates a quick, punchy syllable that is often emphasized in speech to show the urgency of the question. In formal settings, 'кой' remains unchanged, but in older literature or specific dialects, you might still encounter the accusative form 'кого' (whom), which is still used today when the pronoun is the direct object of the verb. Understanding this distinction early on will help you transition from A1 to more advanced levels of Bulgarian fluency.

Using кой correctly requires an understanding of Bulgarian sentence structure, which is generally Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) but becomes flexible in questions. When кой is the subject, it usually starts the sentence. For example, 'Кой пее?' (Who is singing?). Here, 'кой' takes the lead, followed by the verb. If you are using it to ask 'which' of several items, it precedes the noun: 'Кой град?' (Which city?). Notice that 'град' is masculine, so 'кой' is used. If you were asking about a feminine noun like 'кола' (car), you would change it to 'коя кола?'.

Direct Questions: Standard use for identifying a person: Кой е там? (Who is there?)

Кой иска кафе? (Who wants coffee?)

Selective Questions: Choosing from a group: Кой от вас говори английски? (Which of you speaks English?)

In complex sentences, кой can also function as a relative pronoun when combined with the particle '-то' (който). This allows you to say 'The man who is here' (Мъжът, който е тук). However, at the A1 level, the focus remains on the interrogative 'Who?'. It's important to note that 'кой' is also used when asking for the time in some specific contexts, though 'колко' is more common. Another common use is in the phrase 'Кой е на телефона?' (Who is on the phone?). When answering a question starting with 'кой', the answer is typically a noun or a personal pronoun. If someone asks 'Кой е това?', you might respond 'Това е Иван' or 'Това съм аз' (That is I/me). The word's position is almost always at the very beginning of the utterance to signal the interrogative intent immediately to the listener. This helps native speakers prepare to provide an identity or a choice. Furthermore, in colloquial speech, 'кой' can be repeated for emphasis or to express disbelief: 'Кой, кой каза това?' (Who, who said that?). This repetition adds a layer of emotional intensity or a demand for clarification that is very common in Balkan conversational styles. As you progress, you will see 'кой' paired with prepositions, which changes its form slightly in more traditional or formal grammar, such as 'с кого' (with whom) or 'на кого' (to whom/whose). For now, focusing on the nominative 'кой' as the masculine singular 'who' is the most effective strategy for building a solid foundation in Bulgarian.

In the streets of Sofia, Plovdiv, or Varna, кой is a constant presence. You will hear it the moment someone knocks on a door: 'Кой е?' (Who is it?). This is perhaps the most frequent auditory encounter with the word. In a retail environment, a shopkeeper might ask 'Кой номер търсите?' (Which size are you looking for?) if you are browsing for shoes or clothes, as 'номер' is masculine. At a bus station, you might hear a traveler ask 'Кой автобус за Бургас?' (Which bus for Burgas?). The word is also central to media and storytelling. News headlines often start with 'Кой...' to draw attention to a specific figure or culprit.

Кой спечели мача? (Who won the match?)

Daily Life: In families, parents ask children: 'Кой изяде бисквитките?' (Who ate the cookies?).

Socializing: At a party: 'Кой е този симпатичен човек?' (Who is this nice person?).

In the workplace, 'кой' is used for task delegation: 'Кой ще направи презентацията?' (Who will do the presentation?). It is also the basis for many famous Bulgarian songs and poems, often used to question fate or identity. For instance, 'Кой съм аз?' (Who am I?) is a common philosophical refrain. On television, game shows frequently use it in the titles or as the primary question format. If you watch Bulgarian films, you'll notice that the intonation of 'кой' changes depending on the emotion—a short, sharp 'кой?' for suspicion, and a long, drawn-out 'кооооой?' for surprise or admiration. In the digital age, 'кой' is used in search queries and social media polls: 'Кой е любимият ви филм?' (Which is your favorite movie?). Because 'филм' is masculine, 'кой' is the correct choice here. Even in graffiti or political slogans, 'кой' is used to demand accountability, as seen in the famous 2013-2014 Bulgarian protests where the question 'Кой?' became a symbol for the lack of transparency in government appointments. This demonstrates that the word is not just a grammatical tool but a powerful social instrument. Listening for the various forms (кой, коя, кое, кои) will help you determine the gender of the subject the speaker is thinking about, even before they mention it.

The most frequent error for English speakers is failing to adjust кой for gender. In English, 'who' and 'which' don't change whether you're talking about a man, a woman, or a group. In Bulgarian, saying 'Кой е тя?' (Who is he she?) is grammatically incorrect because 'тя' (she) is feminine, necessitating the form коя. Another common mistake is using 'кой' instead of 'какво' (what). While English uses 'which' for both people and things, Bulgarian 'кой' is often used for 'which' when choosing from a specific set of masculine nouns, but 'какво' is used for general 'what'.

Gender Mismatch: Using 'кой' for feminine or neuter subjects. Correct: Коя е тя? / Кое е това дете?

Incorrect: Кой е твоята любима книга? (Книга is feminine, should be 'Коя').

Case Errors: Using 'кой' when 'кого' (whom) is required in formal or precise speech. Example: 'Кой видя?' instead of 'Кого видя?' (Whom did you see?).

Beginners also struggle with the plural form 'кои'. They might say 'Кой са тези хора?' instead of 'Кои са тези хора?' (Who are these people?). Remember that 'са' (are) is plural, so the pronoun must be plural too. Another subtle mistake involves the use of 'кой' versus 'какъв'. 'Кой' asks for identity (Which specific one?), while 'какъв' asks for quality (What kind of?). If you ask 'Кой е този град?', you want to know the name. If you ask 'Какъв е този град?', you want to know if it's big, beautiful, or old. Confusing these two can lead to answers that don't match your intended question. Finally, many learners forget the 'й' (i-kratko) at the end, pronouncing it as a flat 'o' or a full 'i'. The 'й' is a semivowel, and missing it can make the word sound like 'ko' (which isn't a word) or 'koi' (plural). Practice the 'y' sound as in 'boy' to get it right. Avoiding these pitfalls requires conscious attention to the gender of the surrounding nouns and the specific nature of the information you are seeking.

To truly master кой, you must understand how it relates to its linguistic siblings. The most important comparisons are with какъв, чий, and колко. Each of these interrogatives targets a different type of information. While кой identifies a specific entity, какъв explores its characteristics.

Кой vs. Какъв: 'Кой' = Which specific one? (Кой филм? - Which movie?). 'Какъв' = What kind of? (Какъв филм? - What kind of movie?).

Кой vs. Чий: 'Кой' = Who? 'Чий' = Whose? (Чий е този телефон? - Whose phone is this?). Both change for gender.

Кой (Who) vs. Някой (Someone) vs. Никой (No one).

Another alternative is който, the relative pronoun. While 'кой' asks a question, 'който' provides more information about a noun already mentioned. For example: 'Човекът, който познавам' (The man whom I know). In some regions or in very informal speech, you might hear кой точно (which exactly) to add precision. If you are comparing two things, you might use кой от двамата (which of the two). Understanding these nuances allows you to be more precise in your speech. For instance, if you are looking at a photo and want to know who is the father, you ask 'Кой е бащата?'. But if you want to know what the father is like (e.g., kind, tall), you ask 'Какъв е бащата?'. This distinction is vital for meaningful conversation. Furthermore, 'кой' can be replaced by 'който и да е' (whoever/whichever), which expands the meaning from a specific question to a general possibility. For A1 learners, the priority is distinguishing 'кой' (who/which) from 'какво' (what) and 'къде' (where). While they all start with the 'k' sound in Bulgarian, their functions are entirely distinct. 'Кой' is for identity, 'какво' is for objects/actions, and 'къде' is for location. Mastering these 'K-words' is the foundation of Bulgarian interrogative syntax.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

Bulgarian 'кой' is one of the few words that has preserved some traces of the ancient Slavic case system in modern usage (through 'кого' and 'кому').

Pronunciation Guide

UK /kɔj/

US /kɔɪ/

The stress is on the only vowel 'о'.

Rhymes With

мой (my) твой (your) свой (one's own) бой (fight) слой (layer) рой (swarm) завой (turn) покой (peace)

Common Errors

Pronouncing 'й' as a full 'i' (making it two syllables 'ko-i').
Missing the 'й' entirely and saying 'ko'.
Rounding the 'o' too much like 'u'.
Aspirating the 'k' too heavily.
Making the vowel sound too long.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 1/5

Very easy to recognize as it is short and unique.

Writing 2/5

Requires remembering the 'й' at the end.

Speaking 2/5

Pronunciation of the final semivowel needs practice.

Listening 2/5

Must distinguish from 'коя', 'кое', 'кои' in fast speech.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

той тя това мъж жена

Learn Next

коя кое кои който какъв

Advanced

кого кому комуто когото

Grammar to Know

Gender Agreement

Кой (m), Коя (f), Кое (n), Кои (pl).

Relative Pronoun Formation

Кой + то = Който.

Interrogative Position

Кой usually starts the question.

Case Remnants

Кого (accusative), Кому (dative).

Indefinite Pronoun Formation

Ня + кой = Някой.

Examples by Level

Кой е той?

Who is he?

Masculine singular pronoun used for a man.

Кой е това?

Who is this?

General question identifying a person.

Кой иска ябълка?

Who wants an apple?

Subject of the sentence.

Кой е тук?

Who is here?

Asking about a present person.

Кой пее?

Who is singing?

Subject of the verb 'пее'.

Кой е Иван?

Who is Ivan?

Identifying a specific person by name.

Кой пие чай?

Who is drinking tea?

Present tense question.

Кой знае?

Who knows?

Common idiomatic question.

Кой град е по-голям?

Which city is bigger?

'Кой' means 'which' here because 'град' is masculine.

Кой е твоят приятел?

Who is your friend?

Identifying a masculine singular noun.

Кой от тези е твоят?

Which of these is yours?

Choosing from a specific group.

Кой филм гледаме?

Which movie are we watching?

'Филм' is masculine.

Кой е на вратата?

Who is at the door?

Standard phrase for answering a knock.

Кой е този човек?

Who is this person?

'Човек' is masculine singular.

Кой ден е днес?

Which day is today?

'Ден' is masculine.

Кой път да хванем?

Which path/road should we take?

'Път' is masculine.

Не знам кой е той.

I don't know who he is.

Indirect question.

Кого видя в парка?

Whom did you see in the park?

Accusative form 'кого' used as an object.

Който търси, намира.

He who seeks, finds.

Relative pronoun 'който'.

На кого е този ключ?

Whose is this key?

'На кого' expresses possession.

Кой ти каза това?

Who told you that?

Subject with indirect object 'ти'.

Кой ще дойде с мен?

Who will come with me?

Future tense with 'ще'.

Кой е авторът на книгата?

Who is the author of the book?

Identifying a specific role.

Кой от вас е готов?

Which of you is ready?

Specifying a group.

Кой, ако не аз?

Who, if not I?

Rhetorical question.

Който и да е, ще се справи.

Whoever it is, they will manage.

'Който и да е' means 'whoever'.

С кого разговаряхте вчера?

With whom were you speaking yesterday?

Preposition 'с' followed by 'кого'.

Кой знае какво ще се случи?

Who knows what will happen?

Expressing uncertainty.

Кой е източникът на информацията?

Who is the source of the information?

Formal inquiry.

Кой би повярвал на такова нещо?

Who would believe such a thing?

Conditional mood with 'би'.

Кой беше онзи, когото видяхме?

Who was that one whom we saw?

Combination of interrogative and relative pronouns.

Кой от тримата е виновен?

Which of the three is guilty?

Precise selection from a group.

Кой всъщност управлява страната?

Who actually governs the country?

Probing for deeper meaning.

Кому е нужно това страдание?

To whom is this suffering necessary?

Archaic/Formal dative form 'кому'.

Който и да си, покажи се!

Whoever you are, show yourself!

Imperative context with indefinite pronoun.

Кой сте вие, че да ме съдите?

Who are you to judge me?

Rhetorical and confrontational.

Кой е този, който дръзва да ме прекъсне?

Who is this who dares to interrupt me?

Highly formal and dramatic.

Кой би могъл да предвиди този развой?

Who could have predicted this development?

Speculative and academic.

Когото и да попитате, ще ви каже същото.

Whomever you ask, they will tell you the same.

Relative-indefinite object 'когото'.

Кой от тях притежава необходимите качества?

Which of them possesses the necessary qualities?

Formal evaluation.

Кой, в крайна сметка, е мерилото за истина?

Who, ultimately, is the yardstick for truth?

Philosophical inquiry.

Комуто е дадено много, много се и изисква.

To whom much is given, much is required.

Archaic relative dative 'комуто'.

Кой ли не се е опитвал да разгадае тази мистерия?

Who hasn't tried to solve this mystery?

Particle 'ли' used for rhetorical emphasis.

Кой е онзи първичен порив, който ни движи?

What is that primal urge that moves us?

Using 'кой' for abstract masculine concepts.

Кого ли не срещнах по пътя си...

Whom haven't I met on my way...

Exclamatory use with 'ли'.

Кой си мислиш, че си?

Who do you think you are?

Idiomatic expression of challenge.

Който се смее последен, най-добре се смее.

He who laughs last, laughs best.

Classic proverb structure.

Кой би дръзнал да оспори тези факти?

Who would dare to dispute these facts?

Assertive rhetorical question.

Synonyms

който какъв чий някой никой всеки еди-кой си кой и да е

Antonyms

никой нищо всички някой друг

Common Collocations

Кой е?

Кой знае

Кой от вас

Кой точно

Кой е авторът

Кой е виновен

Кой номер

Кой път

Кой е на телефона

Кой е следващият

Common Phrases

Който търси, намира

— A proverb meaning if you look hard enough, you will find what you need.

Не се отказвай, който търси, намира.

Който пее, зло не мисли

— A popular Bulgarian saying suggesting that people who sing are good-natured.

Тя винаги пее, а както знаем, който пее, зло не мисли.

Който не работи, не трябва да яде

— A traditional proverb about the importance of labor.

В това семейство вярваме, че който не работи, не трябва да яде.

Кой е той, че да ми казва?

— A phrase used to express that someone has no authority to give orders.

Кой е той, че да ми казва какво да правя?

Кой знае кога

— Expresses that something will happen at an unknown time in the future.

Ще се върне кой знае кога.

Кой го знае

— A casual way to say 'Who knows' or 'I have no idea'.

Къде е Иван? - Кой го знае.

Кой на кого

— Refers to a competition or a struggle for dominance.

В този мач ще се види кой на кого.

Кой от кой по-добър

— Used when everyone in a group is excellent.

Играчите бяха кой от кой по-добър.

Който оцелее

— Refers to those who survive a difficult situation.

Който оцелее, ще разказва.

Който може, го може

— A phrase acknowledging someone's undeniable skill.

Той спечели пак; който може, го може.

Often Confused With

кой vs какво

English 'which' can be both, but 'кой' is for specific identity, 'какво' is for general things.

кой vs какъв

'Кой' asks 'Which one?', 'Какъв' asks 'What kind of?'.

кой vs кои

Confusing the singular masculine with the plural.

Idioms & Expressions

"Кой те пита?"

— Used rudely to tell someone their opinion wasn't asked for.

Млъкни, кой те пита?

informal

"Кой ми яде ушите?"

— A humorous way to ask who is talking about you behind your back.

Днес цял ден ме сърбят ушите, кой ли ми ги яде?

informal

"Който се хваща на хорото, го играе докрай"

— Once you start something, you must finish it.

Трудно е, но който се хваща на хорото, го играе докрай.

neutral

"Кой откъде е"

— Used when people disperse or go back to their origins.

След партито всеки си отиде кой откъде е.

neutral

"Кой ми го казва!"

— An ironic response to someone who is guilty of the same thing they are criticizing.

Ти ми казваш да не закъснявам? Кой ми го казва!

informal

"Който превари, той завари"

— First come, first served.

В магазина имаше промоция и който превари, той завари.

neutral

"Който се смее последен..."

— The ultimate winner is the one who succeeds in the end.

Не бързай да празнуваш, който се смее последен, най-добре се смее.

neutral

"Кой ти дава?"

— Used to say that an opportunity is too good to pass up.

Безплатна екскурзия? Кой ти дава такова нещо!

informal

"Който се бои от вълци, не ходи в гората"

— If you are afraid of risks, don't try to achieve big things.

Бизнесът е рискован, но който се бои от вълци, не ходи в гората.

neutral

"Който дава, два пъти дава"

— Giving quickly or generously is more valuable.

Помогни му сега, защото който дава, два пъти дава.

literary

Easily Confused

кой vs Кои

Sounds similar.

'Кой' is singular masculine, 'кои' is plural for all genders.

Кой човек? vs Кои хора?

кой vs Коя

Both mean 'who'.

'Кой' is masculine, 'коя' is feminine.

Кой е той? vs Коя е тя?

кой vs Кое

Both mean 'who/which'.

'Кой' is masculine, 'кое' is neuter.

Кой град? vs Кое село?

кой vs Какво

Translation of 'what/which'.

'Кой' identifies a person/specific item, 'Какво' asks about an object or concept.

Кой е това? (Who is this?) vs Какво е това? (What is this?)

кой vs Какъв

Both translated as 'what' or 'which'.

'Кой' is about identity, 'Какъв' is about quality/description.

Кой е твоят баща? vs Какъв е твоят баща? (What is he like?)

Sentence Patterns

Кой е [Name]?

Кой е Иван?

Кой е [Pronoun]?

Кой е той?

Кой [Noun] е [Adjective]?

Кой град е голям?

Кой иска [Noun]?

Кой иска чай?

Не знам кой [Verb].

Не знам кой пее.

Кого [Verb] [Subject]?

Кого видя ти?

Който и да е, [Verb].

Който и да е, ще дойде.

Кому е [Adjective] [Noun]?

Кому е нужна тази книга?

Word Family

Nouns

който (relative pronoun)

някой (someone)

никой (no one)

всеки (everyone)

коя

кое

кои

кого

кому

How to Use It

frequency

Extremely high; among the top 100 most used words.

Common Mistakes

Кой е тя? → Коя е тя?
You must use the feminine form 'коя' for a female subject.
Кой са тези? → Кои са тези?
The plural form 'кои' must be used with the plural verb 'са'.
Кой книга искаш? → Коя книга искаш?
'Книга' is feminine, so the pronoun must agree.
Кой видя? → Кого видя?
In formal contexts, the object of the verb should be in the accusative form 'кого'.
Кой е това дете? → Кое е това дете?
'Дете' is neuter, so 'кое' is required.

Tips

Gender Match

Always look at the ending of the noun you are asking about. If it ends in a consonant, it's likely masculine, so use 'кой'.

The Short Й

Practice the 'й' by saying 'boy' in English and stopping right at the end of the 'y' sound.

Relative Clauses

Once you master 'кой', just add '-то' to make 'който' and start building complex sentences.

Polite Inquiry

When asking 'Who are you?' to an elder, use the plural: 'Кои сте вие?' to be respectful.

Default Gender

If you see someone in the distance and can't tell their gender, always default to 'Кой е това?'.

No Accents

The 'й' in 'кой' is a letter, not an accent mark. Don't forget to write the little hook!

Question Intonation

In Bulgarian, questions often have a rising intonation on the question word itself.

The K-Rule

Most Bulgarian question words start with K (Кой, Къде, Кога, Как). Group them together.

Rhetorical Use

Use 'Кой знае?' as a filler when you don't have an answer; it sounds very native.

Don't confuse with 'Кои'

Remember: 'Кой' is for ONE man, 'Кои' is for MANY people.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of the English word 'COY'. A 'coy' person might hide their identity, so you ask 'KOY?' (Who?) to find out who they are.

Visual Association

Imagine a giant question mark shaped like the letter 'K' standing over a man.

Word Web

кой (who) коя (who-f) кое (who-n) кои (who-pl) кого (whom) някой (someone) никой (no one) който (who-rel)

Challenge

Try to ask five questions starting with 'Кой' today, focusing on masculine objects or people around you.

Word Origin

Derived from the Proto-Indo-European interrogative root *kʷo-, which also gave rise to the English 'who' and 'what', and the Latin 'quis'. In Old Church Slavonic, it appeared as 'къто'.

Original meaning: Interrogative pronoun referring to a person or thing.

Slavic > South Slavic > Bulgarian.

Cultural Context

Generally neutral, but 'Кой си ти?' (Who are you?) can sound aggressive if not said with the right intonation.

English speakers often forget that 'who' has gender in Bulgarian. We use 'who' for everyone, but Bulgarians specify.

The #КОЙ political protests in Bulgaria. The poem 'Кой' by various Bulgarian authors exploring identity. The song 'Кой' by popular Bulgarian artists.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Meeting people

Кой е този?
Кой си ти?
Кой е твоят баща?
Кой е тук?

Shopping

Кой номер?
Кой цвят?
Кой модел?
Кой е по-евтин?

At home

Кой е на вратата?
Кой иска да яде?
Кой взе ключовете?
Кой е на телефона?

Travel

Кой автобус?
Кой влак?
Кой път?
Кой град е това?

Work

Кой е шефът?
Кой ще помогне?
Кой е отговорен?
Кой проект?

Conversation Starters

"Кой е любимият ти български град?"

"Кой е твоят най-добър приятел?"

"Кой според теб ще спечели мача?"

"Кой е авторът на тази красива картина?"

"Кой е твоят любим актьор?"

Journal Prompts

Напишете за човек, който ви вдъхновява. Кой е той?

Кой е най-трудният избор, който сте правили някога?

Кой е вашият любим спомен от детството?

Кой е човекът, на когото се възхищавате най-много?

Кой е най-интересният град, който сте посещавали?

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

No, you must use 'коя' for women. 'Кой' is strictly masculine or used when the gender is unknown and default.

'Кой' is for questions (Who?), while 'който' is a relative pronoun used to connect parts of a sentence (The man who...).

Yes, 'кого' is used in formal speech and writing when 'who' is the object of the sentence, like 'Whom' in English.

You use 'кой' for masculine items, 'коя' for feminine, and 'кое' for neuter. For example, 'Кой от тях?'

Yes, but only if the noun for the thing is masculine in Bulgarian, like 'град' (city) or 'телевизор' (TV).

The 'й' is part of the masculine singular ending for this pronoun. It changes to 'я', 'е', or 'и' for other forms.

No, 'someone' is 'някой'. 'Кой' is almost always interrogative.

The standard phrase is 'Кой е?'.

Yes, if the animal's name is masculine (e.g., 'кой вълк' - which wolf).

It is the dative form of 'кой', meaning 'to whom'. It is mostly used in formal or literary Bulgarian.