A1 Questions & Negation 6 min read Easy

Asking Where & When in Persian: kojā and key

Place kojā (where) and key (when) directly before the verb without changing the standard Persian sentence order.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Use 'kojā' for location (where) and 'key' for time (when) at the end or middle of your sentence.

  • Use 'kojā' (کجا) to ask about a place: 'Where are you?' -> 'To kojā hasti?'
  • Use 'key' (کی) to ask about a time: 'When is the party?' -> 'Jashn key hast?'
  • Persian questions often keep the same word order as statements, just add the question word.
Subject + (Object) + Verb + ? (or Question Word + Subject + Verb + ?)

Overview

For learners at the A1 level, mastering fundamental interrogative words is crucial for basic communication. Among these, کجا (kojā, where) and کِی (key, when) are indispensable. These two Persian adverbs allow you to inquire about location and time, forming the backbone of practical daily interactions.

Unlike English, Persian question formation with kojā and key does not involve inverting the subject and verb or introducing auxiliary verbs. Instead, these words integrate seamlessly into the standard sentence structure.

The simplicity of their placement is a key feature of Persian grammar that greatly benefits beginners. You avoid the complexities of grammatical transformations often seen in other languages. Understanding kojā and key enables you to navigate basic logistical questions, from asking for directions to scheduling appointments, making them essential tools for immediate, practical use in a Persian-speaking environment.

How This Grammar Works

Persian generally follows a Subject-Object-Verb (SOV) or Subject-Time/Place-Verb (S-T/P-V) sentence order. Interrogative adverbs like kojā and key fit into this structure by typically preceding the main verb, occupying the position where the answer to the question would normally appear. This direct placement is fundamental to forming questions naturally in Persian.
Consider the declarative sentence او به خانه می‌رود (u be khāne miravad, He goes home). If you want to ask where he goes, the word kojā replaces به خانه (to home). The sentence becomes او کجا می‌رود؟ (u kojā miravad?, Where does he go?).
The question word directly substitutes the piece of information being sought, without altering the surrounding grammatical order. This consistency simplifies question formation, as you primarily focus on lexical substitution rather than structural rearrangement.
Crucially, Persian verbs are highly inflected, meaning the verb ending often contains information about the subject (person and number). This allows subject pronouns to be frequently omitted, especially in informal speech, as the verb itself conveys who is performing the action. For instance, می‌روی؟ (miravi?, Are you going?) implicitly includes تو (you).
When forming questions with kojā or key, this means you can often omit the subject pronoun and place the question word directly before the verb, relying on context and verb conjugation.
Key Principle: Question Word Precedes the Verb
| English Example | Persian Structure | Transliteration | Meaning |
| :-------------------- | :---------------------------------- | :------------------------ | :----------------------- |
| Where are you going? | You kojā go (formal) | Shomā kojā miravid? | Where are you going? |
| When will she come? | She key come (formal) | U key miyāyad? | When will she come? |
| Where is the library? | Library kojā is (formal) | Ketābkhāne kojā ast? | Where is the library? |

Formation Pattern

1
Forming questions with kojā and key involves a consistent pattern. The most common structure places the interrogative adverb directly before the verb phrase. This applies whether the sentence contains an explicit subject or not.
2
Basic Pattern for Verbal Sentences:
3
\[ (Subject) + (Preposition) + Question Word + Verb ]
4
Simple kojā (where) questions:
5
آنها کجا زندگی می‌کنند؟ (ānhā kojā zendegi mikonand?) – Where do they live?
6
شما کجا می‌روید؟ (shomā kojā miravid?) – Where are you going? (Formal)
7
کجا می‌رویم؟ (kojā miravim?) – Where are we going? (Subject ما omitted)
8
Simple key (when) questions:
9
او کِی می‌آید؟ (u key miyāyad?) – When does he/she come?
10
کلاس کِی شروع می‌شود؟ (kelās key shoru' mishavad?) – When does the class start?
11
شما کِی وقت دارید؟ (shomā key vaght dārid?) – When do you have time? (Formal)
12
With Prepositions:
13
Persian prepositions like از (az, from) and تا (tā, until/to) are placed before kojā or key when inquiring about origin or duration. This creates combined question phrases that function as a single unit.
14
| Combination | Persian Phrase | Transliteration | Meaning | Example Sentence | Translation |
15
| :-------------- | :------------- | :-------------- | :---------------- | :--------------------------------------------- | :---------------------------------------- |
16
| From Where | از کجا | az kojā | from where | تو از کجا می‌آیی؟ (to az kojā miyāyi?) | Where are you coming from? |
17
| To Where | به کجا | be kojā | to where | این جاده به کجا می‌رود؟ (in jāde be kojā miravad?) | Where does this road go? |
18
| Until When | تا کِی | tā key | until when | تا کِی اینجایی؟ (tā key injāyi?) | Until when are you here? |
19
| Since When | از کِی | az key | since when | از کِی اینجا کار می‌کنی؟ (az key injā kār mikoni?) | Since when have you been working here? |
20
For Questions about Existence/Location (with است - is/are):
21
When asking “Where is X?” using the verb بودن (budan, to be), kojā precedes the conjugated form of بودن. In spoken Persian, است (ast, is) is often contracted with the preceding word.
22
Formal: آنها کجا هستند؟ (ānhā kojā hastand?) – Where are they?
23
Colloquial Contraction: کتاب کجاست؟ (ketāb kojāst?) – Where is the book? (Literally, کجا است becomes کجاست).

When To Use It

Kojā and key are versatile and fundamental for initiating conversations, seeking information, and coordinating activities. You will use these question words in a broad range of everyday scenarios.
Use kojā (where) to:
  • Inquire about current location: دوستت کجاست؟ (dustet kojāst?) – Where is your friend?
  • Ask for directions or destination: ایستگاه اتوبوس کجاست؟ (istgāh-e otobus kojāst?) – Where is the bus stop? / شما کجا می‌روید؟ (shomā kojā miravid?) – Where are you going?
  • Ask about origin: شما اهل کجا هستید؟ (shomā ahl-e kojā hastid?) – Where are you from? (Formal)
  • Determine the placement of objects: کلیدهایم کجاست؟ (kelidhāyam kojāst?) – Where are my keys?
Use key (when) to:
  • Ask about the time of an event: پرواز شما کِی است؟ (parvāz-e shomā key ast?) – When is your flight?
  • Schedule meetings or activities: کِی همدیگر را ببینیم؟ (key hamdigar rā bebinim?) – When should we meet?
  • Inquire about past or future occurrences: او کِی آمد؟ (u key āmad?) – When did he/she come? / امتحان کِی شروع می‌شود؟ (emtehān key shoru' mishavad?) – When does the exam start?
  • Determine duration with prepositions: تا کِی اینجا می‌مانی؟ (tā key injā mimāni?) – Until when are you staying here?
These words form the basis of practical communication, enabling you to understand and contribute to logistical discussions in Persian.

When Not To Use It

While kojā and key are widely applicable, there are specific situations where other interrogative words or structures are more appropriate. Using kojā or key incorrectly can lead to confusion or unnatural phrasing.
Do not use kojā when asking about:
  • The kind of place: If you want to know what type of place something is (e.g., a café, a bookstore), you would use چی (chi, what) or چه نوع (che no', what kind). For example, اینجا چه نوع مکانی است؟ (injā che no'e makāni ast?) – What kind of place is this? instead of اینجا کجاست؟ which asks for the specific location.
  • The way to a place: For directions asking how to get somewhere, use چگونه (chegone) or چطور (chetor, how). For example, چطور می‌توانم به موزه بروم؟ (chetor mitavānam be muze beravam?) – How can I go to the museum?
Do not use key when asking about:
  • Specific time on a clock: key is for general

3. Basic Question Structure

Question Word Subject Verb Example
کجا
شما
هستید
شما کجا هستید؟
کی
او
می‌آید
او کی می‌آید؟
کجا
آن‌ها
می‌روند
آن‌ها کجا می‌روند؟
کی
جلسه
است
جلسه کی است؟
کجا
کتاب
است
کتاب کجاست؟
کی
تولد
است
تولد کی است؟

Common Contractions

Full Form Contracted Form Meaning
کجا است
کجاست
Where is
کی است
کیست
When is

Meanings

These are the two essential interrogative adverbs used to solicit information regarding spatial location and temporal occurrence.

1

Spatial Location

Asking for the physical location of a person, object, or event.

“کتاب من کجاست؟”

“شما کجا زندگی می‌کنید؟”

2

Temporal Occurrence

Asking for the time or date of an event.

“شما کی می‌آیید؟”

“فیلم کی شروع می‌شود؟”

Reference Table

Reference table for Asking Where & When in Persian: kojā and key
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Subject + Verb
او می‌آید (He is coming)
Question (Where)
Subject + Kojā + Verb
او کجا می‌آید؟ (Where is he coming?)
Question (When)
Subject + Key + Verb
او کی می‌آید؟ (When is he coming?)
Short Answer
Location/Time
در خانه (At home)
Negative Question
Subject + Kojā + Negative Verb
او کجا نمی‌رود؟ (Where is he not going?)
Formal Question
Kojā + Subject + Verb
کجا شما می‌روید؟ (Where are you going?)

Formality Spectrum

Formal
شما کجا تشریف می‌برید؟

شما کجا تشریف می‌برید؟ (Asking about destination)

Neutral
شما کجا می‌روید؟

شما کجا می‌روید؟ (Asking about destination)

Informal
کجا می‌ری؟

کجا می‌ری؟ (Asking about destination)

Slang
کجا میری؟

کجا میری؟ (Asking about destination)

Question Word Map

پرسش (Questions)

Place

  • کجا Where

Time

  • کی When
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Examples by Level

1

شما کجا هستید؟

Where are you?

2

مهمانی کی است؟

When is the party?

3

کتاب کجاست؟

Where is the book?

4

او کی می‌آید؟

When is he coming?

1

ما کجا باید برویم؟

Where should we go?

2

تو کی وقت داری؟

When do you have time?

3

آن‌ها کجا زندگی می‌کنند؟

Where do they live?

4

کلاس کی تمام می‌شود؟

When does the class end?

1

نمی‌دانم کجا کلیدها را گذاشتم.

I don't know where I put the keys.

2

باید تصمیم بگیریم کی حرکت کنیم.

We must decide when to leave.

3

کجا می‌توانم بلیط بخرم؟

Where can I buy a ticket?

4

کی قرار است پروژه را تحویل دهیم؟

When are we supposed to submit the project?

1

هر کجا که بروی، من با تو هستم.

Wherever you go, I am with you.

2

کی می‌شود که دوباره همدیگر را ببینیم؟

When will it be that we see each other again?

3

نمی‌توانم به یاد بیاورم کجا او را دیدم.

I cannot recall where I saw him.

4

کی فرصت کردی این را بخوانی؟

When did you get the chance to read this?

1

کجا دیده‌ای که عدالت پیروز نشود؟

Where have you seen that justice does not prevail?

2

کی بود که این حرف را زد؟

Who was it that said this?

3

هر کی که باشد، باید بداند کجا برود.

Whoever it is, they must know where to go.

4

کی به کی است؟

Who is who? (Idiomatic)

1

کجا بود آن روزهای خوش؟

Where were those happy days?

2

کی رسد آن زمان که ما آزاد باشیم؟

When will that time arrive when we are free?

3

کجا می‌توان یافت چنین زیبایی؟

Where can one find such beauty?

4

کی می‌داند سرنوشت چه در سر دارد؟

Who knows what fate has in store?

Easily Confused

Asking Where & When in Persian: kojā and key vs Kojā vs. Che

Learners mix 'where' and 'what'.

Asking Where & When in Persian: kojā and key vs Key vs. Che zamān

Both mean 'when'.

Asking Where & When in Persian: kojā and key vs Kojā vs. Az kojā

Learners forget 'az' for 'from'.

Common Mistakes

✗

کجا تو هستی؟

✓

تو کجا هستی؟

Subject usually comes first.
✗

کی تو می‌آیی؟

✓

تو کی می‌آیی؟

Natural word order is preferred.
✗

کجا است کتاب؟

✓

کتاب کجاست؟

Verb should be at the end.
✗

کی است مهمانی؟

✓

مهمانی کی است؟

Subject first.
✗

کجا می‌روی تو؟

✓

تو کجا می‌روی؟

Subject-Verb-Object is standard.
✗

کی تو می‌خوری غذا؟

✓

تو کی غذا می‌خوری؟

Object placement.
✗

کجا هست؟

✓

کجاست؟

Use the contraction.
✗

نمی‌دانم کجا او است.

✓

نمی‌دانم او کجاست.

Verb must be at the end of the clause.
✗

کی تو می‌خواهی بروی؟

✓

تو کی می‌خواهی بروی؟

Question word placement.
✗

کجا تو زندگی می‌کنی؟

✓

تو کجا زندگی می‌کنی؟

Subject placement.
✗

کجا که می‌روی، من می‌آیم.

✓

هر کجا که بروی، من می‌آیم.

Need 'har' for 'wherever'.
✗

کی که می‌آید، می‌داند.

✓

هر کی که می‌آید، می‌داند.

Need 'har' for 'whoever'.
✗

کجا دیدی تو؟

✓

تو کجا دیدی؟

Standard order.

Sentence Patterns

___ کجاست؟

___ کی است؟

شما ___ کجا ___؟

___ کی ___؟

Real World Usage

Texting constant

کجایی؟ (Where are you?)

Travel very common

هتل کجاست؟ (Where is the hotel?)

Job Interview common

کی می‌توانم شروع کنم؟ (When can I start?)

Food Delivery common

سفارش کی می‌رسد؟ (When does the order arrive?)

Social Media common

این عکس کجاست؟ (Where is this photo?)

School common

کلاس کی شروع می‌شود؟ (When does class start?)

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💡

Keep it short

In casual speech, drop the subject pronoun. 'Kojā miri?' is perfectly fine.
⚠️

Don't over-formalize

Using full formal sentences with friends sounds stiff.
🎯

Intonation matters

Raise your pitch at the end of the question word to sound more natural.
💬

Context is key

Persians often use 'kojā' to express surprise, like 'Where did you get that?'

Smart Tips

Use the contraction 'kojāst' to sound more natural.

کتاب کجا است؟ → کتاب کجاست؟

Place 'key' right before the verb.

کی تو می‌آیی؟ → تو کی می‌آیی؟

Drop the subject pronoun.

تو کجا می‌روی؟ → کجا می‌ری؟

Keep the subject at the start.

کجا می‌روید شما؟ → شما کجا می‌روید؟

Pronunciation

ko-JAA

Kojā

Pronounced ko-JAA. The 'j' is like in 'jam'.

key

Key

Pronounced like the English word 'key'.

Rising

کجاست؟ ↗

Standard question intonation.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Kojā sounds like 'go-ja' (go to a place). Key sounds like 'key' (time to unlock the door).

Visual Association

Imagine a map for 'Kojā' and a clock for 'Key'.

Rhyme

Kojā for the place you see, Key for the time that sets you free.

Story

Ali is lost. He asks 'Kojā?' (Where?). He looks at his watch and asks 'Key?' (When?). He finds his way home.

Word Web

کجاکیکجاستکیستکجا می‌رویکی می‌آیی

Challenge

Ask 5 people 'Where are you?' and 'When are you free?' in Persian today.

Cultural Notes

Very informal, often drops the 'h' in 'hast'.

Uses specific particles at the end of questions.

Uses 'kojā' and 'key' similarly but with different accents.

These words have ancient Indo-Iranian roots, evolving from Old Persian.

Conversation Starters

“

شما کجا زندگی می‌کنید؟

“

مهمانی کی است؟

“

کجا می‌توانم قهوه خوب پیدا کنم؟

“

کی وقت دارید صحبت کنیم؟

Journal Prompts

Describe where you live using 'kojā'.
Write about your daily schedule using 'key'.
Imagine you are lost. Write a dialogue asking for directions.
Plan a trip with a friend. Use both 'kojā' and 'key'.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Fill in the blank with the correct question word.

___ می‌روی؟ (Where are you going?)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: کجا
Kojā is for place.
Choose the correct question word. Multiple Choice

___ مهمانی شروع می‌شود؟ (When does the party start?)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: کی
Key is for time.
Fix the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

کجا تو هستی؟

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: تو کجا هستی؟
Standard word order.
Reorder the words. Sentence Reorder

Arrange the words in the correct order:

All words placed

Click words above to build the sentence

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: او کی می‌آید؟
Subject-Question-Verb.
Translate to Persian. Translation

Where is the library?

Answer starts with: کتا...

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: کتابخانه کجاست؟
Contraction is natural.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: ___ می‌آیی؟ B: فردا می‌آیم.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: کی
Answer is a time.
Build a sentence. Sentence Building

Use 'کجا' and 'هستید'.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: شما کجا هستید؟
Standard order.
Match the question to the answer. Match Pairs

Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 1-B, 2-A
Place matches place, time matches time.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Fill in the blank with the correct question word.

___ می‌روی؟ (Where are you going?)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: کجا
Kojā is for place.
Choose the correct question word. Multiple Choice

___ مهمانی شروع می‌شود؟ (When does the party start?)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: کی
Key is for time.
Fix the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

کجا تو هستی؟

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: تو کجا هستی؟
Standard word order.
Reorder the words. Sentence Reorder

می‌آید / کی / او / ؟

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: او کی می‌آید؟
Subject-Question-Verb.
Translate to Persian. Translation

Where is the library?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: کتابخانه کجاست؟
Contraction is natural.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: ___ می‌آیی؟ B: فردا می‌آیم.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: کی
Answer is a time.
Build a sentence. Sentence Building

Use 'کجا' and 'هستید'.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: شما کجا هستید؟
Standard order.
Match the question to the answer. Match Pairs

1. کجا می‌روی؟ 2. کی می‌آیی؟

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 1-B, 2-A
Place matches place, time matches time.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

11 exercises
Fill in the blank to ask 'When did you wake up?' Fill in the Blank

امروز ___ بیدار شدی؟

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: کِی
Fill in the blank to ask 'Where are you from?' Fill in the Blank

تو اهل ___ هستی؟

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: کجا
Fix the sentence structure. Error Correction

کِی فیلم شروع می‌شود؟

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: فیلم کِی شروع می‌شود؟
Put the words in the correct order to say 'Where is your house?' Sentence Reorder

خانه / کجاست / تو / ؟

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: خانه تو کجاست؟
Translate into Persian: 'Where is the party?' Translation

Where is the party?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: مهمانی کجاست؟
Match the Persian words with their English meanings. Match Pairs

Match the words:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: کجا - Where
Which sentence correctly asks 'Until when are you here?' Multiple Choice

Select the correct phrase:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: تا کِی اینجایی؟
Correct the spelling/context mistake for 'When are we arriving?' Error Correction

کی می‌رسیم؟

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: کِی می‌رسیم؟
Fill in the blank with 'from where' (az kojā). Fill in the Blank

این لباس را ___ خریدی؟

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: از کجا
Translate: 'When do you work?' Translation

When do you work?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: تو کِی کار می‌کنی؟
Order the words to form: 'Where should we go tomorrow?' Sentence Reorder

فردا / بریم / کجا / ؟

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: فردا کجا بریم؟

Score: /11

FAQ (8)

No, 'kojā' is strictly for place. Use 'key' for time.

It is neutral. It works in almost all situations.

It is a common spoken contraction in Tehrani dialect.

Yes, but it sounds more formal or emphatic.

You can omit it, as Persian is a pro-drop language.

Yes, 'che zamān' is more formal.

Use 'az kojā'.

No, that is a coincidence.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

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In Other Languages

Spanish high

Dónde / Cuándo

Spanish requires accent marks.

French moderate

Où / Quand

Persian is more concise.

German moderate

Wo / Wann

German syntax is more rigid.

Japanese high

Doko / Itsu

Japanese uses particles like 'ka' at the end.

Arabic moderate

Ayna / Mata

Arabic has different grammatical genders.

Chinese low

Nali / Shenme shihou

Chinese is tonal.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
Persian Question Words: Who (Ki) & What (Chi)
Next
Asking 'How many/much?' in Persian (chand?)

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Overview Mastering negation is fundamental in any language, and in Persian, saying "no" to an action in the present tens...
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Asking 'How many/much?' in Persian (chand?)

Overview In Persian, asking about quantities or prices is simplified by a single, versatile word: **`chand` (چند)**. Thi...
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