екен

Kazakh

Etymology

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

екен • (eken)

1. 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.

2. 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?