קיין

Ladino

Etymology

From Latin quĕm, accusative of qui. Compare Spanish quién.

Pronoun

קיין (Hebrew spelling, Latin spelling ken)

1. who, whom
2. whoever, whomever

Yiddish

Etymology 1

From Old High German nihein (compare German kein).

Pronunciation

• (YIVO) IPA^(key): /kɛn/
• (Litvish) IPA^(key): /keɪ̯n/
• (Poylish) IPA^(key): /kan/

Determiner

קיין • (keyn) (negative indefinite article)

1. (in negative sentences) a, an; any; no

   קיין ברידער האָט ער נישט.

   keyn brider hot er nisht.

   He has no brothers.

   אונדזער שוועסטער שמועסן ניט מיט קיין בחורים.

   undzer shvester shmuesn nit mit keyn bokhrim.

   Our sisters don't chat with any young men.

Derived terms

• קיין מאָל נישט (keyn mol nisht)
• קיין עין־הרע (keyn eynhore)

Etymology 2

Probably from Middle High German gein, gēn, contraction of gegen (“against, towards”), whence קעגן (kegn). Compare literary German gen (“to”).

Preposition

קיין • (keyn)

1. (followed by the name of a place) to