что ли
chto li — maybe / I wonder / ...or what?
Register: colloquial
What it really means
"Что ли" is a colloquial particle added to the end of a sentence. It makes the sentence tentative, wondering, or mildly rhetorical. English equivalents include "I wonder if...," "...or what?", "maybe I should..."
It can signal:
1. A tentative suggestion to oneself: "Пойти что ли домой?" = "Should I maybe go home?"
2. Mild surprise or rhetorical challenge: "Ты что ли не слышал?" = "Did you seriously not hear? / Are you for real?"
3. An uncertain proposal: "Купить что ли кофе?" = "Should I get a coffee or what?"
Examples in natural speech
Пойти что ли домой?
Maybe I should go home? (I'm wondering...)
Ты что ли не слышал?
Did you seriously not hear that? (Are you kidding?)
Купить что ли кофе?
Should I get a coffee or what?
Ты что ли уснул за рулём?
Did you fall asleep at the wheel or something?
Позвонить что ли ему?
Maybe I should give him a call?
Common mistakes
"Что ли" has no direct equivalent in English and cannot be translated word-for-word. "Что" here is not "what" — do not try to parse it as a question. It is a single two-word particle that softens or questions the whole sentence.
Memory tip
Think of "что ли" as "...or what?" tacked onto the end — it turns a thought into a tentative musing or a mild rhetorical question.
Frequently asked questions
What does что ли mean in Russian?
"Что ли" is a colloquial particle meaning something like "maybe," "or what," or "I wonder." It is added to the end of a sentence to make it tentative or rhetorical. "Позвонить что ли?" = "Maybe I should call?"
Is что ли formal or informal?
"Что ли" is informal and colloquial. You would not find it in formal writing, but it is extremely common in everyday spoken Russian.
How do you pronounce что ли?
"Что" is pronounced "shto" and "ли" is "li." Together: "shto li." The particle carries no stress.
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