Formal:
* Kí ni èyí? (kee nee ee-yee?) This is the most common and formal way to ask.
Informal:
* Èyí kọ́? (ee-yee ko?) This is a more informal and casual way to ask.
* Kí ni èyí gan-an? (kee nee ee-yee gan-an?) This is a slightly more emphatic way to ask, similar to "What exactly is this?"
Note:
* Kí (kee) means "what"
* ni (nee) means "is"
* èyí (ee-yee) means "this"
The intonation and stress on the words can also influence the meaning and tone of the question.