Questions are indeed everywhere! From casual chats with friends to crucial job interviews, and even simple shopping trips, our days are filled with inquiries. This becomes even more pronounced when you find yourself in a new country. Imagine being in Turkey, needing to know the time, locate a hospital, or simply ask for permission. In such moments, knowing how to ask basic questions in Turkish is not just helpful—it’s essential. Understanding Turkish question patterns will empower you to get your needs met efficiently, engage in conversations, and truly experience Turkish culture.
In this guide, we will delve into the world of Turkish questions. You’ll learn the key Turkish question words and discover how to construct both regular and yes-no questions in Turkish. You’ll find that forming questions in Turkish is more straightforward than you might think! Let’s start by understanding the Turkish words for “question” and “answer”:
- Soru (Question)
- Cevap / Yanıt (Answer)
Just like in English, Turkish questions come in two main forms: regular questions using question words and yes-no questions. Let’s explore both.
1. Unlocking Information: Regular Questions in Turkish
Regular questions are your go-to for gathering specific information. They utilize question words like “what,” “who,” “when,” “where,” “how,” and “why.” Mastering these words is the first step to asking a wide range of questions in Turkish.
Here’s a table of common Turkish question words:
| # | Turkish | English |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ne? | “What?” |
| 2 | Kim? | “Who?” |
| 3 | Kimi? | “Whom?” |
| 4 | Kime? | “To whom?” |
| 5 | Kimin? | “Whose?” |
| 6 | Hangi? | “Which?” |
| 7 | Hangisi? | “Which one?” |
| 8 | Ne zaman? | “When?” |
| 9 | Nerede? | “Where?” |
| 10 | Nereden? | “From where?” |
| 11 | Nereye? | “To where?” |
| 12 | Ne kadar? | “How much?” / “How long?” |
| 13 | Kaç tane? | “How many?” |
| 14 | Nasıl? | “How?” |
| 15 | Niçin? / Neden? | “Why?” |
2. Seeking Confirmation: Yes-No Questions in Turkish
Yes-no questions are designed to elicit a simple “yes” or “no” response. In Turkish, these are formed using interrogative particles: -mı, -mi, -mu, -mü, and their conjugated forms. These particles are placed at the very end of the sentence, immediately following the verb. While they don’t have a meaning on their own, they are crucial for turning statements into questions.
Here are some examples of yes-no questions in Turkish:
- Bugün üzgün müsün? (Are you sad today?)
- Yarın hastaneye gidecek misin? (Will you go to the hospital tomorrow?)
- Okul bugün başladı mı? (Did school start today?)
3. Everyday Scenarios: Practical Turkish Questions
Life is indeed full of questions! While it’s impossible to list every single question you might ask, we’ve compiled common Turkish questions and answers categorized by situation to get you started. Note that all examples use the second-person singular informal “you” for ease of learning.
1. General Information: Asking About Your Surroundings
This section covers essential questions for navigating daily life and understanding your environment in Turkey.
| # | Question in Turkish | Answer in Turkish | Question in English | Answer in English |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bu ne? / Ne bu? / Bu nedir? / Nedir bu? | Bu bir kamera. | “What is this?” | “This is a camera.” |
| 2 | Bu kim? / Kim bu? | Bu benim kuzenim. | “Who is this?” | “This is my cousin.” |
| 3 | Postane nerede? | Caddenin sonunda. | “Where is the post office?” | “At the end of the street.” |
| 4 | Saat kaç? / Saatin kaç? | Saat beşi on geçiyor. | “What time is it?” | “It’s ten past five.” |
| 5 | Yarın hava nasıl? | Yağmurlu olacak. | “How is the weather tomorrow?” | “It will be rainy.” |
| 6 | Bu havlu kaç para? / Bu havlu ne kadar? | On beş Lira | “How much is this towel?” | “Fifteen Liras.” |
| 7 | İzmir Ankara’dan ne kadar uzakta? | Yaklaşık 600 km. | “How far is İzmir from Ankara?” | “Approximately 600 km.” |
| 8 | Sana yardım edebilir miyim? / Sana yardımcı olabilir miyim? | Evet, lütfen. Hayır, teşekkürler. | “Can I help you?” | “Yes, please.” “No, thanks.” |
| 9 | Bana yardım edebilir misin? / Bana yardımcı olabilir misin? | Tabi. Yok, kusura bakma; gitmem lazım. | “Can you help me?” | “Sure.” “No offense; I have to go.” |
2. Personal Information: Getting to Know People
When making new acquaintances in Turkey, these questions will help you start conversations and build connections.
First Encounter
| # | Question in Turkish | Answer in Turkish | Question in English | Answer in English |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Adın ne? / İsmin ne? | Adım Mary. İsmim Mary. | “What is your name?” | “My name is Mary.” |
| 2 | Kaç yaşındasın? | Otuz yaşındayım. | “How old are you?” | “I’m thirty years old.” |
| 3 | Nerelisin? / Neredensin? | Amerikalıyım. | “Where are you from?” | “I’m from the USA.” |
| 4 | Nerede yaşıyorsun? / Nerede oturuyorsun? | San Diego’da yaşıyorum. San Diego’da oturuyorum. | “Where do you live?” | “I live in San Diego.” |
| 5 | Hobilerin neler? | Seyahat etmek ve yüzmek. Seyahat etmeyi ve yüzmeyi severim. | “What are your hobbies?” | “To travel and to swim.” “I like traveling and swimming.” |
| 6 | Evli misin? | Evet, evliyim. Hayır, değilim. | “Are you married?” | “Yes, I’m married.” “No, I’m not.” |
| 7 | Çocuğun var mı? | Evet, 1 tane var. Hayır, yok. | “Do you have a kid?” | “Yes, I have one.” “No, I don’t.” |
| 8 | Kardeşlerin var mı? | Evet, 3 kardeşim var. Hayır, yok. | “Do you have siblings?” | “Yes, I have three siblings.” “No, I don’t.” |
| 9 | İngilizce biliyor musun? / İngilizce konuşuyor musun? | Evet, biraz. Maalesef hayır. | “Do you speak English?” | “Yes, a little bit.” “Unfortunately, no.” |
3. School Life: Questions for Students
For students or anyone interested in education, these questions are perfect for school-related conversations in Turkish.
| # | Question in Turkish | Answer in Turkish | Question in English | Answer in English |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Öğrenci misin? | Evet, öğrenciyim. Hayır, değilim. | “Are you a student?” | “Yes, I’m a student.” “No, I’m not.” |
| 2 | Kaçıncı sınıftasın? / Kaçıncı sınıfa gidiyorsun? | 7. sınıftayım. 7. sınıfa gidiyorum. | “What grade are you in?” | “I’m in seventh grade.” |
| 3 | Hangi üniversitede okuyorsun? | San Diego Üniversitesi’nde okuyorum. | “In which university are you studying?” | “I’m studying at the University of San Diego.” |
| 4 | Okulun nerede? | San Diego’da. | “Where is your school?” | “In San Diego.” |
| 5 | En sevdiğin ders ne? | Tarih. | “What is your favorite class?” | “History.” |
| 6 | Ne zaman mezun olacaksın? | 2 yıl sonra. 2 yıl var daha. | “When will you graduate?” | “In two years.” “In more than two years.” |
| 7 | Mezun olunca ne olacaksın? | Arkeolog. | “What will you be when you graduate?” | “An archaeologist.” |
| 8 | Matematiği seviyor musun? | Evet, seviyorum. Hayır, hiç sevmem. | “Do you like math?” | “Yes, I like it.” “No, I don’t like it at all.” |
| 9 | Ödevini yaptın mı? / Ev ödevini yaptın mı? | Evet, yaptım. Hayır, henüz yapmadım. | “Did you do your homework?” | “Yes, I did.” “No, not yet.” |
4. Business Interactions: Professional Turkish Questions
These questions are useful for business-related conversations, whether you’re networking or conducting business in Turkey.
| # | Question in Turkish | Answer in Turkish | Question in English | Answer in English |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mesleğin ne? | Endüstri mühendisiyim. | “What is your profession?” | “I’m an industrial engineer.” |
| 2 | Ne okudun? | Mühendislik okudum. | “What did you study?” | “I studied engineering.” |
| 3 | Hangi dilleri biliyorsun? / Hangi dilleri konuşuyorsun? | Sadece İngilizce biliyorum. | “Which languages do you speak?” | “I only speak English.” |
| 4 | Hangi üniversitede okudun? | Stanford’da. | “Which university did you graduate from?” | “Stanford.” |
| 5 | Daha önce nerede çalıştın? | Dole’da çalıştım. | “Where did you work before?” | “I worked at Dole.” |
| 6 | ___ olarak ne kadar çalıştın? | ___ olarak 5 yıl çalıştım. | “How long have you worked as a ___?” | “I have worked as a ___ for five years.” |
| 7 | 3 yıl içinde kendini nerede görüyorsun? | 3 yıl içinde kendimi Üretim Departmanının yöneticisi olarak görüyorum. | “Where do you see yourself in three years?” | “I see myself as the manager of the Production Department in three years.” |
| 8 | Özgeçmişin var mı? / CV’in var mı? | Evet, var. Hayır, yok. | “Do you have a CV?” | “Yes, I do.” “No, I don’t.” |
| 9 | ___ konusunda tecrübeli misin? / ___ konusunda deneyimli misin? | Evet, tecrübeliyim. Hayır deneyimli değilim. | “Are you experienced in ___?” | “Yes, I’m experienced.” “No, I’m not experienced.” |
5. Seeking Clarity: Asking for Repetition and Explanation
Sometimes, understanding everything in a new language can be challenging. These questions are crucial for ensuring clear communication.
| # | Question in Turkish | Answer in Turkish | Question in English | Answer in English |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tekrarlayabilir misin lütfen? | Tabi. Elbette. | “Can you repeat please?” | “Sure.” “Of course.” |
| 2 | Yavaş konuşabilir misin lütfen? | Tabi. Elbette. | “Can you speak slowly please?” | “Sure.” “Of course.” |
| 3 | Tekrar anlatabilir misin lütfen? | Olur. Hayır, anlatamam. | “Can you explain it again please?” | “Alright.” “No, I can’t.” |
| 4 | Benim için yazabilir misin lütfen? | Tabi. Elbette. | “Can you write it down for me please?” | “Sure.” “Of course.” |
| 5 | Pardon? | You can repeat what you said as an answer to this question. | “Excuse me?” | You can repeat what you said as an answer to this question. |
| 6 | Bu gerçek mi? / Gerçek mi bu? | Evet, gerçek. Yok, hayır, şaka. | “Is that true?” | “Yes, it’s true.” “No, it’s not; it’s a joke.” |
| 7 | Bu doğru mu? / Doğru mu bu? | Evet, doğru. Hayır, yanlış. | “Is that correct?” | “Yes, it’s correct.” “No, it’s wrong.” |
| 8 | Bu yanlış mı? / Yanlış mı bu? | Evet, yanlış. Hayır, doğru. | “Is that wrong?” | “Yes, it’s wrong.” “No, it’s correct.” |
| 9 | Türkçe de “___” nasıl dersin? | “Türkçe’de “___” denir. | “How do you say ‘___’ in Turkish?” | “It’s said ‘___’ in Turkish.” |
4. Continue Your Turkish Learning Journey with TurkishClass101!
You’ve made excellent progress in understanding Turkish questions! From question words to yes-no structures and practical examples, you’ve gained a solid foundation. However, language learning is an ongoing journey.
To further enhance your skills and practice what you’ve learned, visit TurkishClass101.com. Explore our extensive resources, including audio lessons, vocabulary lists, a comprehensive dictionary, and many other free learning tools.
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Happy Turkish learning!
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