Possessive Suffixes in Turkish
İyelik Ekleri
To show ownership in Turkish, you attach specific suffixes to the end of a noun. Unlike English, there is no need for words like 'my' or 'your' as separate entities —they are built directly into the word.
Key Harmony Rules
Possessives strictly follow Turkish vowel and consonant laws:
- Vowel Harmony: The vowel in the suffix changes (e.g., -im vs -ım) to match the last vowel of the noun.
- Buffer 's': When a noun ends in a vowel, a buffer 's' is used for the 3rd person singular suffix.
- Consonant Mutation: If a word ends in 'k', it often changes to 'ğ' when a suffix starting with a vowel is added (e.g., köpek -> köpeğim).
Possessive Suffix Overview
The suffix changes based on whether the word ends in a vowel or a consonant.
| Person | Suffix (Consonant end) | Suffix (Vowel end) |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Sing. (My) | -(ı)m | -m |
| 2nd Sing. (Your) | -(ı)n | -n |
| 3rd Sing. (His/Her/Its) | -(s)ı | -sı |
| 1st Plural (Our) | -(ı)mız | -mız |
| 2nd Plural (Your) | -(ı)nız | -nız |
| 3rd Plural (Their) | -(ları) | -ları |
Example Sentences
Arabam kırmızı.My car is red.
Eviniz çok güzel.Your (formal/plural) house is very beautiful.
Kedisi süt içiyor.His/Her cat is drinking milk.
Okulumuz büyük.Our school is big.
Applied Examples
Applying the rules to the word 'Araba' (Car) and 'Ev' (House).
| Person | Araba (Car) | Ev (House) |
|---|---|---|
| My | Arabam | Evim |
| Your | Araban | Evin |
| His/Her | Arabası | Evi |
| Our | Arabamız | Evimiz |
| Your (pl) | Arabanız | Eviniz |
| Their | Arabaları | Evleri |