Questions make up an important part of our communication. Hundreds of questions fly around our minds every day, and now, I can see the big question mark in your head saying, “what are the Turkish question words?” You’ll find the answer to this question here, in this article.
If you want to ask questions in Turkish, you need to know the six essential question words; “Kim (who), ne (what), nerede (where), neden (why), ne zaman (when), and nasıl (how)” which are known as the 5N1K questions in the Turkish language.
You’ll learn how to form question sentences with these words and many others, but first, let’s learn Turkish question words and their meanings.
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How To Form Question Sentences In Turkish?
There are two different ways to form question sentences in Turkish. The first way is to use question words, and the second one is to use question particles.
When it comes to word order in Turkish, question words usually come at the beginning of a sentence, while question particles come at the end, inflected according to the verb and person.
Turkish Question Words
There are six essential question words in Turkish that others derive from. These words are used to form common questions, excluding yes-no questions. So if someone asks you a question using these words, it means that they want a specific answer.
Here is the list of all Turkish question words:
| English | Turkish | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| What? | Ne? | |
| Who? | Kim? | |
| Whom? | Kimi? | |
| To whom? | Kime? | |
| Whose? | Kimin? | |
| Which? | Hangi? | |
| Which one? | Hangisi? | |
| When? | Ne zaman? | |
| Where? | Nerede? | |
| From where? | Nereden? | |
| To where? | Nereye? | |
| How much? / How long? | Ne kadar? | |
| How many? | Kaç tane? | |
| How? | Nasıl? | |
| Why? | Neden? / Niçin? | / |
Here are some examples:
- How many ice creams do they want? – Kaç tane dondurma istiyorlar?
- How do you feel? – Nasıl hissediyorsun?
- Which dress is prettier? – Hangi elbise daha güzel?
- Whom are you calling? – Kimi arıyorsun?
The Interrogative Particles In Turkish
The second way to form question sentences in Turkish is to use interrogative particles, which are listed below:
- mı, mi, mu, mü
- mısın, misin, musun, müsün
Each particle functions as a separate word, so they never conjugate with the words before them.
A Turkish question sentence can include either a question word or a question particle, and it is not a thing to use both simultaneously.
These particles are used to ask yes-no questions. So, if someone asks you a question ending with one of these particles, it means that you can basically answer yes or no in Turkish.
Here are some examples:
- Are you a teacher? – Sen öğretmen misin?
- Yes. – Evet.
- Is it your cat? – O senin kedin mi?
- No. – Hayır.
- Do you go to school? – Okula gidiyor musun?
- Yes, I do. – Evet, gidiyorum.
- Is her name Zeynep? – Onun adı Zeynep mi?
- Yes. – Evet.
Question Tags In Turkish
In English, question tags change according to the subject and tense; however, in Turkish, there is only one question tag, and you can add it to all sentences regardless of subject and tense.
Forming question sentences with question tags is very simple in Turkish. All you have to do is add “değil mi” at the end of the sentence. Here are some examples:
- You are at home, aren’t you? – Evdesin, değil mi?
- You finished your homework, didn’t you? – Ödevini bitirdin, değil mi?
- Mert is coming today, isn’t he? – Mert bugün gelecek, değil mi?
- We’re going to meet up tomorrow, aren’t we? – Yarın buluşacağız, değil mi?
The phrase “değil mi” sounds like “di mi (dee-me)” in natural conversations, and you can even see some Turkish people write “di mi” in the texting language.
Common Daily Questions In Turkish
| English | Turkish | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| What is this? | Bu ne? / Bu nedir? | / |
| Who is this? | Bu kim? | |
| Where is the bus stop? | Otobüs durağı nerede? | |
| What time is it? | Saat kaç? | |
| How is the weather tomorrow? | Yarın hava nasıl? | |
| How much is this? | Bu ne kadar? | |
| How can I help you? | Sana nasıl yardımcı olabilirim? | |
| Can you help me? | Bana yardım eder misin? |
Common Personal Questions
| English | Turkish | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| What is your name? | Senin adın ne? | |
| How old are you? | Kaç yaşındasın? | |
| Where are you from? | Nerelisin? | |
| Where do you live? | Nerede yaşıyorsun? | |
| What are your hobbies? | Hobilerin neler? | |
| Are you married? | Evli misin? | |
| Are you single? | Bekar mısın? | |
| Do you have a kid? | Çocuğun var mı? | |
| Do you have siblings? | Kardeşlerin var mı? | |
| Can you speak English? | İngilizce konuşabiliyor musun? |
Common School-Related Questions
| English | Turkish | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Are you a student? | Öğrenci misin? | |
| What grade are you in? | Kaçıncı sınıftasın? | |
| In which university are you studying? | Hangi üniversitede okuyorsun? | |
| Where is your school? | Okulun nerede? | |
| What is your favorite class? | En sevdiğin ders ne? | |
| When will you graduate? | Ne zaman mezun olacaksın? | |
| What will you do after you graduate? | Mezun olduktan sonra ne yapacaksın? | |
| Do you like math? | Matematiği seviyor musun? | |
| Did you do your homework? | Ödevini yaptın mı? |
Common Business-Related Questions
| English | Turkish | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| What is your profession? | Mesleğin ne? | |
| What did you study? | Ne okudun? | |
| Which foreign languages can you speak? | Hangi yabancı dilleri konuşabiliyorsun | |
| Which university did you graduate from? | Hangi üniversiteden mezun oldun | |
| Where did you work before? | Daha önce nerede çalıştın? | |
| Where do you see yourself in five years? | Beş yıl içinde kendini nerede görüyorsun? | |
| Can I see your CV? | CV’ni görebilir miyim? | |
| How many years of experience do you have? | Kaç yıllık tecrüben var? |
How Do You Say “Question Words” In Turkish?
Question words in Turkish means “soru kelimeleri.” Soru means question and “kelimeleri” means words.
Frequently Asked Questions About Turkish Question Words
1. How to form a question in Turkish?
To form a question in Turkish, you typically add a question particle at the end of the sentence. The most common particles are “mi,” “mı,” “mu,” and “mü,” depending on the vowel harmony of the sentence. For example, “Sen geliyorsun” (You are coming) becomes “Sen geliyor musun?” (Are you coming?).
2. What are the basic words in Turkish?
Basic words in Turkish include common pronouns, verbs, and essential nouns. Examples are “ben” (I), “sen” (you), “ev” (house), “kitap” (book), and “yemek” (food). These words form the foundation of basic communication.
3. Does Turkish use question marks?
Yes, Turkish uses question marks (?), just like in English, to indicate that a sentence is a question.
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