Formation of Turkish Abstract Nouns

Suffix ‑lik ‑lık ‑luk ‑lük equates to English nouns ending -ness -tion -ity

güzelbeautiful becomes güzellikbeauty

mutluhappy → mutlulukhappiness

iyigood → iyilikgoodness

zordifficult → zorlukdifficulty, complication

These nouns can be further suffixed according to their function:

mutluluğumdan[mutlu-luğ-um-dan]from my happiness

onun mutluluğu[o-nun mutlu-luğ-u]her happiness
Kız arkadaşımın mutluluğu mu kendi mutluluğumdan daha önemlidir?

Is my girlfriend's happiness more important than my own happiness?

güzelliğine[güzel-liğ-i-n-e]to her/its beauty

Şu manzaranın güzelliğine bakın!

Regard the beauty of this view/vista!

zorluklarımızdan[zor-luk-lar-ımız-dan]from our difficulties.

Tabi bu zorluklarımız oldu, ama hiçbir zaman bu zorluklarımızdan yılmadık!

We are subject to difficulties, but we have never been afraid of our difficulties!

Turkish Diminutive suffix ‑cik ‑cık ‑cuk ‑cük

This suffix can be added to both nouns and adjectives.

babafather → babacıkdaddy

kedicat → kedicikpussycat

köpekdog → köpecikpuppy

The suffix mutates to ‑çık ‑çik ‑çuk ‑çük when added to words ending in voiceless consonants p ç t k f h s ş

Otobüs Hat ve Güzergahları Kitapçığı.
[Kitap-çığ-ı]
Auto-bus Lines and Routes Booklet.

Hoşgeldin arkadaşçığım!
Welcome my dear friend!

Terminal -k is dropped when adding "-cik".

küçüksmall → küçücük[küçü(k)cük]little

ufaksmall → ufacıktiny, minute

miniksmall and nice → minicikwee, tiny

In a few words an extra vowel is inserted: -cik → -icik

azless → azıcıklittle lessbirazıcıkjust a little

birone → biricikunique

darnarrow → daracıknarrowish

This inserted vowel is often glossed over in actual speech:
spoken azcık, birazcık.

Adding Possessive pronouns -im -inmy, your

babacık + ım → babacığım!daddy!

Child talk often uses the diminutive. babacığım[baba-cığ-ım]my daddy

anneciğim[anne-ciğ-im]my mummy

köpeciğin!your little puppy!

1C. Turkish Collective Nouns with ‑lik ‑lık ‑luk ‑lük

gençyoung → gençlikyouth

yaşlıold → yaşlılıkthe aged

çocukchild → çocuklukchildhood

insanperson/human → insanlıkhuman-kind

kişiperson/individual → kişilikpersonality/identity

Bakan Minister → BakanlıkMinistry
Adalet Bakanlığı → Ministry of Justice

Suffixes can be "chained" to produce further extended meanings:

balıkfish →
balıkçıfisherman
Balıkçılık
[Balık-çı-lık] →
Fishing Club, Group, Association

Altın Yunus Balıkçılığı Akdeniz'in en önemli balıkçılıklarından biridir.
[Balık-çı-lık-lar-ı-ndan]
The Golden Dolphin Fishıng Association is one of the most important Fıshıng Clubs of the Mediterranean.

Turkish Nouns of Usage with ‑lik ‑lık ‑luk ‑lük

-lik suffixed to nouns or verbs forms the meaning suitable for, intended for

tuzsalt → tuzluksalt cellar

biberpepper → biberlikpepper shaker

gözeye → gözlükspectacles

kirahire → kiralıkfor hire

yağmurraın → yağmurlukraincoat, mackintosh, oilskin

Turkish Nouns of Location with ‑lik ‑lık ‑luk ‑lük

-lik suffixed to nouns forms the meaning place of..

bakanminister → bakanlıkministry → bakanlık binası → ministry building

kayarock →kayalıkrocky place → kayalık bahçe → rock garden

çamaşırlinen, laundry items → çamaşırlıka laundry room

ormanforest → ormanlıkforest place → ormanlık alanforested area / woods

Substantive Noun of Location -lik:

O tepenin arkasında büyük bir ormanlık bulunur
There is a large forest behind that hill.

We may go on to talk about this particular orman itself:
O ormanda çok yabani hayvan varmış.
It seems there are many wild animals in that forest.

Many place names (take a look at a Turkish map) often end in the suffix -lik

AyvalıkPlace of the Quince ["ayva - quince"].

A place near Çeşme is called DeğirmenlikPlace of the Mill["değirmen - mill"]

It is difficult to translate this suffix directly into English.

We can only say "Quince" or "Quinceville" and "Milltown" or "Millhill".

Nouns formed with -likplace of…

elmalıkapple orchard from elmaapple

sebzelikvegetable garden, stall from sebze vegetable

çiçeklikflower garden, stall from çiçekflower

kitaplıkbook case from kitapbook

Turkish Suffix -lik with Numbers:

A number is normally used as an adjective thus the number 10 as an adjective → on yumurtaten eggs.

Turkish changes numbers and numeric expressions into nouns by the addition of the -lik suffix

The number 10 on → onlukthe amount of ten.

This is like saying Lend me a "tenner" in English.
The number 10 has become a noun of the amount "ten."

The suffix -lik is often added to counted nouns to produce a complex counted noun.

take the example on yumurtaten eggs.

If English says "I want a ten egg box." we understand the requirement is:

"A box that will contain the amount of ten eggs."

Let us look at some possibilities in Turkish:

on yumurta bir kututen eggs one box.

This has no meaning in Turkish.
It is just two items "ten eggs" and "one box".

Turkish will use a counted noun on yumurtalıkten eggs-amount

I want a ten egg box.
On yumurtalık bir kutu istiyorum.
[LIT: I want a ten egg-amount box.]

To say I want a box of ten eggs.
Turkish uses the -lifurnished with, containing suffix:

On yumurtalı bir kutu istiyorum.
I want a box containing ten eggs.

İki kişilik çadır var mı?
[LIT: Is there a tent of two person-amount?]
Is there a double tent?

Evet var. Kaç günlük?
[LIT: Yes, there is. How many day-amount?]
Yes there is. For how many days?

Turkish Negative Abstract Nouns ‑sizlik ‑ sızlık ‑suzluk ‑süzlük

The -lik suffix is often added to the -sizwithout, lacking in suffix to form Negative abstract nouns in -sizlik

sabırpatience → sabırsızimpatient
sabırsızlıkimpatience

dikkatcare → dikkatsizcareless
dikkatsizlikcarelessness

Further suffixes can be added to show the noun condition:

Mutsuzluğumdan kimseye söz etmedim.[Mut-suzluğ-um-dan]
I have not said a word to anyone about my unhappiness.

Dikkatsizliğimi bağışlayın lütfen!
[dikkat-siz-liğ-im-i]
Please excuse my carelessness!

dikkat and other nouns endng in -at are historically an Arabic Feminine Plural.

The final letter -a- is pronounced quite long dikkAAt.

Added suffixes use E-Dotted forms.

Vowel Harmony and Consonant Change do not operate on Arabic word ending in -at

meşrubatbeverage, (cola, tea, coffee) →
meşrubatim(NOT meşrubad-ım)
my beverage

Turkish Compound Nouns

Turkish Definite Compound Nouns

The first noun "possesses" the noun it owns.

The second "possessed noun" is then suffixed as definitive.

Both components retain their grammatical function as as nouns.

Definite Compound Noun examples:

bisikletimin garajı[Bisiklet-im-in garaj-ı]my bicycle's garage[LIT: the garage of my bicycle]

kapının zili[kapı-nın zil-i]the door-bell

Mehmet'in arabası[Mehmet'-in araba-sı]Mehmet's car

pencerenin perdesi[pencere-nin perde-si]the window-curtain

These examples are Definite Compound Nouns and each noun is specific.

pencerenin perdesithe window's curtain
[the window its-curtain] is a particular curtain belonging to a particular window.

The first noun is a DESCRIBING noun is marked by the ownership (genitive) suffix -in -in -un -ün.

It is an adjective and "owns" the second DESCRIBED noun and

Buffer letter -n- is used with the ownership suffix -nin -nin -nun -nün is added to an owning noun which ends in a vowel.

evin anahtarı[ev-in anahtar-ı]the house key
[LIT: the key of the house, the house's key]

It is the particular key of a particular house. It is specifically owned.

Difference between Definite Compound Nouns and Indefinite Compound Nouns.

To make this an Indefinite Compound Noun "any window curtain" pencere perdesiwindow curtain the ownership suffix "-nin"is removed from the Possessor "the window".

Compare this with the indefinite compound noun for speaking generally by removing the ownership suffix from the DESCRIBING noun:

Indefinite Compounds:

ev anahtarıhouse key
[ev anahtar-ı]
[LIT: house the-key]

ev anatarlarıhouse keys
[ev anahtar-ları]
[LIT: house the-keys]

Definite Compound Noun:

arabanın kapısı
[araba-nın kapı-sı]
the car's door
(the particular door of a particular car.)

arabanın kapıları
[araba-nın kapı-ları]
the car's doors
(the particular doors of a particular car.)

Indefinite Compound Noun:

araba kapısı
car door(generally)

araba kapıları
car doors(generally)

Turkish Indefinite Compound Nouns

The first noun acts as an adjective to describe the second noun which is suffixed as a definitive noun.

When two nouns are joined as in lamp-post the second noun takes the third person possessive suffix:

ışık direği[ışık direğ-i from direk]
lamp-post
[LIT: Lamp its-post]

gece kulübü[gece kulüb-ü]
nightclub[LIT: night its-club]

Turkish shows a connection between the two words to make an Indefinite Compound Noun.

The first noun "lamp" is an adjective to describe the second "post" which is made into a definitive noun by the addition of the third person suffix.

Further suffixes can be added to this complex noun as required:

ışık direği[direğ-i]lamp post[LIT: lamp its-post]

onun ışık direği[o-nun ışık direğ-i](NOT "direğ-i-si" - Suffixes are not duplicated)his lamp post

Mehmet'in ışık direği[direğ-i]Mehmet's lamp post[LIT: of-Mehmet lamp post-his]

onun ışık direğinden[direğ-i-nden]from his lamp post

Mehmet'in ışık direğinden[direğ-i-nden]from Mehmet's lamp post

Indefinite Compound Noun examples:

kapı kolundan[kapı kol-u-ndan]from the door handle

yaz okulu[yaz okul-u]the summer school

Ali'nin elma ağacı[Ali-nın elma ağac-ı]Ali's apple tree

bilgisayar ekranı[bilgisayar ekran-ı]the computer screen

deniz suyu[deniz su-yu]the sea water

The first noun is a DESCRIBING ("tamlayan") general noun which acts as an adjective and remains in its basic form.

The second noun is a DESCRIBED ("tamlanan") second noun is made specific by the addition of possessive singular third person suffix -i -ı -u -ü.

This makes the noun specific and can be translated as "the" in English

kadın doktoru[doktor-u]lady doctor[LIT: lady the-doctor]

otobüs durağı[durağ-ı]bus stop

cep telefonu[telefon-u]mobile phone[LIT: pocket the-phone]

futbol maçı[maç-ı]football match

taksi şoförü[şoför-ü]taxi driver

If the DESCRIBED noun ends in a vowel the buffer letter -s- is used.
The added suffix → -si -sı -su -sü.

çamaşır makinesi[makine-si]washing machine[LIT: washing the-machine]

posta kutusu[kutu-su]post box[LIT: post the-box]

Türk kahvesı[kahve-sı]Turkish Coffee

yangın kovası[kova-sı]fire bucket

polis arabası[araba-sı]police car

The only exception is the word suwater

Su uses the buffer letter -y- is used in place of -s-

This is the only grammar exception in Turkish.

meyve suyufruit juice[su-yu]

elma suyuapple juice

et suyugravy[LIT: meat water]

pınar suyuspring water

Plural DESCRIBED nouns are made specific by the addition of possessive plural third person suffix -leri -ları.

otobüs durakları[durak-lar-ı]bus stops[LIT: bus the-stops]

cep telefonları[telefon-lar-ı]mobile phones[LIT: pocket the-phones]

futbol maçları[maç-lar-ı]football matches

taksi şoförleri[şoför-ler-i]taxi drivers

çamaşır makineleri[makine-ler-i]washing machines

posta kutuları[kutu-lar-ı]post boxes

yangın kovaları[kova-lar-ı]fire buckets

Turkish Non-attached Compound Nouns

Used to indicate the material from which the noun is made . Neither noun is made definitive.

The first noun of material acts as an adjective describing the main noun which follows:

tahta kapı.wooden door.

alüminyum pencere.aluminium window.

demir köprü.iron bridge.

Formation of Turkish Abstract Nouns