Particles & Interjections

Particles and interjections are small words that add nuance, emphasis or emotion to a sentence. Most particles are written as separate words, even when they harmonise with the word before them.

Particles

• de / da (also, too, even; and, but): written separately; e/a harmony, but never te/ta.
  Ben de geldim. (I came too.), Kitabı okudu da anlamadı. (He/She read the book but didn't understand it.)
• ki (that; so ... that): written separately and never harmonises. It appears inside some fixed words (belki, sanki, çünkü). In speech, mi ki adds a sense of wondering.
  Biliyorum ki gelecek. (I know that he/she will come.), Evde mi ki? (I wonder if he/she is at home.)
• mi / mı / mu / mü (question particle): written separately, four-way harmony; personal endings usually follow it.
  Geldin mi? (Did you come?), Geliyor musun? (Are you coming?)
• ise (as for, whereas; if): often attached as -(y)sA.
  Ben çalışıyorum, kardeşim ise uyuyor. (I'm working, whereas my brother/sister is sleeping.)
• bile (even):
  O bile geldi. (Even he/she came.)
• sadece / yalnız / ancak (only, just):
  Sadece sen anlarsın. (Only you would understand.), Ancak yarın gelebilirim. (I can't come until tomorrow.)
• acaba (I wonder):
  Acaba yarın yağmur yağacak mı? (I wonder if it will rain tomorrow.)
• işte (here, there; you see):
  İşte anahtarın! (Here's your key!)
• ya (emphasis: "you know", "after all"):
  Söylemiştim ya! (I told you so!)
• hani (you know; so where is...?):
  Hani bana kitap getirecektin? (Weren't you going to bring me a book?)

Interjections (Ünlemler)

Interjections express sudden feelings or reactions. They usually stand at the start of the sentence, often followed by a comma or an exclamation mark.

• Ah!: pain, sadness, longing. (Ah, başım ağrıyor! - Oh, my head hurts!)
• Eyvah!: alarm, dismay. (Eyvah, anahtarı unuttum! - Oh no, I forgot the key!)
• Vay!: surprise, admiration. (Vay, ne güzel bir ev! - Wow, what a beautiful house!)
• Aferin!: well done (often said to children or students). (Aferin sana! - Well done!)
• Haydi / Hadi!: come on, let's. (Hadi gidelim! - Come on, let's go!)
• Aman!: warning, worry, annoyance or pleading. (Aman dikkat et! - Be careful!)
• Of!: boredom, annoyance, tiredness. (Of, çok sıkıldım! - Ugh, I'm so bored!)
• Yaşasın!: hooray; long live. (Yaşasın, kazandık! - Hooray, we won!)
• Hoşça kal / Hoşça kalın: goodbye (said by the person leaving); Güle güle: goodbye (said by the person staying). These are set greeting phrases rather than pure interjections.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ Bende geldim. → ✓ Ben de geldim.
• ✗ Gidiyormusun? → ✓ Gidiyor musun?
• ✗ Okulda ki çocuk → ✓ Okuldaki çocuk (the child at school — this -ki is a suffix and is attached)