Yapmak & Etmek

What is the difference between yapmak and etmek ? 

As both verbs mean "to do" or "to make", it can be a bit confusing to choose right one. But I have some good news for you. It is easier than English to guess which one is right to use. Let me tell you why;

1.     Even some Turkish people use the verb "etmek" over "yapmak". It is because some of them have been sleeping in Turkish class. But some of them has it as dialect and so it is really their natural way to tell it that way.

2.     If you make a mistake, everyone can understand exactly what you mean. So there is no need to worry. We learn by our own mistakes and the mistake is for we human beings.

3.     I've thought about it and found a nice formula; in other words a way of thinking that usually applies.


When we use the verb yapmak, we usually create something that never existed before and we . For example;
yemek yapmak - to make meal
There is no meal, there is no object or being before you do it.
ödev yapmak - to do homework
Again, you give a life to something new that's not existed before.
resim yapmak - to paint (resim: painting, picture, figure, drawing)
kek yapmak - to bake
ev yapmak - to build a house

So the key is "Something new arises or shape of a being change (transaformation), and you feel it  (usually) more than one sense" --> yapmak

Now please have a look at these "etmek" verbs;
sohbet etmek - to chat
şikayet etmek - to complain
rahatsız etmek - to disturb
kahvaltı etmek - to have breakfast
telefon etmek - to call (on phone)

With "etmek", you're not creating a new thing out of some other things. When we use "yapmak", it is like an equation in chemistry.
2H + 1O ---> H2O       2 Hydrogen and 1 Oxygen gives you the water. There is a transformation.

Some More Examples
temizlik yapmak - to do cleaning
alışveriş yapmak - to do shopping
gürültü yapmak - to make noise
hata yapmak - to make mistake
banyo yapmak - to bathe
çay yapmak - to make tea
kahve yapmak - to make tea
salata yapmak - to make salad
iş yapmak - to do work
çocuk yapmak - to make children
yanlış yapmak - to do wrong
hata yapmak - to make mistake

sabır etmek - to be patient for something
gürültü etmek - to make noise
sabahı etmek - to make it  the morning (time)
akşamı etmek - to reach the evening
hediye etmek - to give gift
hayal etmek - to dream
iltifat etmek - to make compliment (to someone)
göç etmek - to immigrate
sabahı etmek - to make it to morning
akşamı etmek - to make it to evening

bilerek / bile bile yapmak / kasten yapmak – to do something with intent
istemeden yapmak – to do something with no intent, accidentally
iyilik yapmak/etmek – to do a favor
arkadaşlık etmek – to be friends with, companion
kötülük yapmak – to do evil
kötülük etmek – to harm

Beni teyzem büyüttü, bana o annelik etti.
My aunt raised me, she’s mothered me.