hiç - any, ever, nothing, none, at all, never

Today we are with the 41st common word "hiç". This word can mean various things as you see and I would say that it is a quite useful word. Let's see how to use this word with so many examples!

ANY
Benim hiç param yok.
I don't have any money.

Bugün babam hiç dışarı çıkmadı, hep televizyon izledi.
Today my father did not go out any, he always watched TV.

Hiç şansları yok, bu maçı kazanamazlar.
They don't have any chance, they can not win this match.

Masada hiç bardak yok.
There are not any glasses on the table. *( notice that we use singular in Turkish to form "there are not any" sentences)

Haftasonu için hiç planım yok.
I do not have any plans for the weekend.

Artık sana hiç borcum yok.
I am not owing you any anymore.

Benim hiç haberim yok. (haber: news, one to one translation is that I do not have any news at all.)
I haven't heard it any./I never heard of it.

EVER
Sen hiç Türkiye'ye gittin mi?
Have you ever been to Turkey?

Hiç mi düşünmedin?
Haven't you ever thought?

NOTHING / ANYTHING
A. Ne yapıyorsun? What are you doing?

B. Hiç. Nothing. People say this hiç long. (Another answer would be "hiçbir şey yapmıyorum")

A. Bu akşam ne yapıyorsun/yapacaksın? What are you doing tonight?
B. Hiçbir şey. Evdeyim muhtemelen. Nothing. I am at home probably.

Yiyecek hiçbir şey yok. / Yiyecek bir şey yok.
There is nothing to eat. (hiçbir şey: nothing, şey: thing, bir şey: something, one thing)

Televizyonda 'hiçbir şey' / 'birşey' yok.
There is nothing on TV.

Evde içecek hiçbir şey yok.
There is not anything to drink at home.

Buzdolabında içecek hiçbir şey kalmadı. (kalmak: to remain, to be left)
There is nothing left to drink in the fridge.

NONE OF / NOBODY
Hiç kimse sana söylemedi mi? Has nobody told you?
Hiç kimse beni anlamıyor. Nobody understands me.

Çocuklardan hiçbiri bizi aramadı. None of the kids called us.
(Onlardan) Hiçbiri gelmedi. None of them came.

AT ALL
Bu yemeği hiç beğenmedim. I did not like this meal at all.
Bu yemeği beğenmedim. I did not like this meal.

Hiç mi sevmedin, azıcık bile mi?
Haven't you liked at all, not even a little bit?

Hiçbir şekilde kabul edemem. I can not accept this at all.
Hiç anlamadım. I haven't understood at all.

NEVER
Ben hayatımda hiç ağlamadım. I have never cried in my life.
Paris'e hiç gitmedim. I've never been to Paris.
Ben daha önce hiç bunun kadar güzel bir çiçek görmedim. I have never seen a flower as beautiful as this one. *(Notice that we use both a negative word and negative verb at the same time. Except one sentence type, ne/neither.. ne/nor .., this is always the case in Turkish)


Hiç boşuna ağlama, hiç fayda etmez, kararım hiç değişmeyecek..
Don't ever cry in vain, it doesn't do any favors for you, my decision will not change in any circumstances.

nasıl - how

Nasıl is the 40th most common word in Turkish and it is an interrogative word, that is we use it to form a question sentence.

In this article we will learn to form these kind of sentences;
I know how to...
How to ... ?
How...?
How + adj. ! (e.g.How beautiful house!)

First maybe we should learn what we can not say :) How old, How long, How much, How often... In Turkish we have different words for these. If you want to read the other interrogative words in Turkish you may like to see link. 

In Turkish, you build "How to" sentences with this word and also you change the verb from active to passive sound usually adding the ending -ıl,-il. to the verb stem (the verb after you take away mek,mak) And the objects in the sentence take the same endings as the normal sentences. For example;

at: horse; binmek: to ride 

When you use this verb you add the suffix "to" in English to the objects which is -e,-a in Turkish 

Ata biniyorum. I am riding a horse. 

Ata nasıl binilir? / Nasıl ata binilir? How to ride a horse? (You can say nasıl first or in the middle)

And when you want to say "I know how to ... " You use the present continuous form of the verb "to know/bilmek" and you add -yı,-yi after you take away -k from the verb.*(Please see the below)

Ata binmeyi biliyorum. I know to ride a horse. 

You could also say "how to ride"+ biliyorum

Ata nasıl binilir biliyorum. / I know how to ride a horse.

But it sounds like you put emphasis, your audience did not believe you first or they did not think it was highly possible. So, in Turkish we prefer to say "know to do" and "to know verb+ing" instead of "to know how to" unless we need to put emphasize.

Examples for "how to" and "I  know how to"

Nasıl yemek yapılır? How to cook? (yemek yapmak/to cook,to make food)

Nasıl (bir) website yapılır? How to make a webpage? (yapmak/to make)
Nasıl yüzülür? How to swim? (yüzmek/to swim)
Nasıl kilo verilir? How to lose weight? (kilo vermek/to lose weight)
Nasıl Türkçe öğrenilir? How to learn Turkish? (öğrenmek/to learn)

Yemek yapmayı biliyorum. I know cooking.
Website yapmayı biliyorum. I know to make a website.
Yüzmeyi biliyorum. I know swimming.

Other examples

Nasılsın? How are you?
Nasıl gidiyor? How it is going? (works like "how are you?/nasılsın?")
Nasıl biliyorsun bunu? How come you know this?
Yolculuğun nasıldı? How was your trip?
Film nasıldı? How was the movie?
Günün nasıldı? How was your day?
Nasıl Türkçe öğrendin? How did you learn Turkish?
Nasıl yaptın bunu? How did you do this?
Nasıl kilo verdin? How did you lose weight?
Yüzmeyi nasıl öğrendin? How did you learn to swim?
Bunu nasıl yaptın? How did you do this?
Tell me how you are. Söyle bana nasılsın / Bana nasıl olduğunu söyle.

How beautiful house! / What a beautiful house!
(Nasıl (da) güzel bir ev! / Ne güzel (bir) ev!)
For these kind of sentences, In Turkish we usually prefer to say "what.." , nasıl/how unless we want to put emphasis or we are so much surprised or impressed. When you start with "nasıl da", you put even more emphasis. The grammar is easy, you just say nasıl/ne and the rest is a normal sentence.
You do not need to say a/bir before the adjective in Turkish but you are free to say, the sentence means the same with or without.
examples:
Ne berbat film! How horrible movie!
Ne şirin kedicik! What a cute kitten!
Ne büyük ev! What a big house!




*Note: Why yi? Because we always use -ı,i ending with the verb bilmek and when you take away -k it ends with a vowel, so we need to add -y also. For example; Seni biliyorum/I know you, Ayşe'yi biliyorum/I know Ayşe.

olduğunu - that is

Hello! Starting from today, I will publish the lessons and the vocabulary items on our new interface (http://www.learnturkisheasy.com) as I thought that it will be more organized and the menu will be easier to use for you. But we continue to learn the most common Turkish words on this page. As this page is first    yours, of course I am open for your ideas, too. 

Today's word is "olduğunu". It is the 39th most common word in Turkish Language. This word has no meaning when it is alone. Let's see how it works.

First, please have a look at this sentence and try to guess how to say it in Turkish.

"I know that this is wrong"

The most simple way is that;

Bu yanlış, biliyorum. This is wrong, I know (it).

The second possible way is that;

Biliyorum ki bu yanlış.

But if you've read the article about "ki" , you already know that this is not so common way that we use. 

Now I'm writing the third and the most accurate Turkish translation of this sentence;

Bunun yanlış olduğunu biliyorum. "I know that this is wrong"

You are free to use one of these three options, but just know that the third way is not only the most accurate but also the most common one. It can seem complicated if you've just started to learn Turkish. But like always I do, I will try to simplify it. And to do this I will use other examples.

Onun güzel olduğunu biliyorum. I know that she is beautiful.

Sorunun doğru olduğunu söyledi. He said that the question is accurate.

Yanlış olduğunu kabul etti. He admitted that he was wrong.

Arkadaşının doktor olduğunu neden söylemedin? Why havent you told me that your friend was a doctor?

Bana okulda olduğunu söyledi. He said that he was at the school.

There is one thing common in all these sentences. If we look from the English side, we see a sentence after the word that, and that sentence describes something or someone, with a noun or an adjective. I underlined those sentences. These are just normal sentences with the verb "to be" (which is "olmak" in Turkish). So, this is not different with such a sentence;

I know this. --> What do you know? --> She is beautiful.

So, when we need to use these "to be sentences" in other sentences, in other words when they play a noun/object role in other sentences, the verb olmak comes to our help in the form of "olduğunu". 

zaman - time

Ne zaman buraya geliyorsun? When are you coming here?
Bir zamanlar bir kiz varmış ... Once upon a time there was a girl ...
O zaman sen şimdi git, ben sonra gelirim. Then, you go now, I come later.
Bu zamanda para kazanmak zor. It is hard to earn money in this age.
Zamanın var mı? Do you have time?
Tren tam zamanında hareket etti. The train has departured just in time.
Zamanında eve gel. Come home on time.

  Öyle Bir Geçer Zaman Ki

Öyle bir geçer zaman ki

How the time passes

Dediğim aynı ile vaki

The thing I'm saying is the same happening

Öyle bir geçer zaman ki

How the time passes

Dediğim aynı ile vaki

The thing I'm saying is the same happening

Birden dursun istersin

Suddenly you want it to stop

Seneler olunca mazi

When the years become past

Öyle bir geçer zaman ki

How the time passes

Dediğim aynı ile vaki

The thing I'm saying is the same happening

Öyle bir geçer zaman ki

How the time passes

Kara yazı yazıldı sanma

Don't think the black destiny was written

İnsanın da kaderi böyle

Human's fate is like that

Öyle bir geçer zaman ki

How the time passes

Dediğim aynı ile vaki

The thing I'm saying is the same happening

Öyle bir geçer zaman ki

How the time passes

Bir cevap buldun mu sorulara

Have you found an answer to the questions?

Yiğitlik de var yine serde

Bravery is still inside,too

Nasıl gaddar seneler

How cruel the years are

Geçiyor durduğu yerde

Pass at the same place that they stand

Geçenlere bakarsın katı katı

You look unshadedly at the ones that pass

Üzerine çekersin perde

You close the curtains over them

Yoldan geçenler var da

There are the ones who pass through the street

Her akşam gelenler nerde

But where are the ones who come every evening?

O nedir seni kızdıran

What is that thing that makes you angry?

Memnun edeceği yerde

Instead of making you happy

Bak bir garip diyor ki

Look, a poor says

Nerede o yarim nerde

Where is my darling? where?

Anılara kapılıp kanma

Don't overcome by the memories

Dünyanın da düzeni böyle

The system of the world is like that

burada - here

Burada kimse yok. There is nobody here.
Burada sadece ben varım. There is only me here.
Burada hiç ses yok. There is no sound here.
Burada mı oturuyorsun? Do you live here?
Burada kedi bile yavrusunu bulamaz. Here, even a cat cannot find its baby.
Burada herkes huzur içinde yaşıyor. Everybody lives in peace here.
Burada herşey aynı. Everything is same here.
Burada hiçbir şey farklı değil. Nothing is different here.

Buraya gel! Come here!
Buradan uzaklaşma! Don't go away from here!
Buranın adını bilmiyorum. I don't know the name of this place.

Note: People usually skip the first a and say "burda"

Today I could not find a song having the word burada but I have a real nice song for you. Hope you enjoy!

senin - your, yours

Senin is the 36th Turkish common word and it means your or yours.


Sample Sentences:
Bu senin. This is yours.
Bu senin değil. This is not yours.

Senin evin nerede? Where is your house?
Senin telefonunu kullanabilir miyim? May I use your phone?

Senin araban var, yürümek zorunda değilsin. You have a car, you don't have to walk.
Senin paran var mı? Do you have money?

Seninle geliyorum. I'm coming with you.
Seninle konuşmak istemiyorum. I don't wan to talk with you.

Bunu senin için aldım. I bought this for you.
Senin için elimden geleni yapacağım. I will do my best for you.

Kardeşim senin kadar uzun. My brother is tall as you.
Senin kadar uzun kimse görmedim. I've never seen someone tall as you.

This is a Turkish commercial video of a GSM company and it is popular with its song. The product that they are selling is called gnc turkcell.

Senin Benim Bizim (Yours, Mine, Ours)

The Lyrics
Hayallerim var benim,kağıttan gemilerim.
I have my dreams, my paper boats.
Ben nasıl istersem, öyle katlar bükerim
Whatever I feel like to do, that way I bend and fold them
Umut, dilim kalbim, lehçem
Hope, my language my heart, my dialect
Dünya benim oyun bahçem.
The world is my playground.
Ben nasıl istersem, öyle oynar giderim
Whatever I feel like to do, that way I keep playing


Genç turkcell senin benim bizim (x2)
Genç turkcell is yours mine ours


Garip, garip huylarım.
Weird, my weird habits.
Gizli saklı koylarım.
My secret (under the rose) bays.
Her nasılsam işte.
Whatever I look like.
İşte öyle biriyim
That's how I am.
( and repeats the first two part)

neden - why

We continue with learning the most common Turkish words. Today's word is "neden" which is the 35th most common word in Turkish Language. It looks like we like to question what's happening around, a little bit more than the other societies.

Maybe you also remember, there was a tale "Little Red Riding Hood". In the Turkish version of that tale, the little girl was asking the wolf those four famous questions;

Büyükanne, neden senin sesin böyle kalın?
Grandma, why is your voice such deep?
Büyükanne, neden gözlerin bu kadar büyük?
Grandma, why your eyes are that big?
Büyükanne, neden ellerin böyle büyük?
Grandma, why are your hands such big?
Büyükanne, neden ağzın bu kadar büyük?
Grandma, why is your mouth such big?!

The funny thing is that, in the original story, the little girl just get surprised, she does not ask questions but say;
What a deep voice you have! Goodness, what big eyes you have!  And what big hands you have! What a big mouth you have! 


As you see, it is not surprising that the word neden comes very first in the Turkish common words list. And for you to recognize; there are also two other words that have the exactly same meaning  neden /niçin  /niye


Now, let's see some other simple examples;
Neden Türkçe öğreniyorsun? Why are you learning Turkish?
Neden çalışmıyorsun? Why don't you work/study?
Neden benle konuşmuyorsun? Why don't you talk to me?
Neden bugün evdesin? Why are you at home today?
Neden okula gelmedi? Why didnt he come to the school?
Neden ağlıyorsun? Why are you crying?

Neden beni aramadın? Why haven't you called me?
Neden olmasın? Why not?

  Rafet El Roman - Sorma neden (Don't ask me why)

To Introduce yourself - Kendini Tanıtma

Türkçe Kendini Tanıtma - How to Introduce yourself in Turkish

Merhaba. Hello.

Benim adım … My name is …

Ben …. ‘da oturuyorum. I live in …

Ben … ‘liyim. I am from …

Ben … yaşındayım. I am … years old.

Ben öğrenciyim. I am a student.

Ben öğretmenim. I am a teacher.

Ben İngilizce biliyorum. I speak English. *

Ben Türkçe öğreniyorum. I learn Turkish.

Ben Türkçe öğrenmek istiyorum. I want to learn Turkish.

Türkiye’yi seviyorum. I like Turkey.

Kitap okumayı ve müzik dinlemeyi seviyorum. I like to read book and listen to music.

(Kitap okumaktan ve müzik dinlemekten hoşlanıyorum.)

Hobilerim kitap okumak ve müzik dinlemek.

Adın nedir? What is your name?

Kaç yaşındasın? How old are you?

Nerelisin? Where are you from?*

Ne iş yapıyorsun? What is your profession?

Nerede oturuyorsun? Where do you live?

Hangi dilleri biliyorsun? What languages do you speak?

* In Turkish Language you use the verb "to know/bilmek" to tell the language you speak.  If you say "to speak/konuşmak" instead (İngilizce konuşuyorum. I'm speaking English), one can understand that you are speaking English at the moment. 

Türkçe biliyor musun? Do you speak Turkish?

İngilizce biliyor musun? Do you speak English?

Hangi dil(ler)i öğreniyorsun? What language(s) are you learning?

Hangi dilleri öğrenmek istiyorsun? What languages do you want to learn?

Ne zamandır Türkçe çalışıyorsun? How long have you been studying Turkish?

Hiç Türkiye'ye geldin mş? Have you ever been to Turkey?

Neler yapmaktan hoşlanırsın? What do you like to do? 

Hobilerin neler? What are your hobbies?Hobilerin neler? 

What is your favorite ¨food?

• What is your favorite food? Senin en sevdiğin yemek nedir?
• My favorite food is fish, yours? Benim en sevdiğim yemek balık, senin? 
• Fish? I never eat fish. My favorite food is meat. Balık mı! Ben asla balık yemek. Benim en sevdiğim yemek et. 
• What is your favorite drink? En sevdiğin içecek nedir?
• My favorite drink is cola, what is yours? En sevdiğim içecek kola, senin ne? 
• Tea, I don't like cold drinks. Çay, ben soğuk içecekleri sevmiyorum.
• I also like tea but in summer cola is better. Ben de çayı severim ama yazın kola daha iyi.
• What is your favorite singer? En sevdiğin şarkıcı kim?
• Candan Erçetin, yours? Candan Erçetin. Senin? 
• My favorite singer is her, too! Benim en sevdiğim şarkıcı da o!

sadece - only, just

Sadece annem evde. Only my mother is home.
Sadece salata yedi. She ate only salad.
Sadece bir kişi cevap verdi. Only one person answered.
Senden sadece bunu istiyorum. I want only this from you.
Bugün sadece film izledim, başka hiçbir şey yapmadım. Today I just watched TV, I did nothing else.