THE CONSONANT HARMONY

This is the equivalent rule of the vocal harmony for consonants.

If a suffix starting with one of these letters: d / g / c is added to a word ending with ç / f / h / k / p / s / ş / t / s then the consonant of the suffix becomes voiceless. By voiceless, we mean that the sounds get modified to be deafened. “d“ will become t after a k for example.

durak : stop + da => durakta : at the (bus) stop , gözlük : glasses + ci => gözlükçü : optician

Furthermore, a word finishing with “k” that get a suffix starting with a vowel changes to ğ.

For instance:

  • tabak : plate, tabağın : your plate

  • öğle yemek : the lunch, öğle yemeği (accusative case) yedim : I had lunch.

THE CONSONANT HARMONY HAPPENS IN THESE CASES:

After certain letters, suffixes starting with -d / -c / -g are modified :

Suffix starting with: After a word ending with: Becomes:
-d -ç -f -h -k -p -s -ş -t -çt -ft -kt -pt -st -şt -tt
-c -ç -f -h -k -p -s -ş -t -ç -fç -hç -kç -pç -sç -şç -tç
-g -ç -f -h -k -p -s -ş -t -çk -fk -hk -pk -sk -şk -tk

FOR SUFFIXES STARTING WITH -D:

  • -da / -de : locative form

  • -dan / -den : ablative form

When positioned after this set of consonants, -d becomes -t.

Examples:

  • mektup + -da => mektupta : in the message

  • iş + -den => işten geliyorum => I come from work

  • saat + -da => saatta => in the clock

FOR SUFFIXES STARTING WITH -C:

  • -ci / -cı / -cu / -cü : suffix to form profession names

  • -cik / -cık / -cuk / -cük : suffix for diminutive, to make someone in a more affectionate way. Can be translated by “little …“

  • -ce / -ca : suffix meaning “in the way of“ or to describe a style to do something

When positioned after this set of consonants, c becomes ç.

Examples of consonant harmony:

  • gozlük + -cu => gözlükçü => optician

  • jimnastik + çi => jimnastikçi => gymnast

  • köpek + -cik => köpekçik => the little dog

  • Türk + -ce => Türkçe konuşalım => let’s speak turkish

FOR SUFFIXES STARTING WITH -G:

Suffixes with -g are less common in turkish.

  • -gin / -gın / -gun / -gün : is used to make an adjective from a noun. It means “that relates to”

When positioned after this set of consonants, c becomes ç.

Examples of consonant harmony:

  • kesg + -in => keskin => sharp

THE CONSONANT HARMONY ALSO HAPPENS WHEN:

A suffix starting with a vowel is added to a work ending with some specific consonant.

A word ends with: Is followed by a suffix starting with: The consonant becomes:
-p -a -e -i -o -u -ö -ü -b
-k -a -e -i -o -u -ö -ü -ğ
-ç -a -e -i -o -u -ö -ü -c

ACCUSATIVE CASE:

To mark the accusative case, a vowel is added to the direct object of the sentence.

When the accusative form is joined to a word ending with -k, -p, -ç this has an effect on this consonant. (see table above)

Examples:

  • kitap : book => Bu kitabı okudum : I read this book

  • tabak : plate => tabağı kırdın : you broke the plate

  • sütlaç : pudding => sutlacı yedi : he ate the pudding

DATIVE CASE:

To mark the directive case, -a or -e is added to the related noun.

When the directive form is joined to a word ending with -k, -p, ç, this has an effect on this consonant. (see table above)

Examples:

  • konak : mansion, villa => konağa gidiyorum : I go to the mansion

  • bebek : baby => bebeğe süt verdim : I gave milk to the baby

  • ağaç: tree => çocuk ağaca çıktı : the child climbed the tree

POSSESSIVE PRONOUN:

To employ possessive pronouns, we add a suffix beginning with a vowel (i-type vocal harmony)

-im / -um / -ım / -üm is the suffix for “my …“

When the suffix is added to a word ending with -k, -p or ç this has an effect on this consonant. (see table above)

Examples:

  • köpëk : dog => köpeğim : my dog

  • şarap : wine => şarabın : your wine

  • ağaç : tree => ağacın : your tree

Same if the possessive pronoun is used at the accusative or directive case:

  • köpeğimi gezdirdim : I walked my dog

  • köpeğime su veriyorsun : you give water to my dog