Turkish Imperative: Complete Conjugation Guide with Examples & Exercises
Introduction to the Turkish Imperative
The imperative mood (emir kipi) in Turkish is used to give commands, make requests, offer invitations, and provide instructions. It's one of the most practical grammatical structures you'll use in everyday conversation, from asking someone to pass the salt to giving directions.
Unlike many European languages, Turkish has multiple imperative forms that distinguish between levels of formality, politeness, and whether you're addressing one person or a group. The imperative is also far more common and socially acceptable in Turkish than in English—using it doesn't sound rude when the right form is chosen. Understanding Turkish imperative conjugation is essential for communicating naturally and appropriately in different social contexts.
Formation of the Turkish Imperative
The Turkish imperative is formed by adding specific suffixes to the verb stem. The verb stem is obtained by removing the infinitive ending -mak or -mek from the dictionary form of the verb.
All Imperative Forms
| Person | Suffix | Usage | Formality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sen (you, singular) | — (bare stem) | Direct commands to friends, children | Informal |
| Siz (you, plural/formal) | -(y)in, -(y)ın, -(y)un, -(y)ün | Polite requests, formal situations | Formal |
| Siz (very formal) | -(y)iniz, -(y)ınız, -(y)unuz, -(y)ünüz | Signs, official instructions, very formal | Very formal |
| Sen (softened) | -sene, -sana | Friendly suggestions, mild urging | Colloquial |
| Siz (softened) | -senize, -sanıza | Friendly group suggestions | Colloquial |
| O (let him/her) | -sin, -sın, -sun, -sün | Third person commands, wishes | Neutral |
| Onlar (let them) | -sinler, -sınlar, -sunlar, -sünler | Third person plural commands | Neutral |
Turkish Imperative Conjugation Examples
Let's see how Turkish imperative conjugation works with the verb gelmek (to come):
| Person | Conjugation | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Sen | Gel! | Come! (informal) |
| Siz | Gelin! | Come! (formal/plural) |
| Siz (very formal) | Geliniz! | Come! (very formal/official) |
| Sen (softened) | Gelsene! | Come on, come! |
| O | Gelsin! | Let him/her come! |
| Onlar | Gelsinler! | Let them come! |
Vowel Harmony Rules
The imperative suffixes follow Turkish vowel harmony. The suffix vowel must match the last vowel of the verb stem:
| Last Vowel in Stem | Siz Suffix | Siz (very formal) | O Suffix |
|---|---|---|---|
| e, i | -in | -iniz | -sin |
| a, ı | -ın | -ınız | -sın |
| o, u | -un | -unuz | -sun |
| ö, ü | -ün | -ünüz | -sün |
Negative Imperative
To form negative commands, add -me or -ma (following vowel harmony) to the verb stem before the imperative suffix:
| Affirmative | Negative | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Gel! | Gelme! | Don't come! |
| Gelin! | Gelmeyin! | Don't come! (formal) |
| Yap! | Yapma! | Don't do it! |
| Yapın! | Yapmayın! | Don't do it! (formal) |
| Oku! | Okuma! | Don't read! |
| Okuyun! | Okumayın! | Don't read! (formal) |
10 Common Turkish Imperative Verbs
These are the verbs you'll use most often in imperative form. Each is shown in all key forms:
| Infinitive | Meaning | Sen | Siz | Negative (Sen) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| gelmek | to come | Gel! | Gelin! | Gelme! |
| gitmek | to go | Git! | Gidin! | Gitme! |
| bakmak | to look | Bak! | Bakın! | Bakma! |
| beklemek | to wait | Bekle! | Bekleyin! | Bekleme! |
| oturmak | to sit | Otur! | Oturun! | Oturma! |
| vermek | to give | Ver! | Verin! | Verme! |
| almak | to take | Al! | Alın! | Alma! |
| yapmak | to do/make | Yap! | Yapın! | Yapma! |
| söylemek | to say/tell | Söyle! | Söyleyin! | Söyleme! |
| dinlemek | to listen | Dinle! | Dinleyin! | Dinleme! |
Notice the buffer y in verbs whose stems end in a vowel: bekle → bekleyin, söyle → söyleyin, dinle → dinleyin.
Usage of the Turkish Imperative
Direct Commands (Sen Form)
The bare stem (sen form) is used for direct, informal commands:
- Speaking to children: Ye! (Eat!)
- Close friends: Gel, otur. (Come, sit down.)
- Family members: Bana ver. (Give it to me.)
- Urgent situations: Dur! (Stop!)
Polite Requests (Siz Form)
The siz form is essential for polite interaction:
- With strangers: Lütfen tekrar edin. (Please repeat.)
- Professional settings: Raporu hazırlayın. (Prepare the report.)
- With elders: Buyurun, oturun. (Please, sit down.)
- Addressing a group: Dikkat edin! (Pay attention!)
Very Formal / Official Commands (Siz -iniz Form)
The -iniz form appears on signs, in official instructions, and in very formal contexts:
- Signs: Sigara içmeyiniz. (Do not smoke.)
- Announcements: Lütfen kemerlerinizi bağlayınız. (Please fasten your seatbelts.)
- Official notices: Kapıyı kapatınız. (Close the door.)
Softened Commands (-sene/-sana)
The -sene/-sana forms soften a command into a friendly suggestion or gentle urging. They're common in casual speech and convey warmth rather than authority:
- Gelsene! — Come on, come!
- Baksana! — Hey, look!
- Söylesene! — Go on, tell me!
Third Person Imperatives
Third person imperatives express wishes or commands about someone not present:
- Expressing wishes: Allah yardım etsin! (May God help!)
- Giving permission: Girsin. (Let him/her enter.)
- Making suggestions about others: Beklesinler. (Let them wait.)
- Set phrases: Kolay gelsin! (May it come easy! — said to someone working)
Adding "Lütfen" for Politeness
Adding lütfen (please) makes any imperative more polite. It can go at the beginning or end:
Lütfen oturun. / Oturun lütfen. — Please sit down.
Polite Question Alternatives
Instead of using the imperative, you can soften requests by using question forms with the simple present. This is very common in everyday Turkish:
| Imperative | Polite Question | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Oturun! | Oturur musunuz? | Would you sit? |
| Ekmek al! | Ekmek alır mısın? | Could you buy bread? |
| Gel! | Gelir misin? | Would you come? |
| Yardım edin! | Yardım eder misiniz? | Could you help? |
The question form with -r mısın(ız)? is often preferred in service contexts and with strangers.
Let Me / Let Us (Optative Mood)
While not technically imperative, the optative mood is used for first-person commands meaning "let me" or "let us." It's formed by adding -(y)eyim/-(y)ayım (I) or -(y)elim/-(y)alım (we) to the verb stem:
| Verb | Let me... | Let us... | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| gitmek | gideyim | gidelim | let me go / let's go |
| bakmak | bakayım | bakalım | let me look / let's look |
| yapmak | yapayım | yapalım | let me do / let's do |
| yardım etmek | yardım edeyim | yardım edelim | let me help / let's help |
| içmek | içeyim | içelim | let me drink / let's drink |
The negative is formed by adding -me/-ma before the suffix: gitmeyelim (let's not go), içmeyelim (let's not drink).
Common Turkish Imperative Expressions
These fixed expressions using the imperative are essential for daily life in Turkey:
| Expression | Meaning | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
| Buyurun! | Please, go ahead / Here you are / Welcome | Offering something, inviting someone in, getting attention politely |
| Kolay gelsin! | May it come easy! | Said to someone who is working (very common greeting) |
| Afiyet olsun! | Bon appétit / Enjoy your meal | Before or during a meal |
| Geçmiş olsun! | Get well soon / May it pass | To someone who is sick or had a difficult experience |
| Allah korusun! | God forbid! / May God protect | Warding off bad luck or danger |
| Güle güle kullan! | Use it happily! | Said to someone who bought something new |
| Güle güle git! | Go happily! / Goodbye | Said by the person staying to the person leaving |
| Hoş geldin(iz)! | Welcome! | Greeting someone who arrives |
Real-World Imperative Examples
Here are practical examples demonstrating Turkish imperative conjugation in everyday contexts:
At a Restaurant
- Menüyü getirir misiniz? — Could you bring the menu? (polite question form)
- Bana bir çay verin, lütfen. — Give me a tea, please. (siz form)
- Hesabı getirin. — Bring the bill. (siz form)
Giving Directions
- Düz gidin. — Go straight. (siz form)
- İkinci sokaktan sağa dönün. — Turn right at the second street.
- Köprüyü geçin, sola bakın. — Cross the bridge, look left.
Daily Life
- Kapıyı kapat! — Close the door! (informal)
- Baksana, ne güzel bir manzara! — Hey, look at what a beautiful view! (softened)
- Bu kitabı oku, çok güzel. — Read this book, it's very good. (informal)
- Beni aramayı unutma! — Don't forget to call me! (informal)
- Çocuklar erken yatsınlar. — Let the children go to bed early. (third person)
Signs and Official Language
- Sigara içmeyiniz! — Do not smoke!
- Çimenlere basmayınız. — Do not step on the grass.
- Kapıyı çekiniz / İtiniz. — Pull / Push the door.
Common Mistakes
1. Using the Informal Form in Formal Situations
One of the most common errors is using the bare stem Gel! when speaking to someone who deserves the polite form Gelin!. This can come across as rude or disrespectful in Turkish culture. When in doubt, use the siz form.
2. Forgetting Vowel Harmony
Learners often apply the wrong suffix vowel. Remember that otur (sit) becomes oturun (not *oturin), following the back vowel harmony.
3. Incorrect Negative Formation
A frequent mistake is placing the negative suffix incorrectly or forgetting to adjust it for vowel harmony. The negative marker always comes immediately after the verb stem and before any other suffixes:
- Correct: Yapma! / Yapmayın!
- Incorrect: *Yap değil!
4. Overusing the Softened Forms
While -sene/-sana forms are friendly, overusing them or using them with strangers can sound overly familiar or even pushy. Save these for people you know well.
5. Confusing Imperative with Optative
The first person plural "let's" form (gidelim — let's go) is technically the optative mood, not the imperative. However, it's often taught alongside imperatives due to its similar function. Don't try to form a first person imperative with regular imperative suffixes.
6. Dropping the Buffer Y
When the verb stem ends in a vowel, you need a buffer y before the suffix. For example, bekle (wait) becomes bekleyin, not *beklein.
7. Confusing Negative Imperative with Short Infinitive
The negative imperative looks identical to the short infinitive (used as a noun/gerund). Context determines the meaning:
- Yüzme! — Don't swim! (imperative)
- Yüzme havuzu — Swimming pool (short infinitive as noun)
- Havuzda yüzme! — Don't swim in the pool! (imperative)
The exclamation and sentence context make it clear whether you're giving a command or using the noun form.
Practice Exercises
Test your understanding of Turkish imperative conjugation.
Exercise 1: Convert to the Siz (Formal) Form
Change each informal command to its formal equivalent:
- Gel! →
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Gelin! - Bak! →
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Bakın! - Otur! →
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Oturun! (back vowel harmony: u → un) - Bekle! →
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Bekleyin! (buffer y needed because stem ends in vowel) - Söyle! →
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Söyleyin! (buffer y + front vowel: ö → ün... but söyle has last vowel e, so -yin → söyleyin)
Exercise 2: Make These Commands Negative
- Git! (Go!) →
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Gitme! - Yapın! (Do it! formal) →
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Yapmayın! - Unut! (Forget!) →
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Unutma! - İçin! (Drink! formal) →
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İçmeyin!
Exercise 3: Choose the Right Form
Which imperative form would you use in each situation?
- Telling your young child to eat their food.
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Ye! — bare stem (sen form), appropriate for children - Asking a stranger for directions politely.
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Söyler misiniz? or Söyleyin lütfen. — siz form with lütfen, or question form for extra politeness - Writing a "No entry" sign for a building.
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Girmeyiniz. — very formal -iniz form, standard for official signs - Encouraging a close friend to try a dessert.
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Tatsana! or Tat! — softened -sana form or bare stem, both appropriate for friends
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Turkish imperative considered rude?
No, the imperative is far more common and socially acceptable in Turkish than in English. Using the bare stem with close friends and family is perfectly normal. The key is choosing the right formality level: use the siz form (-in) with strangers, elders, and in professional settings, and the sen form (bare stem) with friends, family, and children.
What is the difference between -in and -iniz?
Both are formal imperative forms for siz (you, plural/formal). The -in form is the standard polite imperative used in everyday formal speech. The -iniz form is very formal and mostly appears on signs, official announcements, and written instructions. In spoken Turkish, -in is almost always sufficient.
How do you say "let's" in Turkish?
"Let's" is expressed using the optative mood, not the imperative. Add -(y)elim or -(y)alım to the verb stem: gidelim (let's go), yiyelim (let's eat), yapalım (let's do it). Though not technically imperative, it's closely related and often taught together.
What does "buyurun" mean?
Buyurun (from buyurmak) is a special imperative form that means "please go ahead," "here you are," or "welcome." It's one of the most common polite expressions in Turkish, used when offering something, inviting someone in, or getting someone's attention respectfully. You'll hear it constantly in shops, restaurants, and daily life.
What does "kolay gelsin" mean?
Kolay gelsin literally means "may it come easy" and is one of the most common Turkish expressions. It's said to anyone who is working—from a shopkeeper to a construction worker to a colleague at their desk. It's a warm, friendly greeting that acknowledges someone's effort. The response is typically sağ ol(un) (thank you) or hoş geldin(iz) (welcome) if the person just arrived.