Compound Nouns

01

The Linking Suffix: -(s)ı / -i / -u / -ü

To connect the two nouns, the second noun takes the third-person possessive suffix. The specific form of the suffix depends on the last vowel of the second noun, following vowel harmony.

• If the last vowel is a or ı, use -ı.
• If the last vowel is e or i, use -i.
• If the last vowel is o or u, use -u.
• If the last vowel is ö or ü, use -ü.

• yatak odası

  bedroom (lit. bed its-room)

• iş yeri

  workplace (lit. work its-place)

• futbol topu

  soccer ball (lit. football its-ball)

If the second noun ends in a vowel, a buffer letter s is added before the suffix.

• Türk kahvesi

  Turkish coffee

• bebek arabası

  baby stroller

• Cuma akşamı

  Friday evening

02

Consonant Softening

When a suffix starting with a vowel is added to a word ending in p, ç, t, or k, these consonants often change to their "softer" counterparts: b, c, d, and ğ.

• p becomes b: kitap → kitabı
• ç becomes c: ağaç → ağacı
• t becomes d: kanat → kanadı
• k becomes ğ: gözlük → gözlüğü

This rule applies to compound nouns.

• ders kitabı

  textbook

• otobüs durağı

  bus stop

• güneş gözlüğü

  sunglasses

03

General Type vs. Specific Possession

The structure described above (Noun 1 + Noun 2-suffix) creates a general concept. To talk about a specific possession (like "the school's bus" instead of "a school bus"), the first noun must also take the genitive suffix -ın / -in / -un / -ün.

General Type (Indefinite Compound)

The first noun has no suffix. It describes the category of the second noun.

• Bu bir okul otobüsü.

  This is a school bus.

• Mutfakta bir yemek masası var.

  There is a dining table in the kitchen.

Specific Possession (Definite Compound)

The first noun takes the genitive suffix -ın. This specifies that the second noun belongs to the first.

• Okulun otobüsü nerede?

  Where is the school's bus?

• Masanın ayağı kırık.

  The table's leg is broken.

04

Compounds of Material

An important exception occurs when the first noun describes the material the second noun is made of. In these cases, no suffix is added to the second noun. The first noun simply acts like an adjective.

• altın yüzük

  gold ring

• tahta kaşık

  wooden spoon

• cam şişe

  glass bottle