Understanding Plural Nouns in Turkish Grammar

Formation of Plural Nouns

In Turkish grammar, plural nouns are formed by adding the suffix -ler or -lar to the singular noun, the choice of which is dependent on the vowel harmony rules. For instance:

• ev (house) – evler (houses)
• kitap (book) – kitaplar (books)

Additionally, by maintaining consistency in vowel harmony rules during plural noun formation, Turkish language presents an easy-to-understand structure, as illustrated by the examples above.

Vowel Harmony Rules and Plural Nouns

Vowel harmony in Turkish grammar is a set of rules determining the suffixed vowels based on the vowels present in the root word. There are two categories of vowel harmony, namely major vowel harmony and minor vowel harmony.

Major Vowel Harmony

According to the rules of major vowel harmony, the suffix -lar is used with words containing the vowels a, ı, o, u, while the suffix -ler is used when the word contains the vowels e, i, ö, ü. Some examples are as follows:

• meyve (fruit) – meyveler (fruits)
• araba (car) – arabalar (cars)

Minor Vowel Harmony

Minor vowel harmony refers to the alternation of vowels within the suffix. This rule applies when words have compound or loanword structures, such as:

• fotoğraf (photograph) – fotoğraflar (photographs)

Exceptions and Irregularities

While Turkish grammar primarily adheres to rules of vowel harmony, there are certain exceptions and irregularities. The most common cases include:

Loanwords

Loanwords, especially those from Arabic and Persian, may not exhibit consistency with the vowel harmony rules. Example:

• telefon (telephone) – telefonlar (telephones)

Proper Nouns

Plural formations for proper nouns, such as names and place names, may also contain vowel inconsistencies. For example:

• Mehmet – Mehmetler (multiple people named Mehmet)
• İstanbul – İstanbullar (symbolic representation of multiple cities like Istanbul)

Indicating Number with Plural Nouns

In Turkish, when indicating the number of plural noun items, the numeral is placed before the noun without any additional article. For example:

• beş çocuk – five children (instead of beş çocuklar)

Conclusion: Mastering Plural Nouns in Turkish Grammar

Mastering plural nouns in Turkish grammar is an essential element for successful language learning and understanding. By familiarizing oneself with the core rules of vowel harmony in plural noun formation, as well as being aware of exceptions and irregularities, one can form plural nouns with increased accuracy and fluency.