Bu şey güzel.

This thing is nice.

Breakdown of Bu şey güzel.

• olmak: to be
• güzel: nice
• bu: this
• şey: the thing

Questions & Answers about Bu şey güzel.

What does each word in Bu şey güzel mean, and how does it translate literally into English?

Bu means "this", şey means "thing", and güzel means "nice" or "beautiful". Literally, the sentence translates as "This thing is nice." Note that in everyday English, we might simply say "This is nice" without explicitly mentioning "thing."

Why is there no verb for "is" in the sentence Bu şey güzel?

In Turkish, the verb "to be" is typically omitted in the present tense when stating simple facts. The linking verb is understood from context, so Bu şey güzel fully conveys the meaning "This thing is nice" without an explicit "is."

Why doesn’t the sentence include articles like "a" or "the," as we see in English?

Turkish does not use articles such as "a" or "the." The demonstrative bu (this) already specifies the noun, making additional articles unnecessary. Hence, Bu şey güzel is complete and correctly formed.

How is the adjective order determined in this kind of Turkish sentence?

In Turkish equative sentences, the subject is presented first (in this case, bu şey), followed directly by the adjective that describes it (güzel). Because the copula is omitted, the adjective naturally comes at the end to complete the idea, unlike in attributive phrases where adjectives precede the noun (e.g., güzel şey would mean "beautiful thing").

Is it normal in Turkish to have such a short sentence, and does it fully convey the intended meaning?

Yes, it is quite normal. Turkish often uses concise sentences where context fills in the details. The sentence Bu şey güzel is perfectly complete; it clearly communicates that the object being referred to is nice or beautiful, without needing extra words or an explicit copula.