Diş kırmızı.

to be

Breakdown of Diş kırmızı.

• kırmızı: red
• diş: the tooth

Questions & Answers about Diş kırmızı.

What is the meaning of the sentence Diş kırmızı?

Diş kırmızı translates as The tooth is red. Even though there is no explicit verb like "is," Turkish commonly omits the copula in simple present tense descriptive sentences.

Why is the linking verb (copula) omitted in this sentence?

In Turkish, the present tense form of the verb “to be” is usually left out. The sentence “Diş kırmızı” fully conveys that the tooth possesses the quality of being red without needing to state “is.”

Why does the predicate adjective kırmızı come after the noun diş rather than before it?

When describing a subject with a predicate adjective in Turkish, the structure places the subject first and then the adjective. If you were using the adjective directly before the noun as an attributive modifier, you might say kırmızı diş; however, in a sentence that functions like “The tooth is red,” the adjective follows the noun.

How could you include the copula explicitly in this sentence if desired?

For emphasis or clarification, you can add the copula suffix -dır to the adjective, forming Diş kırmızıdır. Both versions are acceptable, but the shorter form is more common in everyday conversation.

How is the noun diş treated in terms of articles and number in Turkish?

Turkish does not use articles like the or a, so diş appears without any article. Additionally, in this sentence it is used in its singular form; to indicate plural “teeth,” one would use dişler.

What grammatical case is diş in, and why is no case ending added?

Diş is in its basic, nominative form, which is used for subjects in Turkish. In simple sentences like this one, no extra case marking is needed because the nominative form inherently serves as the subject.

How should the letters ş in diş and ı in kırmızı be pronounced?

The letter ş is pronounced like the English “sh” in ship. The letter ı represents a unique sound that doesn’t have a direct English equivalent—it’s pronounced as a short, close back vowel, similar to a quick, relaxed “uh.” Regular practice with native speakers or audio examples can help perfect these pronunciations.