Learn Hardcore Turkish: Ben yorgunum.

In Turkish, the subject pronoun can be omitted because the personal ending on the predicate (in this case, -um attached to yorgun) already shows that the subject is first person singular. However, including Ben adds emphasis or clarity and is completely acceptable.

How does yorgunum convey the meaning “I am tired” without using an explicit verb for “to be”?

Turkish doesn’t use a separate verb for “to be” in the present tense. Instead, adjectives like yorgun become predicates by taking a personal suffix. Here, yorgun (meaning “tired”) receives the first person singular suffix -um, forming yorgunum, which means “I am tired.”

What role does vowel harmony play in forming the word yorgunum?

Turkish suffixes adjust their vowels according to vowel harmony. Since yorgun contains back vowels, the correct first person singular suffix is -um (not -üm, -ım, or -im). This adherence to vowel harmony ensures that the sound of the suffix blends naturally with the stem.

What part of speech is yorgun in this sentence, and how does it function?

Yorgun is an adjective meaning “tired.” When it takes the personal ending -um, it functions as a predicative adjective that expresses a state of being, effectively serving the role of the copula (the equivalent of the verb “to be”) in English.

Can the subject pronoun Ben be omitted, and if so, what would the sentence look like?

Yes, the subject pronoun Ben can be omitted because the suffix -um on yorgun clearly indicates that the subject is first person singular. Without the pronoun, the sentence would simply be Yorgunum, which still means “I am tired.”