Learn Hardcore Turkish: Hata yapmak kaçınılmaz.

Hata yapmak literally translates as “to make a mistake”. It’s a common way in Turkish to express the idea of committing an error or mistake. In context, while it is literal, it also conveys a universally acknowledged truth—similar to how English speakers say “to err is human.”

How does the infinitive phrase Hata yapmak function grammatically within the sentence?

In this sentence, Hata yapmak acts as the subject. Turkish often uses an infinitive phrase to represent a general concept or activity, which in this case is “making mistakes.” This construction allows the sentence to express a broad, timeless truth without needing a more specific subject noun.

What does the word kaçınılmaz mean, and how is it constructed?

Kaçınılmaz means “inevitable” or “unavoidable”. It is derived from the verb kaçınmak (to avoid) with the addition of a suffix that implies inability. Essentially, it conveys that something cannot be avoided, hence expressing the idea that mistakes are bound to happen.

Why is there no plural marker on hata even though the idea might suggest "mistakes" in English?

Turkish often employs the singular form to talk about general or universal concepts. Hata yapmak is understood as “making mistakes” in general, rather than referring to a countable number of mistakes. This is similar to how English sometimes uses the singular when expressing universal truths—emphasizing the concept over specific instances.

Is the word order in Hata yapmak kaçınılmaz. similar to English, or does Turkish follow a different structure?

Turkish word order can differ significantly from English. In this sentence, the infinitive phrase Hata yapmak (acting as the subject) is placed at the beginning, followed directly by the adjective kaçınılmaz. Although English would typically require a linking verb (as in “Making mistakes is inevitable”), Turkish often omits such linking verbs because grammatical and contextual cues sufficiently convey the meaning.