Kütüphane, bilgi simgesi.

The library is a symbol of knowledge.

Breakdown of Kütüphane, bilgi simgesi.

• olmak: to be
• kütüphane: the library
• bilgi: the knowledge
• simge: the symbol

Questions & Answers about Kütüphane, bilgi simgesi.

Why is there no linking verb (such as is) in the sentence?

Turkish often omits the copula in equative sentences—especially in headlines or aphoristic statements—because the relationship between the subject and the predicate is understood without an explicit verb. This omission is a common stylistic choice in Turkish.

What does the suffix -si in simgesi indicate?

The suffix -si is a third-person singular possessive marker. In equative sentences like this, it shows that the predicate noun (simge, meaning symbol) is linked back to the subject (kütüphane, meaning library), effectively meaning “its symbol” even though the verb to be is omitted.

Why is bilgi used in its bare form rather than a genitive form like bilginin?

In Turkish compound noun phrases, the modifying noun is usually left in its bare form. Here, bilgi functions as an attributive modifier for simge. The head noun takes the possessive form (simgesi) to relate it back to the subject, which is why no genitive marker appears on bilgi.

What role does the comma play in this sentence?

The comma separates the subject from its predicate label, creating an appositive or descriptive structure. This punctuation is common in concise, headline-style expressions, helping to clearly demarcate the subject (kütüphane) from its defining characteristic (bilgi simgesi).

Could this sentence be written with a full copula, and if so, what would that look like?

Yes, the sentence can be expanded to include the copula. The full version would be Kütüphane, bilgi simgesidir. Here, -dir is added to simgesi to explicitly state “is,” although omitting it is typical for stylistic brevity in Turkish.