Learn Hardcore Turkish: Ruh sakin.

In Turkish, the present tense copula (the verb “to be”) is often omitted. Even though no explicit verb appears, the sentence is understood as “The soul is calm,” with the linking verb implicitly present.

Is "Ruh sakin." a complete sentence even though it seems very short?

Yes, it is complete. Turkish commonly omits the copula in simple present statements. The structure—subject (“Ruh”) followed by a predicate adjective (“sakin”)—conveys a full and clear idea without needing an explicit verb.

Why isn’t there an article like “the” before “Ruh”?

Turkish does not use articles such as “a” or “the.” Whether a noun is definite or indefinite is understood from the context rather than from the use of a specific article.

What role does the adjective “sakin” play in this sentence?

“Sakin” is functioning as a predicate adjective that describes the state of the noun “Ruh.” Although there’s no linking verb like “is,” the adjective effectively tells you that the soul is calm.

Can this sentence be expanded to include the omitted copula, and if so, how?

Yes, it can. Adding the copula results in a sentence like “Ruh sakin'dir,” where “dir” is the present tense form of “to be.” Both versions are correct, with the shorter form being common in casual or stylistic contexts.