Learn Hardcore Turkish: Salata akşam yemeği için iyi tercih.

In Turkish, especially in simple descriptive sentences, the copula (the equivalent of “is”) is often omitted because it’s understood from context. So even though “Salata akşam yemeği için iyi tercih” lacks an explicit verb, it still means “Salad is a good choice for dinner.”

How does “akşam yemeği için” translate into English?

The phrase “akşam yemeği için” literally translates to “for dinner.” Here, “akşam” means “evening,” “yemeği” refers to “meal” (with the suffix marking it in a specific form that indicates a definite meal), and “için” means “for.”

What does the word “tercih” mean, and why is it placed after “iyi”?

“Tercih” is a noun meaning “choice” or “option.” In the sentence, it is preceded by “iyi,” which is the adjective meaning “good.” This adjective–noun order is typical in Turkish (with the adjective coming before the noun), so “iyi tercih” effectively means “good choice.”

Why aren’t there any articles (like “a” or “the”) before “salata” or “tercih”?

Turkish does not use articles like English does. Nouns are used without definite or indefinite articles. Therefore, “salata” simply means “salad” and “tercih” means “choice” or “option” without requiring an article.

Is the word order of this sentence typical in Turkish, and what does it tell us about Turkish sentence structure?

Yes, the word order in this sentence is typical. Turkish is generally a subject–object–verb (SOV) language, but in sentences that describe a state or attribute (especially ones that omit the verb “to be”), the structure can be more flexible. Here, the sentence starts with the subject “salata,” follows with the prepositional phrase “akşam yemeği için,” and ends with the descriptive predicate “iyi tercih.” The omitted copula is understood, which is common in Turkish.

Why is “yemeği” used in “akşam yemeği için” instead of the base form “yemek”?

In the phrase “akşam yemeği,” “yemeği” is used with a suffix that marks it for a specific, definite meal—dinner, in this case. This suffix helps form fixed expressions and indicates that the meal is a particular one (the evening meal), which is why you see “yemeği” rather than just “yemek.”