Learn Hardcore Turkish: Ütüsüz gömlekle toplantıya katılmak istemiyorsanız, ütüyü önceden hazırlayıp fişe takmayı unutmayınız. - If you don’t want to attend the meeting with an un-ironed shirt, don’t forget to prepare the iron in advance and plug it in.

Ütüsüz means “un-ironed” or “without ironing.” It’s formed by adding the suffix -süz (meaning “without”) to ütü (“iron”/“ironing”). So ütüsüz gömlek literally means “a shirt without ironing.”

Why is gömlekle used instead of just gömlek, and how is it related to ile?

The suffix -le attached to gömlek marks the instrumental/comitative meaning “with” or “by means of.” Thus gömlekle means “with a shirt” (in practice “wearing a shirt”). You could also say gömlek ile, but when you cliticize ile, it becomes gömlekle (no extra space).

What is the structure of katılmak istemiyorsanız, and why is it in this form?

This is a conditional clause combining:
• katılmak (infinitive “to attend”)
• istemek (“to want”) in the negative present continuous istemiyor-
• the second-person plural/formal conditional ending -sanız
Together katılmak istemiyorsanız means “if you don’t want to attend.” Turkish drops the pronoun because the verb ending -sanız already indicates “you (plural or polite).”

What does önceden mean, and how is it different from önce?

Önceden means “in advance” or “beforehand.” It’s formed by taking önce (“before”) and adding the ablative suffix -den, giving a sense of “from before.” While önce can simply mark sequence (“first,” “before”), önceden emphasizes doing something ahead of time.

What is the suffix -ıp in hazırlayıp, and what role does it play?

The suffix -ıp is a sequential converb (sometimes called a gerundial conjunction). It links two verbs to mean “and then…” or “after doing X, do Y.” Here hazırlayıp (“preparing and then…”) connects hazırlamak (to prepare) with the next action fişe takmak (to plug in).

Why is ütüyü in the accusative case with -ü, instead of just ütü?

Because ütüyü is a definite direct object (“the iron”) that the speaker assumes you know. In Turkish, definite or specific objects take the accusative suffix (here -ü). An indefinite object would omit the suffix or use bir (“a/an”).

What does fişe takmak mean, and why is takmayı used here?

Fişe takmak literally means “to plug into the socket.” fiş = “plug/socket,” takmak = “to attach/insert.” In takmayı, the verb is nominalized with -ma (forming “plugging”) and marked with the accusative -yı as the object of unutmayınız (“don’t forget”). So fişe takmayı unutmayınız = “don’t forget to plug it in.”

What is unutmayınız, and how is it different from unutmayın?

Unutmayınız is the formal/polite negative imperative (second person plural) of unutmak (“to forget”). Unutmayın is the more common conversational form (also second person plural), slightly less formal. Both mean “don’t forget,” but -ınız is more polite or official.