Köpek akıllı.

The dog is smart.

Breakdown of Köpek akıllı.

• olmak: to be
• köpek: the dog
• akıllı: smart

Questions & Answers about Köpek akıllı.

Why is there no word for “is” in Köpek akıllı?

In Turkish, the copula “to be” is usually omitted in the present tense. A simple subject–predicate adjective sentence like Köpek akıllı literally means Dog smart, but idiomatically it’s “The dog is smart.” There’s no separate “is” needed.

What case are köpek and akıllı in?

Both words are in the nominative (dictionary) form. In a basic declarative sentence with a subject and a predicate adjective, neither the noun nor the adjective takes extra case endings.

Why isn’t there an article like “a” or “the” before köpek?

Turkish does not have definite or indefinite articles. Whether you mean “a dog,” “the dog,” or “dogs in general,” context does the job. Köpek akıllı can be understood as “A dog is smart,” “The dog is smart,” or even “Dogs are smart.”

Can I make this into a question—“Is the dog smart?” How?

Yes. You just add the question particle mı (with vowel harmony) after the adjective:
Köpek akıllı mı?
That literally asks Dog smart?, meaning “Is the dog smart?”

How would I say “The dog is not smart”?

You have two main options:
1) Use the negative of the copula: Köpek akıllı değil. (“The dog is not smart.”)
2) Use an antonymic adjective: Köpek akılsız. (Literally “Dog mindless,” i.e. “The dog is not smart.”)

Why doesn’t akıllı change to match köpek in number or gender?

Turkish adjectives do not agree with nouns in gender or number. They remain in their base form. If you pluralize the noun (e.g. Köpekler akıllı. “Dogs are smart”), akıllı still stays the same.

What’s the difference between Köpek akıllı and Akıllı köpek?

Köpek akıllı is a full sentence: “The dog is smart.”
Akıllı köpek is a noun phrase: “(a/the) smart dog.” You’d need a verb to make it a sentence, e.g. Akıllı köpek uyuyor (“The smart dog is sleeping”).

I’ve seen Köpek akıllıdır with a suffix -dır. What does that add?

Adding -dır/-dir/-dur/-dür (with vowel harmony) makes the statement more formal or emphatic, roughly like stating a fact or general truth:
Köpek akıllıdır. (“The dog is indeed smart.”)
In everyday speech, you usually drop it and just say Köpek akıllı.