Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Turkish grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about Kolon sağlam.
What does kolon mean in Kolon sağlam.? Does it refer to the punctuation mark “:”?
Here kolon is a noun meaning either a structural pillar (e.g. in a building) or the large intestine, depending on context. It does not mean the punctuation mark; Turkish usually calls “:” iki nokta üst üste or simply iki nokta.
What part of speech is sağlam, and what does it mean here?
Sağlam is an adjective meaning strong, sturdy, intact or in good condition. In this sentence it describes the state of the column or body part as sound or healthy.
Why is there no verb like “is” or no form of olmak (to be) in Kolon sağlam.?
Turkish allows nominal sentences without an explicit copula in the present tense. The meaning “is” is implied. If you want to make it very formal or explicit, you could add the suffix -dır to the adjective: Kolon sağlamdır.
Why aren’t there any articles like “the” or “a” before kolon?
Turkish does not use definite or indefinite articles like English. If you need indefiniteness you can add bir (“a”/“one”), but in most cases you simply leave the noun bare.
How would I ask “Is the column solid?” in Turkish?
Add the question particle mı (with vowel harmony) after the adjective:
Kolon sağlam mı?
How do I say “The column is not solid.”?
Use the negator değil after the adjective:
Kolon sağlam değil.
If I want to say “Your column is solid.”, what changes?
You need a possessive suffix on kolon to show “your”:
Kolonun sağlam.
Literally “Your column solid.” You can also add the copula suffix for formality: Kolonun sağlamdır.
What’s the difference between sağlam and sağlıklı?
Both can relate to health or integrity, but:
- Sağlam stresses structural soundness, durability or lack of damage.
- Sağlıklı means healthy, used for living beings (e.g. insanlar, organlar) or lifestyles.
So for a building column you’d use sağlam, for a person’s health you’d normally use sağlıklı.