Learn Hardcore Turkish: Simetri, mimaride estetik açıdan önemlidir. - Symmetry is aesthetically important in architecture.

In Turkish you can optionally use a comma to separate the subject from the rest of the sentence for emphasis or clarity. Here, placing a comma after Simetri draws the reader’s attention to the topic before moving on. You could also write it without the comma—“Simetri mimaride estetik açıdan önemlidir.”—and the meaning would remain the same.

What does the suffix -de in mimaride mean?

The suffix -de is the locative case ending, meaning “in” or “at.” You attach it directly to the noun to express location or context. So mimari (architecture) + -de = mimaride, literally “in architecture.”

Why is it -de and not -da in mimaride?

Turkish has vowel harmony. Because mimari ends in the front vowel i, you must use the front-vowel version of the locative suffix, which is -de (not -da, which follows back vowels).

How does estetik açıdan translate to “from an aesthetic perspective”?

The word açıdan functions like an adverbial postposition meaning “from the angle/perspective of.” It attaches directly to a noun or adjective without an extra case ending. So estetik açıdan = “from an aesthetic point of view” or “in terms of aesthetics.”

Why is önemlidir used here instead of just önemli?

önemli is an adjective meaning “important.” To make it a full predicate (“it is important”), Turkish often adds the copular suffix -dir (third person, formal/neutral “is”). Thus önem-li-dir = “it is important.” In casual speech or writing you may drop -dir and say simply önemli, but in formal contexts you usually keep it.

There’s no word for “a” or “the” before Simetri. Why?

Turkish has no articles like English a or the. You express definiteness or indefiniteness in other ways (word order, context, suffixes). For general statements about concepts, you simply use the noun alone: Simetri önemlidir = “Symmetry is important.”

Can I move estetik açıdan to another place in the sentence?

Adverbial phrases in Turkish are fairly flexible, but the most natural spot for estetik açıdan (“from an aesthetic perspective”) is right before the main predicate. You could say Simetri, estetik açıdan mimaride önemlidir, which is still correct, but moving it elsewhere (e.g. after önemlidir) would sound awkward.

Why is only Simetri capitalized, while mimaride, estetik, etc., are not?

Like English, Turkish capitalizes the first word of a sentence and proper nouns. All other common nouns or adjectives remain lowercase—even when you add suffixes. That’s why Simetri (first word) is capitalized, but mimaride, estetik açıdan and önemlidir are not.