Breakdown of Biberiyeli ekmek fırında pişiriliyor.
ekmek
the bread
biberiyeli
with rosemary
fırında
in the oven
pişirilmek
to be baked
Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Turkish grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about Biberiyeli ekmek fırında pişiriliyor.
What does -li do in biberiyeli, and why is it -li instead of -lı/lu/lü?
The suffix -li attaches to nouns to form adjectives meaning “with/containing…”. So biberiye (rosemary) + -li = biberiyeli (“with rosemary”). Vowel harmony requires -li (front unrounded) because the last vowel in biberiye is e.
What does -da indicate in fırında, and why is it -da instead of -de?
The suffix -da/-de is the locative case, meaning “in, at, on.” We pick -da (back vowel) because fırın has the vowel ı (a back/unrounded vowel), so by vowel harmony it becomes fırında (“in the oven”).
How is the passive present continuous form pişiriliyor built?
Breakdown of pişiriliyor:
- pişir- (verb stem, “to bake/cook [something]”)
- -il- (passive marker)
- -iyor (present continuous)
No personal ending is needed in 3rd person singular. Together: pişir + il + iyor → pişiriliyor (“is being baked”).
Why does pişiriliyor have two i's in the middle?
Because both the passive suffix -il and the continuous suffix -iyor each contribute an i. When you join them—pişir + il + iyor—you get pişiriliyor.
What’s the difference between pişiyor and pişiriliyor?
pişiyor = “it is cooking/baking” (active, intransitive)
pişiriliyor = “it is being cooked/baked” (passive, transitive, no agent specified)
Why is there no word for “the” or “a” before ekmek?
Turkish has no articles like “the” or “a.” Indefiniteness is implied by context or can be added with bir (“a”). Here ekmek simply means “bread” (or “a loaf of bread”) depending on context.
Is the word order fixed? Could I say Fırında biberiyeli ekmek pişiriliyor?
Turkish word order is relatively flexible because cases mark roles. The neutral order is Subject–Object–Place–Verb, so Biberiyeli ekmek fırında pişiriliyor is default. Fronting Fırında emphasizes the location: “It’s in the oven that rosemary bread is being baked.”