Learn Hardcore Turkish: Affedersiniz, siz sırada mısınız?

Turkish has a T–V distinction: siz is the polite form for addressing a stranger or a group, while sen is informal singular. Here, siz (and the ending -sınız) shows politeness toward someone you don’t know.

Do I need to say siz at all, since -sınız already means “you (polite/plural)”?

You can omit it. Sırada mısınız? is perfectly clear and polite. Adding siz can make the address explicit, add politeness/emphasis, or help in a noisy setting.

What does the -da in sırada mean?

It’s the locative case “in/on/at.” Sıra = “line/queue”; sırada = “in the line.” The locative appears as -da/-de or -ta/-te depending on voicing and vowel harmony; here it’s -da.

Why is it mı and not mi/mu/mü?

The yes/no question particle follows 4-way vowel harmony: mı, mi, mu, mü. It matches the last vowel of the preceding word or phrase. Since sıra ends in a, the particle becomes mı.

Why does mı carry the ending -sınız (making mısınız)?

In “to be” sentences without an overt verb, the personal ending attaches to the question particle. So: (siz) sırada mısınız = “are you (polite/plural) in the line.” The person ending agrees with siz: -sınız/-siniz/-sunuz/-sünüz by vowel harmony.

Is mısınız written together or separately?

It’s written together with the personal ending but separated from the word before it: sırada mısınız, not “sıradamısınız.” Rule: write mı/mi/mu/mü as a separate word, but attach any person/tense suffixes to it.

How do I pronounce the dotless ı in sıra and mısınız?

Turkish ı is a central, unrounded vowel; think of the vowel in the second syllable of English “roses” or “sofa,” but a bit tenser and centralized. It’s not the same as dotted i. In this sentence you have two ı sounds: s-ı-ra, m-ı-s-ı-n-ı-z.

Can I just say Sırada mısınız? without Affedersiniz?

Yes. Affedersiniz is a polite attention-getter like “Excuse me.” Alternatives include Pardon (casual) and Kusura bakmayın (more apologetic).

What’s the difference between Affedersiniz and Özür dilerim?

Use Affedersiniz to get someone’s attention or lightly excuse yourself in passing. Özür dilerim is a stronger “I apologize/I’m sorry” for when you’ve actually done something wrong.

Why is it spelled Affedersiniz with double f?

It comes from affetmek (“to pardon/forgive”), which is af + et- with assimilation: af → aff before et-. The aorist/polite form is affeder-siniz → Affedersiniz.

Could I say Sırada mısın? instead?

Yes, but that’s informal singular. Use Sırada mısın? with friends or children. With strangers, stick to Sırada mısınız? (polite).

Why sırada and not sıraya?

Sırada (locative) means “in the line.” Sıraya (dative) means “to the line” and would suggest movement into the queue (e.g., “Are you getting in line?”). For asking whether someone is currently in the line, use sırada.

Can I use kuyruk instead of sıra?

Yes. Kuyruk also means “queue” (literally “tail”). You can say Kuyrukta mısınız? The meaning is the same; sıra is slightly more neutral/common in many contexts.

Where does mı go in the sentence? Why not at the end?

The particle mı/mi/mu/mü follows the element being questioned, not the very end of the sentence. In simple “to be” sentences, it follows the predicate: sırada mısınız. Moving it can change the focus (e.g., Siz mi sıradasınız? = “Is it you who is in line?”).

What about intonation and stress?

Yes/no questions with mı have a rising intonation at the end. The clitic mı is usually unstressed; primary stress stays on the word before it: sıRAda mıSInız?

How would I make it negative or extra polite?

Negative: Sırada değil misiniz? (“Are you not in the line?”). Extra tentative/polite: Sırada mıydınız? (“Were you in the line?”) or add acaba: Acaba sırada mısınız? for a softer tone.