Learn Hardcore Turkish: Duyuruyu gördün mü, yoksa sana ekran görüntüsü göndereyim mi? - Did you see the announcement, or should I send you a screenshot?

Yoksa links two alternatives with an “otherwise/or else” nuance: “Did you see the announcement, or (if not) should I send you a screenshot?” It implies that if the first option isn’t true, the second should happen. Ya da/veya is a neutral “or” and doesn’t carry that “otherwise” feel. In offers and clarifying questions, yoksa feels especially natural.

Why is it duyuruyu and not just duyuru?

Because the object is definite (“the announcement”). In Turkish, definite direct objects take the accusative (-ı/i/u/ü). Here: duyuru + -(y)u → duyuruyu. The buffer y appears because the noun ends in a vowel. If you said duyuru gördün mü?, it would mean “Did you see an announcement?” (indefinite).

Then why doesn’t ekran görüntüsü take the accusative?

It’s indefinite here (“a screenshot”), so no accusative is used. If you meant a specific, known screenshot, you’d say ekran görüntüsünü. Also, ekran görüntüsü is an indefinite noun compound; as an indefinite object it normally stays unmarked.

What exactly is ekran görüntüsü morphologically, and what is the -sü?

It’s an indefinite noun–noun compound: ekran (screen) + görüntü (image) + 3rd person possessive -(s)I → görüntüsü. The s is a linking consonant used when the possessive suffix follows a vowel-final stem. Literally “screen image,” idiomatically “screenshot.” The definite, genitive version would be ekranın görüntüsü (“the image of the screen”).

Would ekran görüntüsünü göndereyim mi? be wrong?

Not wrong—just more specific. It means “Shall I send the screenshot?” implying a particular one that both speakers can identify. Without the accusative, it’s “a screenshot.”

How does the question particle mi/mı/mu/mü work, and why is there a space?

It’s a clitic yes/no question particle written as a separate word, but it harmonizes with the last vowel of the word it follows:

After a/ı → mı
After e/i → mi
After o/u → mu
After ö/ü → mü It attaches to the element in focus, often the verb: gördün mü, göndereyim mi. It can also take its own suffixes (e.g., miydi, miyim).

Why is it mü after gördün?

Vowel harmony. The last vowel of gördün is ü, so the particle surfaces as mü: gördün mü.

Why is the first clause past tense (gördün) while the second is göndereyim?

gördün = simple past, 2nd singular: “did you see?”
göndereyim = 1st singular optative/volitional (“let me/shall I send”). Together: “Have you (already) seen it, or should I send it now?” Using görüyor musun? (“are you seeing/looking at it?”) would shift the meaning to an ongoing action, which isn’t intended here.

How is göndereyim mi formed, exactly?

Verb stem gönder-
1st person singular optative -(y)eyim/-ayım → göndereyim (“let me/shall I send”)
Question particle mi → göndereyim mi? Without mi, it becomes a suggestion/offer: göndereyim (“Let me send [it]”).

Why sana and not seni or sen?

Because the recipient is an indirect object: “to you.” Turkish uses the dative -a/-e for recipients. The dative of sen is sana (irregular form).

sana = to you (singular, informal)
seni = you (accusative, direct object)
sen = you (subject)

Can I use size instead of sana?

Yes. Size is the dative of siz (you plural/polite). It makes the sentence polite/plural: … yoksa size ekran görüntüsü göndereyim mi?

Can I leave out duyuruyu and just say Gördün mü?

Yes, if the context makes it clear what “it” refers to. Turkish often omits objects and pronouns when they’re understood.

Why is there a comma before yoksa? Is it required?

It’s a stylistic pause separating the two clauses. You’ll commonly see a comma there, but it isn’t strictly required. You could even make two sentences: Duyuruyu gördün mü? Yoksa sana ekran görüntüsü göndereyim mi?

Where does the question particle go—can I move it for emphasis?

Yes. mi/mı/mu/mü follows the focused element. Default yes/no questions put it after the verb (göndereyim mi?). If you want to focus the object, you can say: Yoksa ekran görüntüsü mü göndereyim? (“Is it a screenshot that I should send?”).

Is the word order fixed?

Turkish is flexible but defaults to SOV. Here, both clauses place the object before the verb: Duyuruyu gördün mi … ekran görüntüsü göndereyim mi? You can shift elements for nuance, e.g., Sana ekran görüntüsü göndereyim mi? or Ekran görüntüsü göndereyim mi sana? The meaning stays the same; the rhythm/emphasis changes.

Any colloquial alternatives to sound natural?

Yes:

… ekran görüntüsü atayım mı? (using colloquial atmak = “to send/post”)
… SS atayım mı? (slang: “SS” = screenshot; read as “es es”).
These are informal; the original sentence is neutral-casual and widely appropriate.