Learn Hardcore Turkish: Randevu saati yarın sabah dokuzda. - The appointment time is at nine tomorrow morning.

It’s an indefinite noun compound: randevu (appointment) + saat (time/hour) + 3rd‑person possessive -i → saati. So it literally means “the time of the appointment,” like English “appointment time.” Other examples: araba kapısı (car door), okul müdürü (school principal).

Why is there no word for “is” in the sentence?

Turkish often omits “to be” in the 3rd person present for nominal sentences. The copula is understood: Randevu saati … [is] …. In more formal or emphatic style you can add -dır/-dir to the predicate: Randevu saati yarın sabah dokuzdadır.

Why does dokuz take -da (locative)? How is it formed?

To say “at (a time),” Turkish uses the locative suffix -DA (variants: -da/-de/-ta/-te). Choice is by vowel harmony and consonant voicing:

Last vowel back → -da/-ta; front → -de/-te.
After a voiceless consonant (p, ç, t, k, f, s, h, ş) → -t-; otherwise -d-. Since dokuz ends with the back vowel u and a voiced consonant (z), you get dokuzda (“at nine”).

Do I need to say saat before the number (e.g., saat dokuzda)?

It’s optional. Both dokuzda and saat dokuzda are fine. Using saat is common and clear. So you can say: Randevu saati yarın sabah dokuzda or Randevu saati yarın sabah saat dokuzda—having two saat words here isn’t wrong (first = “time,” second = “o’clock”).

What’s the difference between randevu saati, randevunun saati, and randevum?

Randevu saati: lighter, generic “appointment time.”
Randevunun saati: definite compound (“the time of the appointment”), more explicit/specific.
Randevum: “my appointment.” E.g., Randevum yarın sabah dokuzda.

How do I ask “What time is the appointment?”

Use kaçta (“at what time”): Randevu saat kaçta? or simply Randevu kaçta? Note the difference: Saat kaç? = “What time is it (now)?”, while kaçta asks “at what time (does it happen)?”

When do I use var/yok with appointments?

Use them for existence. Yarın sabah dokuzda randevu var = “There is an appointment at nine tomorrow morning.” Yarın sabah dokuzda randevu yok = “There is no appointment at nine.” Don’t add var to the original sentence; that one is an equational sentence (A is B).

How do I say it’s not at nine?

Negate the predicate with değil: Randevu saati yarın sabah dokuzda değil, on birde.

Is the word order fixed? Could I move parts around?

Time expressions usually come early, and the focused/new information tends to be near the end. Randevu saati yarın sabah dokuzda is natural and focuses on dokuzda. Alternatives like Yarın sabah dokuzda randevu var are also natural. Avoid odd orders that split compounds.

Is yarın sabah the only way to say “tomorrow morning”?

You can also say yarın sabahleyin (a bit more literary) or shorten contextually to yarın sabah / sabah if “tomorrow” is understood. For “tomorrow evening,” use yarın akşam; for “tomorrow night,” yarın gece.

Any pronunciation tips for these words?

randevu: ran-de-vu (stress usually on the last syllable: ran-de-vu).
saat: sa-at (two syllables; pronounce both vowels clearly).
dokuzda: do-kuz-da (the d in -da is voiced).

How do I write the suffix if I use numerals?

Attach it with an apostrophe: 9'da, 09.00'da, 09:00'da. Example: Randevu saati yarın sabah 09.00'da.

Why is it saati (with -i) and not saatı (with -ı)?

The 3rd‑person possessive normally follows vowel harmony, but saat is a well-known exception that takes front‑vowel suffixes: saati, saatim, saatiniz, etc. So the correct form here is saati.

How can I vary the time meaning (around/before/after etc.)?

Around nine: dokuz gibi / dokuz civarında / dokuz sularında
Before nine: dokuzdan önce
After nine: dokuzdan sonra
By/until nine: dokuza kadar
9:30: dokuz buçukta
8:45 (quarter to nine): dokuza çeyrek kala
9:05 (five past nine): dokuzu beş geçe

What’s the difference between -da/-de (locative) and da/de (“also”)?

The locative is a suffix written together: dokuzda = “at nine.” The particle da/de meaning “also/too” is separate: dokuz da = “nine too.” Context and spacing distinguish them.