Learn Hardcore Turkish: Mevcut çözüm işe yaramazsa, yenisini deneriz. - If the current solution doesn’t work, we’ll try a new one.

Turkish encodes “if” with the conditional suffix -sA attached to the verb. Here it’s in yaramazsa: yaramaz (doesn’t work) + -sa (if) = “if it doesn’t work.” You don’t need a separate word for “if,” though adding eğer at the beginning is possible for emphasis.

What does the chunk işe yaramak mean, and how is it different from çalışmak?

işe yaramak literally “to be of use,” idiomatically “to work / be effective (for a purpose).” Used for solutions, methods, ideas, advice, medicine, etc.
- ör. “Bu yöntem işe yarıyor.” = This method works (is effective).
çalışmak is “to work” in the sense of operating (machines/devices) or laboring (a person).
- ör. “Bilgisayar çalışmıyor.” = The computer isn’t working. In your sentence, since it’s about a solution being effective, işe yaramak is the natural choice.

How is yaramazsa formed?

Base verb: yaramak (to be useful, to work [be effective])
Negative aorist (3rd sg): yaramaz = “it does not work/is not useful” (negative -mA + aorist -z)
Conditional: yaramaz
- -sa = yaramazsa = “if it doesn’t work” The -sa/-se form obeys vowel harmony; here it’s -sa.

Why is it işe and not something like işi?

Yaramak takes the dative case: “to be useful for/to something” = bir şeye yaramak. So you need işe (iş + -e dative). İşi would be accusative (“the job/work” as a direct object) and doesn’t fit this idiom. The phrase işe yaramak is fixed and very common.

What exactly is yenisini and why not just yeni?

yenisini = yeni (new) + -sI (3rd person possessive/pronominalizer → “the new one”) + -nI (accusative: direct object). The buffer -n- prevents vowel clash. You can’t use bare yeni as a noun; yenisi turns “new” into “the new one,” and yenisini marks it as the object of “try.”

Do I have to use the accusative on yenisini?

Yes. Forms like -sI used pronominally (the old one, the new one, etc.) are definite, and definite direct objects take the accusative. Without -i, yenisi deneriz sounds ungrammatical/odd. Compare:

Yenisini deneriz. = We’ll try the new one. (definite object)

How would I say “we’ll try a new solution” (indefinite), not “the new one”?

Use an indefinite noun phrase without accusative:

Yeni bir çözüm deneriz. = We’ll try a new solution. Avoid mixing bir (indefinite) with accusative, unless the noun has already been made specific contextually.

Why isn’t the subject biz written?

Turkish conjugation encodes the subject. deneriz already means “we try / we’ll try.” Pronouns like biz are added only for emphasis or contrast: Biz deneriz (We, as opposed to others, will try).

Is deneriz present or future?

It’s the aorist, which in conditionals often conveys a neutral future (“we’ll try”). With an if-clause like …yaramazsa, deneriz reads as a plan/regular response. If you want a clear, committed future, use deneyeceğiz (“we will try”).

Could I say deneyeceğiz instead of deneriz? Any nuance?

Yes: Mevcut çözüm işe yaramazsa, yenisini deneyeceğiz. This sounds more definite/committed. deneriz is more neutral or rule-like; deneyeceğiz stresses a decided future action.

Can I switch the clause order?

Yes:

Yenisini deneriz, mevcut çözüm işe yaramazsa. Both orders are fine. The conditional clause often comes first in writing. A comma is customary when the if-clause precedes the main clause.

Do I need eğer?

No. eğer is optional and adds emphasis or clarity:

Eğer mevcut çözüm işe yaramazsa, yenisini deneriz. Most of the time, the -sA suffix alone is enough.

Could I use olmazsa instead of işe yaramazsa?

Often, yes—especially in speech:

Mevcut çözüm olmazsa, yenisini deneriz. ≈ If the current solution doesn’t work out, we’ll try a new one. olmazsa (“if it doesn’t work out / if it’s not possible”) is broader and slightly more casual. işe yaramazsa specifically targets (in)effectiveness.

Isn’t yaramaz also an adjective meaning “naughty”?

Correct. yaramaz as an adjective = “naughty/mischievous” (e.g., yaramaz çocuk). In your sentence, it’s the negative aorist of yaramak: yaramazsa = “if it doesn’t work.” Context and the verb suffixes make the meaning clear.

How do you pronounce the sentence?

Rough guide (English-friendly):

Mevcut [mev-joot] (c = j in “jam,” but here it’s “vc” cluster; “mev-cüt” → “mev-joot”)
çözüm [chö-ZÜM] (ç = ch, ö like German ö, ü like German ü)
işe [ee-SHEH] (ş = sh; final -e like “eh”)
yaramazsa [ya-ra-MAZ-sa]
yenisini [ye-nee-see-NEE]
deneriz [de-NE-reez] Stress typically falls near the end of each word; Turkish is syllable-timed.

Is mevcut the only way to say “current/existing”?

No. Alternatives (register varies):

şimdiki/şu anki çözüm = the current solution (colloquial/neutral)
halihazırdaki çözüm = the existing/current solution (formal) mevcut is common in neutral–formal contexts.

Any pitfalls to avoid with “a new one”?

Don’t say yeni birini deneriz unless you literally mean “we’ll try a new person” (because biri = someone). For non-people, use yenisini, yeni bir çözüm, başkasını (another one), or başka bir çözüm depending on context.
If you mean “we’ll try again,” say tekrar deneriz or yeniden deneriz, not yenisini deneriz.