Learn Hardcore Turkish: Kısa bir mola verelim mi, yoksa devam mı edelim? - Shall we take a short break, or should we continue?

Turkish often uses light-verb expressions: mola vermek literally means “to give a break,” but idiomatically it’s “to take a break.” Another very common option is ara vermek (“to take a break”). You may hear mola almak, but mola/ara vermek is more idiomatic.

What is the ending -elim in verelim?

It’s the first-person plural optative, meaning “let’s …” or “shall we …” It’s used for polite suggestions. The suffix appears as -elim or -alım by vowel harmony. Since the verb stem is ver- (with e), you get ver- + -elim → verelim.

What does mi/mı/mu/mü do here, and how do I choose the right one?

It’s the yes–no question particle. It’s a separate (clitic) word that follows the word it questions and obeys vowel harmony:

After a/e/ı/i/o/u/ö/ü, pick by the last vowel of the preceding word:
- a, ı → mı
- e, i → mi
- o, u → mu
- ö, ü → mü So: verelim mi (last vowel i → mi), devam mı (last vowel a → mı). It’s written separately but phonologically leans on the previous word.

Why is it verelim mi in the first half but devam mı edelim in the second?

Because mi attaches to (and focuses) the word it follows. In the second half, the contrast is specifically on devam (“continue”), so you get devam mı edelim (“continue, or …?”). In the first half, the entire verb phrase is questioned neutrally as verelim mi. A fully balanced contrast version would be: Kısa bir mola mı verelim, yoksa devam mı edelim?

Can I say devam edelim mi instead of devam mı edelim?

Yes. Both are grammatical and natural. Devam mı edelim puts stronger contrastive focus on “continue,” which fits the “A or B?” structure. Devam edelim mi is a neutral “shall we continue?”

Why use yoksa instead of ya da/veya for “or”?

yoksa is especially common in questions that present alternatives: “or (else).”
ya da/veya are neutral “or” used anywhere; they also work here but sound less pointed in a choice question. Using yoksa makes the either–or contrast clearer and a bit more conversational.

Why is bir there in kısa bir mola?

Bir acts like the English indefinite article “a.” With adjectives, Turkish commonly uses bir: kısa bir mola ≈ “a short break.” Without bir, it can sound a bit clipped or headline-like.

Can I drop bir and say kısa mola verelim mi?

Yes, it’s grammatical. Including bir is more idiomatic in everyday speech and emphasizes the unit (“a” break). Without bir can sound slightly more terse or technical, though you will hear it.

Is mola different from ara?

Both mean “break.” Ara vermek is extremely common in many contexts; mola vermek is also common and may feel slightly more like a “pause/break” in activities, travel, meetings, etc. In this sentence, kısa bir ara verelim mi would be just as natural.

Why is it edelim and not etelim after devam?

Because etmek undergoes consonant softening before vowel-initial suffixes: t → d. So:

et- + -elim → edelim Compare: gitmek → gidelim / gidiyor.

Do I need to repeat mi in both parts?

Not strictly.

Only first: Kısa bir mola verelim mi, yoksa devam edelim?
Only second: Kısa bir mola verelim, yoksa devam mı edelim?
Balanced (very natural in contrasts): Kısa bir mola mı verelim, yoksa devam mı edelim? Repeating mi with each option is the clearest way to mark a two-way choice.

Could I make a softer, more tentative suggestion?

Yes—use the conditional + mi:

Kısa bir mola versek mi?
Devam etsek mi? These feel like “What if we took a short break?” / “Maybe we should continue?”

Can I switch the order of the two options?

Yes. For example:

Devam mı edelim, yoksa kısa bir mola verelim mi? You can also start with Yoksa for a follow-up question:
Yoksa devam mı edelim?

How is mi pronounced and stressed?

Although written separately, mi/mı/mu/mü is a clitic that carries stress. This stress highlights the element it follows. So in devam mı, the contrastive stress falls on the mı clitic, effectively emphasizing “continue.”

Any punctuation rules I should know here?

Use a comma before yoksa when joining two clauses.
mi/mı/mu/mü is written as a separate, lowercase word.
Only one question mark goes at the end of the whole sentence, even if both halves contain mi.

What are some equally natural rephrasings?

Kısa bir ara verelim mi, yoksa devam mı edelim?
Biraz ara verelim mi, yoksa devam mı edelim?
Mola mı verelim, yoksa devam mı edelim? (most balanced contrast)