Learn Hardcore Turkish: Telefonumda bildirim var. - There is a notification on my phone.

a/e choice: depends on the last vowel of the word (back vowel → -da, front vowel → -de). In telefonum, the last vowel is u (back), so choose -da.
d/t choice: depends on the last consonant’s voicing (voiced → d, voiceless → t). Telefonum ends with m (voiced), so use -da. So: telefon + um (my) + da (in/on) → telefonumda = “on/in my phone.”

Why is there no article like “a” before bildirim?

Turkish has no articles. A bare singular noun in an existential sentence with var is understood as indefinite (“a notification”). If you want to explicitly mark “a/one,” you can add bir: Telefonumda bir bildirim var.

When should I include bir?

To emphasize “one” or to make the indefiniteness clearer: Telefonumda bir bildirim var.
Without bir, it’s still indefinite and very natural: Telefonumda bildirim var.
If you mean the number 1 (as opposed to 2+), bir is recommended.

Should I pluralize bildirim if there are many?

Unspecified plural is often fine with singular: Telefonumda bildirim var can imply “there are notifications.”
To highlight plurality: Telefonumda bildirimler var.
With numbers and most quantifiers, the noun stays singular: iki bildirim, birkaç bildirim, birçok bildirim, çok bildirim. With bazı (“some”), use plural: bazı bildirimler.

What does var do here? Is it like “is/are”?

Var expresses existence/availability (“there is/are”). It’s not the regular “to be” copula. You use var to say something exists somewhere: Telefonumda bildirim var = “There is a notification on my phone.”

How do I negate this sentence?

Use yok (not değil): Telefonumda bildirim yok = “There is no notification on my phone.” Past negation: yoktu; question negation: Bildirim yok mu?

How do I ask it as a yes/no question?

Add the question particle to var: Telefonumda bildirim var mı? The particle follows vowel harmony: mı/mi/mu/mü. Answer: Var / Yok.

Can I change the word order?

Default and most neutral is: Telefonumda bildirim var.

Focus on location: Bildirim var telefonumda.
Avoid: Telefonumda var bildirim (sounds odd in standard speech). In existential sentences, var/yok typically stays at the end.

Does -da here mean “on” or “in”?

The locative covers both; context decides. With devices, telefonumda usually maps to English “on my phone.” For “to my phone” (direction), use dative: Telefonuma bir bildirim geldi (“A notification came to my phone”).

Do I need to say benim telefonumda?

No. The possessive -um in telefonum already encodes “my.” Benim telefonumda adds emphasis/contrast (“on my phone (not someone else’s)”).

Is this also how Turkish says “I have a notification (on my phone)”?

Yes. Turkish often expresses possession via location + var:

Telefonumda bildirim var = “I have a notification on my phone.” For people more generally: Bende para var (“I have money on me”).

What’s the difference between var, mevcut, and bulunuyor?

Var: neutral, everyday “there is/are.”
Mevcut: formal “available/present.” E.g., Bildirim mevcut (formal).
Bulunuyor: formal/“is found/located,” sometimes suggests ongoing state. For phones, bildirim var is the most natural.

Is this the same da/de as the additive particle meaning “too/also”?

No. Here it’s the locative suffix attached to the noun: telefonumda. The additive particle da/de is written separately and doesn’t change to ta/te: Telefonum da (“my phone, too”).

How do I say “There are two notifications on my phone”?

Telefonumda iki bildirim var. After numerals, the noun is singular.

What if I mean a specific notification (definite)?

Existential var prefers indefinites. For a specific one, use a demonstrative or an equational/locative sentence:

O bildirim telefonumda. (“That notification is on my phone.”)
Or use a verb: O bildirim telefonumda görünüyor.

Why is it locative (-da) and not dative (-a)?

Because var describes existence in a location. Dative (-a/-e) is directional and used with verbs of motion or change: Telefonuma bildirim geldi (“A notification came to my phone”).

Does var conjugate for person/number?

No. Var is invariant. Tense/mood attach around it:

Past: vardı (“there was”)
Reported past: varmış
Future plans/events are often still said with var: Yarın sınavım var (“I have an exam tomorrow”).

Any quick pronunciation tips for the suffix?

The locative has four surface forms: -da/-de/-ta/-te.
After a voiceless consonant: -ta/-te (e.g., kitapta); after a voiced one or a vowel: -da/-de (e.g., evde, telefonumda).
Turkish r is tapped in var: a quick single “r.”

Does this sentence describe an event (“a notification arrived”)?

Not really; it states a current state. For the arrival event, use a verb: Telefonuma bir bildirim geldi (“A notification arrived on my phone”) or, if just noticed: Telefonuma bir bildirim gelmiş.