Learn Hardcore Turkish: Domatesleri doğrama tahtasında kesiyorum, sonra spatulayla tavanın içindekileri çeviriyorum. - I cut the tomatoes on the cutting board, then flip what’s in the pan with the spatula.

domates + -ler + -i → domatesleri = the tomatoes (specific ones we both know about)
Domatesleri kesiyorum. = I’m cutting the tomatoes. If the object is non-specific, don’t mark it with accusative:
Domates kesiyorum. = I’m cutting tomatoes (some tomatoes, not a known set). Singular definite would be domatesi = the tomato (one specific tomato).

What’s going on in doğrama tahtasında? Why the -nda?

It’s an indefinite compound plus the locative.

doğra-mak (to chop) → doğrama (chopping, verbal noun)
tahta (board) → compound head takes 3sg possessive: tahta-sı → “chopping board” = doğrama tahtası
Add locative “on/in/at”: after a 3sg possessive, locative surfaces as -nda/-nde: tahta-sı-nda → tahtasında. So doğrama tahtasında = on the chopping board. The -n- is a linker that appears with some case endings after 3rd person possessive.

Is kesiyorum present continuous? How is it different from keserim?

kesiyorum (present continuous) = I am cutting (right now / currently / around this time).
keserim (aorist) = I cut (generally, habitually, or a neutral/volitional future: “I’ll cut it”). Use -iyor- for ongoing actions; use the aorist -r for general truths/habits or promises/offers.

Where can I put sonra? Is the comma necessary?

Sonra means “then/afterwards” and can start the second clause: “…, sonra …”
You can also start a new sentence: “... Sonra spatulayla ...”
It can be fronted: Sonra spatulayla tavanın içindekileri çeviriyorum.
The comma in the original is fine to separate the two actions; it’s stylistic rather than strictly required.

Why spatulayla instead of spatula ile? What’s that -yla?

Turkish ile (“with/and”) can be written separately or attached as a suffix:

After a consonant: bıçak + la → bıçakla (with a knife).
After a vowel, insert buffer y: spatula + yla → spatulayla (with a spatula). Writing it separately (spatula ile) is always okay; the fused form is very common in speech and writing. Note that ile can also mean “and” between nouns (more formal): Ali ile Ayşe = Ali and Ayşe.

What does tavanın mean here, and how is it different from tavada?

tavanın = “of the pan” (genitive: tava + nın). It links to içinde (“inside [it]”), giving “inside the pan.”
tavada = “in the pan” (locative: tava + da). Both are correct, but when you use the -ki suffix later, you typically start from a locative phrase:
tavadaki = the one(s) in the pan (more concise than “tavanın içindeki”).

How is içindekileri built morphologically?

Breakdown:

iç (inside) + 3sg possessive -i (“its inside”) + locative with linker -nde → içinde = in/inside it
Add -ki to turn the locative phrase into a determiner: içindeki = the one(s) that are inside
Add plural -ler if there are multiple: içindekiler = the ones inside
Add accusative -i for a definite object: içindekileri = the ones inside (definite, as object) With the possessor in genitive: tavanın içindekileri = the ones inside the pan.

Why does içindekileri end with accusative -i?

Because it’s the definite direct object of çeviriyorum. Without -i (tavanın içindekiler) it would be nominative (usually the subject). Here we’re flipping a specific set, so we mark it as definite: içindekiler-i.

Why is there no subject pronoun ben?

Turkish is pro-drop. The verb ending already encodes person/number:

kes-iyor-um, çevir-iyor-um → “I am …” You add ben only for emphasis or contrast.

The object is plural. Why doesn’t the verb show plural agreement?

Turkish verbs agree with the subject, not the object. The subject is “I,” so:

… çeviriyorum is correct, regardless of whether the object is singular or plural.

Could I say tavadakileri çeviriyorum instead of tavanın içindekileri çeviriyorum?

Yes—very natural and shorter:

tava + da + ki + leri → tavadakileri = the ones in the pan. Both versions are correct; tavadakileri is often preferred in everyday speech.

Is çevirmek the right verb for flipping food? How is it different from karıştırmak?

çevirmek = to turn/flip/rotate something; in cooking, to flip/turn over items (e.g., veggies, meat).
karıştırmak = to stir/mix.
ters çevirmek = to flip over (explicitly to the other side). Note: çevirmek can also mean “to translate” (context disambiguates).

Is doğrama tahtası the only way to say “cutting board”? What about kesme tahtası?

Both are common:

doğrama tahtası = chopping board
kesme tahtası = cutting board They’re near-synonyms; kesme tahtası may be slightly more common in some regions.

How do the vowel harmony choices work in forms like domatesleri, tavanın, tahtasında?

Suffix vowels harmonize with the last vowel of the stem.
domates-ler-i: last vowel is e (front), so plural -ler and accusative -i.
tava-nın: last vowel is a (back), so genitive -ın (spelled -nın after a vowel).
tahta-sı-nda: last vowel before each suffix is back (a/ı), so possessive -sı and locative -da, with linker -n- after the possessive → -nda.

How is ğ pronounced in doğrama?

ğ is not a hard “g.” It lengthens/softens the preceding vowel:

doğrama ≈ “doorama” (smooth, no hard g). Also: ç = “ch,” ş = “sh.”

Is the word order fixed? Could I say Doğrama tahtasında domatesleri kesiyorum?

Word order is flexible. Both are fine:

Domatesleri doğrama tahtasında kesiyorum (object-first; emphasizes the tomatoes).
Doğrama tahtasında domatesleri kesiyorum (places location first). Turkish tends to put given/topical info earlier and the verb at the end.

Is there any ambiguity with tavanın (pan) vs tavanın (ceiling’s)?

Written form is identical:

tava + nın = of the pan
tavan + ın = of the ceiling Context resolves it. Talking about cooking and “the ones inside” clearly points to tava (pan). You can also choose the shorter tavadaki to avoid the “içinde” phrase altogether.