Learn Hardcore Turkish: Lütfen talimatları okuyun; aksi halde cihaz donabilir. - Please read the instructions; otherwise, the device may freeze.

okuyun: 2nd person plural/polite imperative. Used when addressing multiple people or one person politely (the default in instructions and signs).
oku: 2nd person singular informal imperative, used with someone you address as sen.
okuyunuz: Very formal/polite written style; common in official notices or manuals, feels stiff in everyday speech.

Examples:

Lütfen talimatları okuyun. (neutral, appropriate for instructions)
Ali, talimatları oku. (informal)
Lütfen talimatları okuyunuz. (very formal)

Why is it talimatları and not just talimatlar?

Because Turkish marks a definite direct object with the accusative case. Here we mean “the instructions,” a specific set, so we use plural + accusative: talimatlar-ı → talimatları. A bare plural object (talimatlar) would be unusual here and could be misread as a subject. If the object were indefinite (“read instructions”), Turkish often uses the bare singular: talimat okuyun (but for real-life instructions, speakers typically make it definite).

How is talimatları formed?

talimat (instruction) + -lar (plural) + -ı (accusative) → talimat-lar-ı
The accusative vowel -ı/-i/-u/-ü follows vowel harmony; the last vowel in talimat is a, so it becomes -ı.

Could talimatları mean “his/her/their instructions”?

Yes, the form can be ambiguous out of context. It can also be:

talimat + -lar + -ı (3sg possessive) = “his/her instructions.” However, when a possessed noun is a definite object, it also takes accusative after the possessive: onun talimatlarını (“read his instructions”). In our sentence there’s no possessor and the noun is a definite object, so it’s read as plural + accusative: “the instructions.”

Can I say talimatı instead of talimatları?

talimatı = “the instruction” (singular, definite). You’d use it for one specific instruction. When referring to the whole set of instructions in a manual, Turkish typically uses the plural (talimatları) or simply names the manual: kullanma kılavuzunu okuyun (“read the user manual”).

What exactly does donabilir mean? How does it differ from donar or donacak?

donabilir: “may/can freeze” (possibility or risk).
donar: aorist; general truth/habitual or a neutral prediction (“it freezes/it will freeze” in the right context).
donacak: definite future (“it will freeze”).

We choose donabilir here to warn about a possible outcome rather than a certainty.

What does the suffix -ebil add in donabilir?

It adds possibility/ability. Morphology: don- + -a- + -bil- + -ir → donabilir. With third-person statements like this, it expresses possibility (“might”). For permission (“may I…?”), Turkish also uses -ebilir miyim but that’s a different function and context.

How do I negate donabilir correctly?

donmayabilir = “it may not freeze” (it’s possible that it won’t freeze).
donamayabilir = “it may be unable to freeze” (negates ability), which is odd for a device and not intended here. For risk warnings, use donmayabilir if needed.

Is the semicolon required? Could I use a comma, period, or another connector?

The semicolon neatly separates two closely related independent clauses. Alternatives:

Comma + connector: Lütfen talimatları okuyun, yoksa/aksi halde cihaz donabilir.
Period: Lütfen talimatları okuyun. Aksi halde cihaz donabilir.
More formal synonym: aksi takdirde instead of aksi halde. All are acceptable; manuals often favor the semicolon or a period.

What does aksi halde literally mean, and are there casual equivalents?

Literally “in the contrary case,” i.e., “otherwise.” Synonyms:

Formal/neutral: aksi takdirde
More casual: yoksa All fit here: …; aksi halde/aksi takdirde/yoksa cihaz donabilir.

Can lütfen move around in the sentence?

Yes. Common, natural placements:

Lütfen talimatları okuyun; … (most typical)
Talimatları lütfen okuyun; … (slight emphasis on the object)
Talimatları okuyun lütfen; … (polite, slightly softer) Meaning stays the same; placement affects emphasis/softness minimally.

Why is there no word for “it” or “them” (no pronouns) in the Turkish sentence?

Turkish is pro‑drop: subjects are omitted when obvious from context and verb conjugation. Also, you don’t repeat object pronouns when the noun is present. So no o (“it”) or onları (“them”) is needed: Talimatları okuyun already says “read the instructions.”

What’s the typical word order, and can it change?

Canonical order is Subject–Object–Verb. Here: [Lütfen] [talimatları] [okuyun]; [cihaz] [donabilir]. You can reorder for emphasis:

Talimatları okuyun lütfen; … (slight softening)
Lütfen okuyun talimatları; (less common, but understandable) Keep the finite verb near the end of its clause for the most natural flow.

Any pronunciation tips for key letters?

c in cihaz = English “j” in “jam.”
ı (dotless i) in talimatları = close to the vowel in “roses” (the unstressed ‘e’), a back unrounded sound.
ü in lütfen = French “u” or German “ü.”
Stress: typically on the last syllable of native words; loanwords may vary, but LÜTfen is often stressed on the first syllable in practice.