Toplantıda espri yapmak istemiyorum.

I don’t want to make a joke in the meeting.

Breakdown of Toplantıda espri yapmak istemiyorum.

• istemek: to want
• toplantı: the meeting
• espri yapmak: to make a joke

Questions & Answers about Toplantıda espri yapmak istemiyorum.

What does the suffix in toplantıda mean?

The suffix -da/-de/-ta/-te is the locative case, meaning in/at/on. So toplantıda means in/at the meeting. With events like meetings, English often says at, but Turkish uses the locative.

Why is it -da (not -de, -ta, or -te) in toplantıda?

Two harmonies apply:

• Vowel harmony: last vowel is ı (back), so choose -da (not -de).
• Consonant voicing: the noun ends in a vowel, so the suffix starts with d (after a voiceless consonant it would be t, e.g., parkta, ofiste, evde).

Can I omit the subject pronoun ben?

Yes. The ending -um in istemiyorum already marks 1st person singular. Ben toplantıda espri yapmak istemiyorum is fine for emphasis on I.

What’s the morphological breakdown of istemiyorum?

iste- (want) + -me- (negation) + -iyor- (progressive) + -um (1sg) → istemiyorum. In the negative progressive, the vowel of -me merges with -iyor, yielding -miyor/-mıyor/-muyor/-müyor by harmony.

Why does istemiyorum translate as I don’t want (simple present), not I’m not wanting?

Turkish -iyor is progressive, but with mental-state verbs (want, know, like) English prefers simple present. So istemiyorum = I don’t want.

Why isn’t it espriyi yapmak? Shouldn’t the object take accusative?

Indefinite direct objects in Turkish are bare: espri yapmak. Use accusative only for a specific, known object: o espriyi yapmak istemiyorum (I don’t want to make that joke).

What’s the difference between espri yapmak, şaka yapmak, and şaka anlatmak?

• espri yapmak: make a witty remark/pun; often verbal wordplay.
• şaka yapmak: make a joke or play a prank; very common and broad.
• şaka anlatmak: tell a (set-up/punchline) joke. They overlap, but espri leans witty; şaka is the default everyday word.

Is espri yapmayı istemiyorum also correct?

It’s acceptable, but with istemek, the -mek form (espri yapmak istemiyorum) is the default. The -mayı form treats the action more like a concrete object, which can sound heavier or more emphatic. Many speakers prefer -mayı with verbs like düşünmek/planlamak/tercih etmek: espri yapmayı düşünmüyorum.

How would I say I’m simply not making jokes (not about wanting)?

Use direct negation of the verb: Toplantıda espri yapmıyorum (I’m not making jokes in the meeting).

How do I express a general policy or habit?

Use the aorist: Toplantılarda espri yapmak istemem (As a rule, I don’t want to make jokes in meetings). Singular works too: Toplantıda … istemem, but plural sounds more habitual.

How do I pronounce the dotless ı in toplantıda?

Turkish ı is a back, unrounded vowel, like the sound in English roses (the final vowel) or the French unstressed e. It’s not the same as dotted i.

Can I change the word order?

Yes, Turkish is flexible:

• Ben toplantıda espri yapmak istemiyorum (emphasizes the subject).
• Toplantıda ben espri yapmak istemiyorum (even stronger emphasis on I). Keeping the verb at the end is most natural. Ending with toplantıda sounds like an afterthought.

How would I say during the meeting (not just in/at)?

Use a time expression: Toplantı sırasında/Toplantı esnasında espri yapmak istemiyorum = I don’t want to make a joke during the meeting.

Is de/da here the same as the particle meaning also/too?

No. In toplantıda, -da is the bound locative suffix. The additive particle de/da is written separately and never turns into -ta/-te: Ben de geliyorum (I’m coming too).

Should I add bir: bir espri yapmak?

You can, but it changes nuance. Espri yapmak istemiyorum is generic (any jokes). Bir espri yapmak istemiyorum can mean I don’t want to make a (single) joke, and in negatives bir can sound like even one. It’s usually omitted unless you want that shade.

Any softer or more polite ways to say this?

Yes:

• Toplantıda espri yapmak pek istemiyorum (I’d rather not).
• Toplantıda espri yapmayı tercih etmiyorum (I don’t prefer to).
• Toplantıda espri yapmayayım (Let me not make a joke; optative, polite suggestion).

Full parse of the sentence?

• Toplantı-da: meeting-LOC (in/at the meeting)
• espri yap-mak: to make a joke (infinitive)
• isteme-miyor-um: want-NEG-PROG-1SG Overall: I don’t want to make a joke in/at the meeting.