Learn Hardcore Turkish: Bu arada matarayı suyla doldur; gökyüzü kararmadan başlayalım. - By the way, fill the canteen with water; let’s start before the sky gets dark.

In this sentence it means in the meantime/meanwhile (i.e., while something else is going on). "Bu arada" can also mean "by the way" when introducing a side note, but the action-oriented context here favors the temporal meaning.

Why is it "matarayı" with -yı at the end?

-ı/-i/-u/-ü is the definite accusative suffix, marking a specific direct object: matara (canteen) → matarayı (the canteen).
The consonant y is a buffer added because the noun ends in a vowel: matara + -(y)ı → matarayı.
Without accusative, you’d be talking about an indefinite object (e.g., “fill a canteen”): bir matara doldur.

Is "suyla" the same as "su ile"? Why use -la/-le?

Yes. suyla = su ile (“with water / using water”). Turkish often cliticizes ile to -la/-le (with vowel harmony), and after vowel-final words it appears as -yla/-yle: su + -yla → suyla. All of these are correct: su ile (more formal), suyla (very common), suyla doldur.

Could I say “suyla matarayı doldur” instead of “matarayı suyla doldur”?

Yes, both are grammatical. The neutral/default order is typically OBJECT + ADVERBIAL + VERB: matarayı suyla doldur. Fronting suyla (suyla matarayı doldur) puts focus on “with water” (e.g., not with juice).

What’s the difference between “matarayı suyla doldur” and “mataraya su doldur”?

X-ı Y-(y)la doldur = “fill X with Y” (container as definite object, content with -la/-le): matarayı suyla doldur.
X-a/e Y doldur = “pour/put Y into X” (container takes dative, content stays bare): mataraya su doldur. The first emphasizes the end state (full), the second the action of putting/pouring into.

Is "doldur" a command? How do I make it more polite?

Yes, doldur is the 2nd person singular imperative (“fill it”). To soften:

Add please: Lütfen matarayı suyla doldur.
Use a request form: Matarayı suyla doldurur musun? or …doldurabilir misin? (more polite/indirect). For plural/polite “you (siz)”: doldurun.

How would I address multiple people or use polite forms?

Use 2nd person plural:

Imperative: Matarayı suyla doldurun.
Polite request: Matarayı suyla doldurur musunuz / doldurabilir misiniz? “Let’s start” remains başlayalım (1st person plural).

What exactly does “başlayalım” express?

It’s the inclusive “let’s” form (1st person plural imperative/optative): başla- (start) + buffer -y- + -alım → başlayalım = “let’s start/begin.” It invites the listener to act together with the speaker. A more tentative suggestion is Başlayalım mı? (“Shall we start?”).

Why is there a “y” in “başlayalım”?

Buffer consonant for vowel-vowel contact. The stem başla- ends in a vowel and the suffix -alım begins with a vowel, so Turkish inserts -y-: başla- + -y- + -alım → başlayalım.

Can I include “biz” as the subject, like “Biz başlayalım”?

You can, but it’s usually unnecessary because the person/number is already marked on the verb. Biz başlayalım adds emphasis on “we/us,” e.g., contrasting with others.

What does the -madan in “kararmadan” mean?

-madan/-meden forms an adverbial meaning “without V-ing / before V-ing.” From kararmak (“to get dark”) → kararmadan = “before it gets dark.” It doesn’t mean actual negation here; it’s a temporal clause.

Could I say “gökyüzü kararmadan önce” or just “kararmadan önce”?

Yes. All are fine:

Gökyüzü kararmadan (as in the sentence)
Gökyüzü kararmadan önce
Kararmadan önce (subject understood from context: “before it gets dark”) Adding önce can sound a bit more explicit or formal; without it is lean and very common.

Why not “gökyüzünün kararmasından önce”?

That’s also correct, using a nominalized clause with genitive + verbal noun + ablative: gökyüzünün kararmasından önce = “before the sky’s getting dark.” It’s more formal/explicit. The original is simpler and very natural.

Is “gökyüzü” the most idiomatic choice? What about “hava”?

You’ll often hear Hava kararmadan (“before it gets dark” lit. “before the air gets dark”), which is very idiomatic. Gökyüzü kararmadan is correct and clear; hava kararmadan is even more colloquial.

Should there be a comma after “Bu arada”? And is the semicolon normal?

A comma after an initial adverbial like Bu arada is optional: Bu arada, … vs Bu arada …. Both are acceptable.
The semicolon is fine in Turkish to link closely related independent clauses. A period would also work; the semicolon underlines their tight connection.

Any spelling or diacritic tips?

gökyüzü has ö and ü (not “gokyuzu”).
No apostrophe before suffixes on common nouns: suyla, not “su’yla” (though you may see it informally).
Vowel harmony applies: matarayı (-ı after a), suyla (-la after u).

How would stress and pronunciation roughly go?

Approximate word stress is typically on the last syllable:

ma-ta-ra-YI
SUY-la
dol-DUR
gök-yü-ZÜ
ka-rar-ma-DAN
baş-la-ya-LIM Linking consonants (y) in matarayı, başlayalım should be audible.