Learn Hardcore Turkish: Ben bu akşam kendimi yalnız hissediyorum.

Bu akşam kendimi yalnız hissediyorum. is the most natural. Use Ben if you want contrast or emphasis, like “I (as opposed to others) feel lonely tonight.”

Why is kendimi there? Could I just say yalnız hissediyorum?

In standard Turkish, hissetmek (“to feel”) is transitive and takes an object, typically the reflexive pronoun: kendimi (“myself”). So:

Standard: (Ben) kendimi yalnız hissediyorum.
Colloquial (also very common and acceptable): (Ben) yalnız hissediyorum. Including kendimi sounds a bit more complete/careful; omitting it is very common in everyday speech, especially with adjectives (iyi, kötü, yalnız, yorgun).

What exactly does kendimi consist of?

It’s the reflexive pronoun built with possession and case:

kendi = self
-m = my (1st person singular possessive) → kendim = myself
-i = accusative (direct object) → kendimi = myself (as the direct object) Other persons: kendini (yourself), kendini/kendisini (himself/herself), kendimizi (ourselves), etc.

Is the -mi at the end of kendimi the question particle?

No. The yes/no question particle (mi/mı/mu/mü) is a separate word: it’s written separately and follows vowel harmony, e.g. yalnız mıyım?, hissediyor muyum? In kendimi, the “mi” you see is simply the combination of possessive + accusative suffixes within one word.

What does yalnız mean here—“lonely,” “alone,” or “only”?

Here it means “lonely,” because it’s used as a complement after hissetmek.

“Lonely”: kendimi yalnız hissediyorum = “I feel lonely.”
“Alone”: yalnız geldim = “I came alone.”
“Only/just”: yalnız ben geldim = “Only I came.” (synonym: sadece) Context and position determine the meaning.

Could I say Bu akşam yalnızım instead? How does it differ from yalnız hissediyorum?

Yes:

Bu akşam yalnızım. attaches the “to be” ending to the adjective (copula) and states a condition: “I am alone/lonely tonight.” It can sound more factual or enduring.
Bu akşam kendimi yalnız hissediyorum. emphasizes the subjective feeling, which can be more tentative or emotional. Both are natural; choose based on nuance.

How flexible is the word order? Where can bu akşam go?

Turkish generally prefers S–O–V, but adverbs of time can move for emphasis:

Neutral/natural: (Ben) bu akşam kendimi yalnız hissediyorum.
Also fine: Bu akşam kendimi yalnız hissediyorum. / Kendimi bu akşam yalnız hissediyorum. Avoid putting the object after the verb in neutral statements (e.g., … hissediyorum kendimi) unless you’re doing special emphasis/focus, which is advanced.

Why is it spelled hissediyorum with a double s and a d?

Because hissetmek is a compound verb (his + etmek “to do”). In compounds like this, the consonants merge and often double: hissetmek. For the present continuous:

Stem: hisset-
Suffix: -iyor → when attached, t voices to d before the vowel → hissediyor-
1sg: hissediyorum Compare: affetmek → affediyorum, zannetmek → zannediyorum, reddetmek → reddediyorum. Note: In the negative, the t usually stays: hissetmiyorum (because it’s -miyor, starting with a consonant).

Why use the -yor present continuous (hissediyorum) instead of the simple present (hissederim)?

hissediyorum (present continuous) = “I am feeling (now/around this time).” It fits bu akşam.
hissederim (aorist/simple present) = habitual/general tendency: “I (tend to) feel.” With time adverbs like genelde, bazen, çoğu zaman, the aorist is common.

Why is kendimi in the accusative (-i) case?

Because hissetmek is transitive and kendimi is its direct object. Reflexive objects are definite, so they take the accusative:

Kendimi iyi hissediyorum. Indefinite direct objects are often unmarked, but reflexive kendi- with a possessive is inherently definite.

How can I intensify or soften yalnız?

Place adverbs before the adjective:

Çok yalnız = very lonely
Biraz yalnız = a bit lonely
Oldukça yalnız = quite lonely Examples: Bu akşam kendimi çok yalnız hissediyorum. / Bu akşam biraz yalnız hissediyorum.

What’s the difference between yalnız and tek başına?

yalnız = alone OR lonely, depending on context.
tek başına = physically by oneself; it does not mean “lonely.” Examples:
Bu akşam evde tek başınayım. (I’m by myself at home.)
Bu akşam kendimi yalnız hissediyorum. (I feel lonely.)

Any pronunciation tips for words in this sentence?

ş = “sh” in “ship” (akşam → “ak-sham”)
ı (dotless ı) = a close back unrounded vowel, like a relaxed “uh” (yalnız → “yal-nuhz”)
e in hissediyorum is like “e” in “bed.”
Primary stress is typically near the end of words, but compounds and suffix chains can shift perception; don’t overthink stress—focus on the vowels and consonants first.

How do I negate or ask a question with this sentence?

Negative: Bu akşam kendimi yalnız hissetmiyorum. (Note the t: hisset + miyor + um)
Yes/no question with hissetmek: Bu akşam kendimi yalnız hissediyor muyum? (Question particle is separate: mu/mı/mü/mi)
Yes/no question with the copula: Bu akşam yalnız mıyım?

Can I use duymak instead of hissetmek for “feel”?

Generally no, not with adjectives about emotional/mental states. Duymak mainly means “to hear” or “to feel (physically)” and tends to take nouns (e.g., acı duyuyorum = I feel pain). For adjectives like yalnız, iyi, kötü, use hissetmek.

Is bu akşam exactly “tonight”? How about bu gece?

bu akşam = this evening (roughly until late evening).
bu gece = tonight (the nighttime hours). Sometimes they overlap in casual use, but bu gece can imply later at night or after bedtime activities.

Could putting yalnız earlier change the meaning to “only”?

Yes. Yalnız can mean “only/just” when it modifies a phrase or clause:

Yalnız bu akşam kendimi kötü hissediyorum. = “Only this evening I feel bad.” In your sentence, kendimi yalnız hissediyorum, yalnız clearly pairs with hissetmek and means “lonely,” not “only.”