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Yanımızda şemsiye var, yağmurda ıslanmıyoruz.

Yanımızda şemsiye var, yağmurda ıslanmıyoruz.
We have an umbrella with us, we don’t get wet in the rain.

Breakdown of Yanımızda şemsiye var, yağmurda ıslanmıyoruz.

var
to have
şemsiye
the umbrella
ıslanmak
to get wet
yanımızda
with us
yağmurda
in the rain
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Questions & Answers about Yanımızda şemsiye var, yağmurda ıslanmıyoruz.

What does yanımızda literally mean, and how is it built?

It literally means “at/on our side,” and it’s often understood as “with us / on us.”

  • yan = side
  • -ımız = our (1st person plural possessive)
  • -da = in/at/on (locative case) So yan-ımız-da = “at our side.” In context with var, it commonly means “we have (it) with us.”
Why does Turkish use var instead of a verb meaning “to have”?

Turkish expresses possession with an existential structure: “There is/are X at Y.” Here, Yanımızda şemsiye var literally means “There is an umbrella at our side,” i.e., “We have an umbrella with us.” Other examples:

  • Bende anahtar var. = I have a key. (lit. There is a key on me.)
  • Evde ekmek var. = There is bread at home.
Why is there no bir (“a/an”) before şemsiye? Should I say bir şemsiye?

Turkish has no obligatory articles. Without bir, şemsiye is simply indefinite: “(an) umbrella.” Adding bir can emphasize “one umbrella” or introduce a new item more explicitly:

  • Yanımızda şemsiye var. = We have an umbrella (with us).
  • Yanımızda bir şemsiye var. = We have one umbrella (with us) / There’s an umbrella (as opposed to none).
Could I say Bizim şemsiyemiz var instead? What’s the difference?

Yes, but there’s a nuance:

  • Bizim şemsiyemiz var. = We own/have an umbrella (generally).
  • Yanımızda şemsiye var. = We have an umbrella with us right now (physically with us). If you want to stress current availability on your person, yanımızda (or bizde) is more natural.
Can I say bizimle şemsiye var for “with us there is an umbrella”?

That sounds odd. Bizimle (“with us”) is used more naturally with people: Bizimle Ali de var (Ali is with us, too). For objects you’re carrying/keeping with you, use yanımızda or bizde:

  • Yanımızda şemsiye var.
  • Bizde şemsiye var. (We have an umbrella—often with a contrastive flavor: we, as opposed to others.)
What does the -da in yağmurda do?

It’s the locative case meaning “in/at/on,” and here it means “in the rain” or “when it’s raining.”

  • yağmur + da → yağmurda = in the rain. Form: -da/-de (front/back harmony) and d/t voicing: after voiceless consonants, it becomes -ta/-te. Examples:
  • parkta (in the park), ofiste (in the office), yağmurda (in the rain).
What does ıslanmak mean, and why is there an -n- in it?

Islanmak means “to get wet” (intransitive). The -n- here is a reflexive/passive-like marker turning the transitive idea “to wet” (ıslatmak) into intransitive “to get wet” (ıslanmak).

  • Yağmurda ıslandım. = I got wet in the rain.
  • Çocuk ayakkabılarını ıslattı. = The child made his shoes wet.
Why is it ıslanmıyoruz and not something else? Break it down, please.
  • ıslan- = get wet (stem)
  • -m- = negative marker (as part of -ma/-me, here surfacing in -mıyor-)
  • -yor = present continuous
  • -uz = we (1st person plural) So: ıslan-m-ıyor-uz = “we are not getting wet.” Vowel harmony produces -mıyor after a back vowel like ı.
Could I use the aorist and say yağmurda ıslanmayız instead?

Yes, but the meaning shifts:

  • Islanmıyoruz (present continuous, negative): We’re not getting wet (now/in this situation).
  • Islanmayız (aorist, negative): We don’t get wet (as a general/habitual statement, e.g., as a rule because we always carry an umbrella).
How do I pronounce the undotted ı in ıslanmıyoruz and yanımızda?

Turkish ı is a back, unrounded vowel (like a relaxed “uh” but shorter). It’s not the same as dotted i.

  • ı: like the sound in English “roses” final e-syllable for some speakers, or a quick, neutral “uh.” Practice: ı-slan-mı-yo-ruz, ya-nı-mız-da.
Can I change the word order, like Şemsiye yanımızda?
  • Şemsiye yanımızda is possible and emphasizes “the umbrella is with us” (focus on “umbrella”).
  • The canonical existential pattern is “Location + item + var”: Yanımızda şemsiye var. Avoid Yanımızda var şemsiye; it’s not standard.
Is the comma between the two clauses okay? Could I use a connector?

Yes, a comma is fine in an informal, concise statement. You can also make the causal link explicit:

  • Yanımızda şemsiye var, bu yüzden yağmurda ıslanmıyoruz. (therefore)
  • Yağmurda ıslanmıyoruz çünkü yanımızda şemsiye var. (because)
Why is şemsiye singular? What if there are several umbrellas?

Singular is used because you just need at least one umbrella. If there are multiple:

  • Yanımızda şemsiyeler var. = We have umbrellas with us. To stress the number: Yanımızda iki şemsiye var.
Do I need to say bizim in yanımızda? For example, Bizim yanımızda şemsiye var?

You don’t need bizim because -ımız already expresses “our.” Adding bizim adds emphasis or contrast (our side specifically):

  • Neutral: Yanımızda şemsiye var.
  • Emphatic/contrastive: Bizim yanımızda şemsiye var (ama onların yanında yok).
How would I say “Thanks to the umbrella, we don’t get wet”?

Use sayesinde:

  • Şemsiye sayesinde yağmurda ıslanmıyoruz. You can also say: Şemsiye olduğu için ıslanmıyoruz (because there’s an umbrella) or Bu yüzden ıslanmıyoruz (for this reason).