Learn Hardcore Turkish: Evin içinde ayakkabı giymek serbest değil. - Wearing shoes inside the house is not allowed.

evde = “at/in the house” in a general sense.
evin içinde = literally “in the inside of the house,” explicitly emphasizing the interior as opposed to places like the yard, balcony, or doorway. If you’re stating a house rule, many speakers would simply say: Evde ayakkabı giymek serbest değil. Using evin içinde stresses “inside (not just on the premises).”

How is evin içinde built grammatically?

It’s a genitive–possessive construction with a locative:

ev-in iç-i-nde = house-GEN inside-POSS3SG-LOC
Literally: “in the inside of the house.” Similar patterns:
masanın üstünde (on top of the table)
arabanın içinde (inside the car)
okulun önünde (in front of the school)

Can I say ev içinde without the -in?

No. When you use içinde, the thing whose “inside” you mean must be in the genitive: X-in içi-nde. Without that, use evde (simple locative) or içeride (“inside” with no possessor, when context is clear).

What’s the difference between içinde and içeride?

içinde = “inside (of) X” and requires a possessor (e.g., evin içinde).
içeride = “inside (in here/there)” without naming the container. Use it when context supplies the place: İçeride ayakkabı giymek serbest değil.

Why isn’t ayakkabı plural here? Shouldn’t it be ayakkabılar?

Turkish often uses singular for generic, indefinite objects. Ayakkabı giymek means “wearing shoes” in general. You’d use plural when referring to a specific known pair or with possession:

Generic rule: Ayakkabı giymek serbest değil.
My specific shoes: Ayakkabılarımı giymek istiyorum.

Why no accusative (-ı) on ayakkabı? Why not ayakkabıyı giymek?

Indefinite direct objects in Turkish are unmarked (no accusative). Here, “shoes” is generic/indefinite, so ayakkabı giymek is correct. Use accusative only for specific/definite objects:

(Bu) ayakkabıları giymek (to wear these/the shoes) — now it’s definite.

What’s the difference between giymek, giyinmek, and takmak? Which fits shoes?

giymek: to put on/wear clothing items. Shoes use this: ayakkabı giymek, çorap giymek, pantolon giymek.
giyinmek: to get dressed (no object): Hadi giyin!
takmak: to put on accessories: gözlük takmak, küpe takmak, saat takmak, şapka takmak. (Shoes are not “takılır”; they are “giyilir.”)

Does giymek mean “to wear” or “to put on”?

Both, depending on context. In progressive form, giymek usually means “putting on” right now:

Şu an ayakkabı giyiyorum. = I’m putting my shoes on. To describe a state of wearing, Turkish often uses a “have on” structure:
Ayağımda ayakkabı var. = I’m wearing shoes.

Is serbest değil the same as “forbidden”? How does it compare to yasak?

serbest değil = “not allowed,” “not permitted” (softer/neutral).
yasak = “forbidden/prohibited” (stronger). For a stricter, sign-like tone: Evin içinde ayakkabı giymek yasaktır.

Could I say Evin içinde ayakkabı giyilmez?

Yes. That’s the passive/impersonal form: “Shoes aren’t worn inside the house,” which functions as a firm rule. It’s common on signs. Similar: Ayakkabıyla girilmez (“No entry with shoes on”).

Why serbest değil and not serbest değildir?

Both are correct. değil is the neutral everyday negation; değildir is more formal/emphatic (suited to written rules or official notices). Likewise, positive forms: serbesttir, yasaktır (very formal/official).

Can I change the word order, e.g., Ayakkabı giymek evin içinde serbest değil?

Yes. Turkish allows flexible word order. Earlier elements are more topical/emphasized:

Evin içinde ayakkabı giymek serbest değil. (place is topical)
Ayakkabı giymek evin içinde serbest değil. (activity is topical) The meaning stays the same; the focus shifts.

How do the pieces of içinde fit together? What’s the “n”?

In forms like ev-in iç-i-nde, the -n- is a buffer that appears before certain case endings after a 3rd-person possessive:

içi (its inside) + -nde (locative) → içinde (the -n- eases pronunciation). You see the same in üstünde, altında, arasında, etc.

How would I make this a yes/no question?

Add the question particle with vowel harmony:

Evin içinde ayakkabı giymek serbest mi? Answers: Evet, serbest. / Hayır, serbest değil.

Any pronunciation tips for words here like ayakkabı, değil, giymek?

ı (dotless i) in ayakkabı sounds like the relaxed vowel in “roses” (the final -es) or a schwa-like “uh.”
ğ in değil lengthens the preceding vowel; many say it like “de-il” or with a slight “y” glide: “deyil.”
giymek is “giy-mek” (two syllables), with a clear “y” sound between i’s.