Learn Hardcore Turkish: Aidat bugün ödendi.

In Turkish, aidat means dues or a membership/maintenance fee. It’s most commonly the monthly building or homeowners’ association fee, or club/union dues.

Not rent: kira
Not a utility bill: fatura
Not a tax: vergi
Not a tuition/official fee: harç
Not a wage/fee: ücret

What verb form is ödendi, and where is the English was?

Ödendi is the passive past of ödemek (to pay). Turkish builds was paid inside the verb:

öde (pay) + -n- (passive) + -di (past) → ödendi = was paid There’s no separate word for was; the tense is in -di and the passive is in -n-.

Why is it aidat and not aidatı here?

Because the sentence is in the passive voice, aidat is the grammatical subject, so it stays unmarked (no accusative). In active voice, as a definite object, it takes accusative:

Passive: Aidat bugün ödendi.
Active: Bugün aidatı ödedim. (I paid the dues today.)

Can I say who paid it?

Yes:

Passive with agent: Aidat bugün Ali tarafından ödendi.
Active: Ali bugün aidatı ödedi. Active is more natural in everyday speech when the agent matters.

What’s the difference between Aidat bugün ödendi and Bugün aidat ödendi?

Both are grammatical. In Turkish, the element right before the verb is usually in focus.

Aidat bugün ödendi focuses bugün (today).
Bugün aidat ödendi focuses aidat (the dues, as opposed to something else).

How do I make it a yes/no question or a negative?

Question: Aidat bugün ödendi mi?
Negative: Aidat bugün ödenmedi.
Negative question: Aidat bugün ödenmedi mi? The question particle mi is written separately and follows vowel harmony: mi/mı/mü/mu.

How do I say will be paid or is being paid?

Future passive: Aidat yarın ödenecek. (will be paid)
Present progressive passive: Aidat şu an ödeniyor. (is being paid)

How do I express hearsay or apparently?

Use the evidential past -miş:

Aidat bugün ödenmiş. = Apparently/it seems the dues were paid today. This suggests you learned it indirectly or infer it from evidence.

Is aidat singular or plural? When would I use aidatlar?

Aidat is a singular noun but often refers to a recurring fee. Use aidatlar for multiple separate dues (e.g., several months or several apartments):

Aidatlar bugün ödendi. With inanimate plural subjects, the verb often stays singular; ödendi is more natural than ödendiler.

How do I say I paid the dues today in active voice?

Bugün aidatı ödedim. You can move elements for emphasis: Aidatı bugün ödedim is also fine. Because the object is specific, it takes the accusative -ı.

I’ve seen ödenildi. Is that different from ödendi?

Ödenildi uses an alternative passive marker -il-. It’s more formal/old-fashioned. Ödendi is shorter and more common in modern speech and writing. Both are understood.

Can I say yatırıldı instead of ödendi?

Yes. Yatırmak literally means to deposit/transfer and is commonly used for paying fees:

Aidat bugün yatırıldı. It implies payment via bank/cash desk rather than just the abstract act of paying.

Any pronunciation tips for aidat and ödendi?

aidat: three syllables, a-i-dat. Think a-ee-daht; stress the last syllable.
ö in ödendi is a rounded front vowel (like German ö or French eu). Roughly ö-den-di, stress on den.

Why is there no the before aidat?

Turkish has no articles. Definiteness is inferred from context. Here aidat can mean the specific dues everyone knows about (the monthly building fee) without needing the.

Can I put bugün at the end: Aidat ödendi bugün?

Possible, but it sounds like afterthought or extra emphasis in speech. Neutral placements are at the start or right before the verb: Bugün aidat ödendi or Aidat bugün ödendi.

Is there a more formal way to say this, like on a receipt?

Yes: Aidat bugün ödenmiştir. The -miş + -dir ending gives a formal, report-like tone often seen in notices and receipts.