Learn Hardcore Turkish: Bekâr arkadaşım yarın sinemaya gidecek. - My single friend will go to the cinema tomorrow.

arkadaş = friend
-ım = my (1st person singular possessive) So arkadaşım means my friend. The vowel in the suffix matches the last vowel of the noun (vowel harmony), so it’s -ım, not -im/-um/-üm. Compare: arkadaşın (your friend), arkadaşı (his/her friend).

What exactly does bekâr mean? Is it the same as alone?

bekâr means unmarried/single (marital status).
It is not the same as alone, which is yalnız. So bekâr arkadaşım means my unmarried/single friend, not my lonely friend.

Why is bekâr sometimes written with a circumflex? Does spelling matter?

The circumflex in bekâr marks a historically long vowel and slight palatalization. You’ll also see it as bekar in everyday writing; the meaning is the same. Using â is more careful/standard but not mandatory.

What does yarın mean and how is it pronounced?

yarın means tomorrow.
The last vowel ı is the Turkish dotless ı, a relaxed, central sound (not like English i). Roughly like the vowel in about.

Why is it sinemaya and not just sinema?

Because gitmek (to go) takes the dative case for the destination. The dative suffix is -(y)A (a/e with vowel harmony).

sinema + y + a → sinemaya
The buffer consonant y is inserted because the noun ends in a vowel.

Could it be sinemayı instead of sinemaya?

No. -ı/-i/-u/-ü is the accusative (direct object) and you don’t use it for destinations with gitmek. Use the dative -a/-e for to: sinemaya = to the cinema.
Accusative would mean the cinema as a direct object, which doesn’t fit with go.

Why is the verb gidecek and not gitecek? What’s going on with t → d?

The future tense suffix is -(y)ecek / -(y)acak (chosen by vowel harmony).
The verb is git- (to go). Before a vowel-initial suffix, some verb stems show consonant voicing: t → d.
Thus: git + ecek → gidecek.
This t→d alternation happens with a few common verbs (e.g., et- → edecek, tat- → tadacak).

What person/number is gidecek? How do I say other persons?

gidecek is 3rd person singular (he/she/it will go). Other forms:

Ben: gideceğim (I will go)
Sen: gideceksin (you sg will go)
O: gidecek (he/she/it will go)
Biz: gideceğiz (we will go)
Siz: gideceksiniz (you pl/formal will go)
Onlar: gidecek(ler) (they will go) — both forms are used; with humans, -ler is common but optional.

Where is the subject pronoun (he/she)? Why isn’t it written?

Turkish drops subject pronouns when they’re clear from context and verb ending. O (he/she) can be added for emphasis or contrast: O yarın sinemaya gidecek, but it isn’t required.

Is the word order fixed? Can I move yarın or sinemaya?

Word order is flexible, and constituents before the verb can be reordered for emphasis:

Bekâr arkadaşım yarın sinemaya gidecek. (neutral)
Yarın bekâr arkadaşım sinemaya gidecek. (slight emphasis on tomorrow)
Bekâr arkadaşım sinemaya yarın gidecek. (emphasis on tomorrow rather than another day) The finite verb typically comes last.

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

Negative: Bekâr arkadaşım yarın sinemaya gitmeyecek.
Note: git- + -me- + -yecek → gitmeyecek (no t→d here because the suffix immediately added to the stem starts with m).
Question: Bekâr arkadaşım yarın sinemaya gidecek mi?
The question particle mi/mı/mü/mu is written separately and follows vowel harmony; here it’s mi after gidecek.

Could I use the present continuous or aorist instead of the future?

gidiyor (present continuous) can express a planned/scheduled future: Bekâr arkadaşım yarın sinemaya gidiyor is natural for a set plan.
gider (aorist) is habitual or generic and is less common with a specific time like tomorrow, unless in certain structures (e.g., if-clauses).

What about gidecektir with -dir? Is that different?

-dir/-dır adds formality or a sense of strong certainty/inference.
Bekâr arkadaşım yarın sinemaya gidecektir sounds formal or emphatic (e.g., in announcements).

How do I say my single friends (plural) will go? Does the verb have to be plural?

Bekâr arkadaşlarım yarın sinemaya gidecek.
Bekâr arkadaşlarım yarın sinemaya gidecekler.
Both are correct. With human plural subjects, using -ler on the verb is common but not obligatory.

Does bekâr arkadaşım mean a specific friend or just any single friend of mine?

Without bir, arkadaşım is specific/definite: bekâr arkadaşım = my single friend (the one we have in mind).
If you want the indefinite sense a single friend of mine, say bekâr bir arkadaşım (a single friend of mine).

Do adjectives like bekâr change for gender or number?

No. Turkish adjectives are invariable. bekâr stays the same for male/female and singular/plural: bekâr arkadaş, bekâr arkadaşlar.

Why no apostrophe in sinemaya? I’ve seen forms like Ankara’ya.

The apostrophe is used with proper names only. Ankara’ya (to Ankara) takes an apostrophe, but sinemaya (cinema is a common noun) does not.