Learn Hardcore Turkish: Yüksek ihtimal yağmur yağacak, yanına şemsiye al. - It will most likely rain; take an umbrella with you.

It literally means “high probability.” It’s natural, but in everyday speech people more often say büyük ihtimal or the adverb muhtemelen (“probably”). All are fine; yüksek ihtimal leans a bit more formal/written than büyük ihtimal.

Should it be yüksek ihtimalle instead of yüksek ihtimal?

Both occur. Yüksek ihtimalle is a true adverbial (“with high probability”), while yüksek ihtimal is a noun phrase used adverbially. In speech you’ll hear both; in careful writing, yüksek ihtimalle is often preferred.

Can I say yüksek ihtimal ki?

You’ll hear it colloquially, but many consider it clunky. Prefer yüksek/büyük ihtimalle or muhtemelen.

Why does Turkish say yağmur yağacak (“rain will rain”)? Isn’t that redundant?

In Turkish, the verb for precipitation is yağmak (“to fall as rain/snow/hail”). So:

yağmur yağacak = “it will rain”
kar yağacak = “it will snow” This pairing is completely normal.

Could I say yağmur olacak to mean “it will rain”?

No. Olmak (“to be/happen”) isn’t used for rain. You can say:

Now: Yağmur yağıyor. (It’s raining.)
Future: Yağmur yağacak. (It will rain.)
Possibility: Yağmur yağabilir. (It might rain.)

What nuance does the future tense -acak/-ecek have here?

Yağacak states a future event with some confidence (e.g., a forecast). If you want a weaker possibility, use yağabilir (“may rain”). For habitual/general truth, use yağar.

Why is it yağacak (with -acak) and not -ecek?

Vowel harmony. The verb root yağ- has a back vowel, so the back-vowel future suffix -acak is chosen: yağ-acak.

How do I pronounce ğ in yağmur and yağacak?

Ğ isn’t a hard g. It lengthens or glides the preceding vowel:

yağmur ≈ “yaa-mur”
yağacak ≈ “yaa-ja-k” Don’t pronounce a separate “g.”

What exactly does yanına mean?

Literally “to your side.” Morphology: yan (side) + -ın (your) + -a (to) → yanına. In this idiom it means “with you/on you” (i.e., bring it along).

What’s the difference between yanına and yanında?

yanına (dative “to your side”): motion/bringing along → Yanına şemsiye al. (Take an umbrella with you.)
yanında (locative “at/by your side”): possession on your person → Şemsiyen yanında mı? (Do you have your umbrella with you?)

Why is there no accusative on şemsiye (not şemsiyeyi)?

Indefinite direct objects are unmarked in Turkish. Şemsiye al = “take an umbrella (any umbrella).” If you say Şemsiyeyi al, it means “take the umbrella” (a specific, known one).

Should I add bir: yanına bir şemsiye al?

Optional. Bir can emphasize “one/any” and can sound a bit more natural to English ears, but yanına şemsiye al is already perfectly natural.

How does şemsiyeni al differ from yanına şemsiye al?

Şemsiyeni al = “Take your umbrella” (specific/your umbrella).
Yanına şemsiye al = “Take an umbrella with you” (any umbrella; focus on having one with you).

Is the imperative al informal? How to make it polite or plural?

Yes, al addresses a single person informally. For polite/plural, use alın:

Yanınıza şemsiye alın. Add lütfen to soften: Lütfen yanınıza şemsiye alın.

Why is there just a comma between the two parts?

Turkish often links closely related clauses with a comma. You could also add a connector:

Yüksek ihtimal yağmur yağacak, o yüzden yanına şemsiye al. A semicolon would also be fine in careful writing.

Can I move yüksek ihtimal elsewhere in the sentence?

Yes. Common placements:

Yüksek ihtimal yağmur yağacak.
Yağmur yüksek ihtimal yağacak.
Muhtemelen yağmur yağacak. Clause-final …, yüksek ihtimal is possible as an afterthought, but less common.

Can I drop yağmur and just say Yüksek ihtimal yağacak?

Yes, especially when context (weather) is clear. Yağacak will be understood as “it will rain/snow,” usually “rain” unless specified.

Is there a reported/hearsay version?

Yes: Yüksek ihtimal yağmur yağacakmış, yanına şemsiye al. This suggests the information comes from others/a report (like “they say it’ll probably rain”).

What are some natural alternatives to the whole sentence?

Büyük ihtimalle yağmur yağacak; yanına şemsiye al.
Muhtemelen yağmur yağacak, o yüzden yanına şemsiye al.
Polite: Muhtemelen yağmur yağacak; lütfen yanınıza şemsiye alın.