Learn Hardcore Turkish: Yoğurt dışında süt ürünleri yemiyorum; peynirden başka seçenek arıyorum. - Other than yogurt I don’t eat dairy; I’m looking for options other than cheese.

In addition to its literal sense “outside of,” dışında also functions as a postposition meaning “apart from/except for.” So yoğurt dışında means “apart from yogurt/except for yogurt,” not “physically outside of yogurt.”

Literal: evin dışında = outside the house
Figurative/exception: yoğurt dışında = except for yogurt

Should it be yoğurdun dışında instead of yoğurt dışında?

For the “except for” meaning, it’s common and natural to use the bare form: X dışında. Using the genitive (X’in dışında) is more typical in the literal, spatial sense.

Exception: yoğurt dışında şeker yemiyorum (except for yogurt…)
Spatial: evin dışında bekliyorum (I’m waiting outside the house)

What’s the difference between X dışında and X’den başka?

Both can mean “except for/other than,” but there are nuances:

X dışında: very common for “apart from/except for” and also “outside (of).”
X’den başka: specifically means “other than X / besides X,” and pairs naturally with başka (“other”).
In your sentence, you already have both patterns: yoğurt dışında and peynirden başka. You could make them parallel if you want: Yoğurttan başka süt ürünleri yemiyorum.

Why is it peynirden başka? What is the case on peynirden?

Peynirden is in the ablative case (-den/-dan). The structure X’den başka requires the ablative on X and means “other than X.”

peynirden başka = other than cheese
The ablative suffix picks the form (-den/-dan) by vowel harmony and devoices to -tan/-ten after a voiceless consonant.

Why is it süt ürünleri and not something like süt ürünler?

It’s a compound noun of the type “milk product(s).” In Turkish, the second word in such compounds takes a 3rd person possessive suffix, even when plural:

Singular: süt ürünü (milk product) → ürün + (s)i
Plural: süt ürünleri (milk products) → ürün + ler + i

Why isn’t it süt ürünlerini (accusative) as the object? Isn’t that required?

No. In Turkish, the direct object gets the accusative only if it’s specific/definite. Here, you mean dairy products in general, so you use the bare form:

General/indefinite: süt ürünleri yemiyorum = I don’t eat dairy (as a category)
Specific/definite: süt ürünlerini yemiyorum = I’m not eating the (specific) dairy products

Would Süt ürünleri yemem sound more natural than yemiyorum?

Both are correct, but they differ slightly:

yemem (negative aorist) = a general, habitual statement (“I don’t eat…”)
yemiyorum (negative present continuous) = “I’m not eating (these days/right now).”

For a standing preference or dietary rule, yemem is often more neutral/natural: Yoğurt dışında süt ürünleri yemem.

Does yoğurt dışında süt ürünleri yemiyorum imply that yogurt is the only dairy product I eat?

Yes. “Except for yogurt, I don’t eat dairy products” implies yogurt is the sole exception among dairy products.

Can I say Yoğurttan başka süt ürünleri yemiyorum instead?

Yes. That’s fully idiomatic and nicely parallels the second clause (peynirden başka). Note the form yoğurttan (not “yoğurtdan”): the ablative’s initial d devoices to t after the voiceless t in yoğurt, giving -tan, hence yoğurt + tan → yoğurttan.

What does başka contribute in peynirden başka seçenek?

Başka means “other/another/different.” In the structure X’den başka, it means “other than X.” As an adjective before a noun, it keeps its “other/different” meaning:

peynirden başka seçenek = an option other than cheese

Is there a difference between başka seçenek arıyorum and başka bir seçenek arıyorum?

Slight nuance:

başka seçenek arıyorum = I’m looking for an alternative/other options (more general)
başka bir seçenek arıyorum = I’m looking for another single option (emphasis on one different option)

Both are common; choose based on whether you mean “an alternative (in general)” or “another one.”

Can I use alternatif instead of seçenek?

Yes. Alternatif is a common loanword. Both work:

peynirden başka alternatif arıyorum
peynirden başka seçenek arıyorum

Seçenek is the more native word; alternatif can sound a bit more formal/technical depending on context.

Why is there a semicolon? Could I use a comma or a period?

A semicolon neatly separates two closely related independent clauses. You could also use:

A period: … yemiyorum. Peynirden başka …
A comma (common in everyday writing): … yemiyorum, peynirden başka …
A conjunction: … yemiyorum ama peynirden başka …

The semicolon is stylistically tidy but not mandatory.

How do I pronounce ğ in yoğurt and the vowel ı in arıyorum?

ğ: It doesn’t make a hard “g” sound; it lengthens/smooths the preceding vowel. yoğurt sounds like “yoort” or “yo-urt” with a gentle glide.
ı (dotless i): A close back unrounded vowel, like a relaxed “uh.” arıyorum roughly “a-ruh-yo-room.”
Also note ç in seçenek is “ch.”

Why does aramak become arıyorum?

The present continuous uses the -yor suffix, which harmonizes:

ara- (to search) + -yor → vowel reduction gives arıyor-
Add the personal ending -um → arıyorum (I am searching/looking for)

Could I say süt ürünü instead of süt ürünleri?

Yes. Both can express a general category:

Süt ürünü yemem/yemiyorum = I don’t eat dairy (singular generic)
Süt ürünleri yemem/yemiyorum = I don’t eat dairy products (plural generic)

With verbs like tüketmek (“to consume”), the singular is very common: Süt ürünü tüketmiyorum. With yemek, both singular and plural are widely used.

Is the word order fixed? Where can I place yoğurt dışında?

Turkish is flexible, but place the exception early for clarity:

Natural: Yoğurt dışında süt ürünleri yemiyorum.
Also fine: Süt ürünleri, yoğurt dışında, yemem. (adds emphasis with commas)
Avoid splitting in a way that confuses what the exception applies to, e.g., Süt ürünleri yoğurt dışında yemiyorum can read as “I don’t eat dairy products outside yogurt,” which is odd.

Are there other ways to say “except for,” like hariç?

Yes. Common alternatives:

X hariç: Yoğurt hariç süt ürünleri yemem.
X haricinde (more formal): Peynir haricinde seçenek arıyorum.
X dışında and X’den başka (as in your sentence) are the most frequent.

Why is seçenek unmarked (no accusative) in seçenek arıyorum?

Because it’s an indefinite, non-specific object (“I’m looking for options/an option”). If you mark it accusative (seçeneği/seçenekleri), you imply a specific one(s) known to the listener.

Indefinite: başka seçenek arıyorum
Definite: başka seçeneği arıyorum (I’m looking for that particular other option)

Could I use bakmak or istemek instead of aramak?

Different verbs, different meanings:

aramak = to look for/seek (what you want here)
bakmak = to look at (not “look for”)
istemek = to want (focuses on desire, not the search)

So for the idea of searching for alternatives, aramak is the right choice.