Ben adresi heceliyorum.

I am spelling the address.

Breakdown of Ben adresi heceliyorum.

• ben: I
• adres: the address
• hecelemek: to spell

Questions & Answers about Ben adresi heceliyorum.

Why is it adresi and not just adres?

Because Turkish marks definite direct objects with the accusative ending (-ı/-i/-u/-ü). adresi = “the address.” If you mean an indefinite object, you either:

• say nothing (often odd here), or
• add bir: Bir adres heceliyorum = “I’m spelling an address (some address).” Note: Ben adres heceliyorum (without -i and without bir) is ungrammatical.

Do I have to say Ben?

No. The verb ending already shows the subject. Adresi heceliyorum is complete and natural. Use Ben for emphasis/contrast: “I (as opposed to someone else) am spelling the address.”

How is heceliyorum formed?

• Dictionary form: hecele-mek (to syllabify/spell out).
• Stem: hecele-.
• Present continuous: add -(I)yor. Because the stem ends in a vowel, drop that final vowel before -(I)yor: hecele-
  • -iyor → heceliyor.
• 1st person singular: add -um → heceliyorum. Result: heceliyorum = “I am ...-ing.”

Why is the accusative vowel in adresi an -i (and not -ı/-u/-ü)?

Vowel harmony: choose the accusative vowel based on the last vowel of the noun.

• Last vowel a/ı → -ı
• e/i → -i
• o/u → -u
• ö/ü → -ü The last vowel in adres is e, so you get adresi.

Does hecelemek really mean “to spell”?

Literally it’s “to syllabify; to read/say by syllables.” In everyday speech many people also use it for “spell.” For crystal-clear “spell (letter by letter),” say:

• harf harf söylemek or
• yazılışını söylemek. On the phone, people often say kodlamak (using the Turkish spelling alphabet: A–Adana, B–Bursa, etc.).

Could I say Adresi harf harf söylüyorum or Adresi kodluyorum?

Yes and they’re very natural:

• Adresi harf harf söylüyorum = “I’m spelling the address letter by letter.”
• Adresi kodluyorum = “I’m spelling the address (using the code words).”

Can I change the word order?

• Neutral: (Ben) adresi heceliyorum (object before verb).
• Emphasizing the subject: Adresi ben heceliyorum (“It’s me who is spelling the address.”)
• Putting the object after the verb (Heceliyorum adresi) is rare/marked; avoid it as a beginner.

How do I say it in the past?

• Simple past (completed once): Adresi heceledim = “I spelled the address.”
• Past continuous (was in the middle of): Adresi heceliyordum = “I was spelling the address.”

How do I negate it?

Insert the negative -me/-ma before -(I)yor:

• hecele-
  • -me
    • -iyor
      • -um → hecelemiyorum. Full sentence: Ben adresi hecelemiyorum = “I’m not spelling the address.”

How do I turn it into a yes/no question?

Use the question particle (separate word) after the verb:

• Informal singular: Adresi heceliyor musun?
• Polite/plural: Adresi heceliyor musunuz? Answers: Evet, heceliyorum. / Hayır, hecelemiyorum.

How do I say “my address” here?

Add possessive, then (if definite) accusative:

• adresim = my address
• adresimi = my address (as a definite object) Examples:
• Adresimi heceliyorum = “I’m spelling my address.”
• Onun adresini heceliyorum = “I’m spelling his/her address.”

Is Ben bir adres heceliyorum acceptable?

Grammatically yes (indefinite object with bir), but it’s unusual unless you mean “some address or other, not a specific one.” Normally, you’d be spelling a known, specific address: (Ben) adresi heceliyorum.

What’s the difference between heceliyorum and hecelerim?

• heceliyorum (present continuous) = doing it now/around now.
• hecelerim (aorist) = habitual/general truth: “I (usually) syllabify/spell (addresses).”

What’s the difference between adresi and adrese?

• adresi = accusative (definite direct object): “the address” (as something you act on): Adresi heceliyorum.
• adrese = dative (“to the address”/direction): Adrese gidiyorum = “I’m going to the address.”

How do I pronounce heceliyorum and the c?

• c is like English “j” in “jam” (dʒ).
• Syllables: he-je-li-yo-rum (stress usually near the end: heceliyórum).
• adres: a-dres (both vowels as in “about” and “dress”).