Learn Hardcore Turkish: Çalışkanlık başarı getirir.

The suffix obeys 4-way vowel harmony: -lık/-lik/-luk/-lük. After the back, unrounded vowel a in çalışkan, you get -lık. Parallel examples: güzel → güzellik (beauty), temiz → temizlik (cleanliness), yorgun → yorgunluk (tiredness).

Is çalışkanlık the same as çalışmak or çalışma?

No. They differ in nuance:

çalışmak = to work (infinitive; the action)
çalışma = work/study (a piece or act of working)
çalışkanlık = diligence (a character trait) All are possible, but the sentence emphasizes a trait: Çalışkanlık başarı getirir. You could also say:
Çalışmak başarı getirir. (Working brings success.)
Sıkı çalışma başarı getirir. (Hard work brings success.)

What tense/aspect is getirir, and why use it here?

It’s the Aorist (Turkish: geniş zaman) of getirmek “to bring,” 3rd person singular: “(generally) brings.” The Aorist states general truths, definitions, and habits—perfect for proverb-like statements.

Could I say getiriyor instead of getirir?

You can, but it changes the meaning. getiriyor (present progressive) describes an ongoing situation: “is bringing (now/these days).” For timeless, general statements, prefer getirir.

Why is there no article like “a/the” before başarı?

Turkish has no articles. In generic statements, bare nouns are normal. You could add bir to mean “a/one,” but here it would narrow the meaning: bir başarı getirir ≈ “brings a (particular) success,” which isn’t what a general proverb aims for.

Why doesn’t başarı take the accusative -ı/-i as a direct object here?

In Turkish, an indefinite/generic direct object stays unmarked (no accusative). Use the accusative for definite/specific objects:

Çalışkanlık başarıyı getirir. = Diligence brings the (specific) success (we have in mind). Fronting can add focus: Başarıyı çalışkanlık getirir. = It’s diligence that brings success.

Can the word order change, and what would that mean?

Default is Subject–Object–Verb: Çalışkanlık başarı getirir. You can move elements for emphasis while keeping the verb last:

Başarıyı çalışkanlık getirir. (Focus on the subject “çalışkanlık.”)
Çalışkanlık başarıyı getirir. (Specific “success.”) Keeping the verb last is the norm in neutral statements.

How do I pronounce the tricky letters here?

ç = “ch” (church), ş = “sh” (shoe)
ı (dotless i) = a close, unrounded “uh” sound; not like English “i”
i (dotted i) = “ee” Approximation and stress (Turkish tends to stress the last syllable):
Çalışkanlık: cha-lish-kahn-LUHK (final stress; the “uh” is ı)
Başarı: ba-sha-RUH (final stress; ı = “uh”)
getirir: ge-ti-REER (final stress; i = “ee”)

Where does başarı come from?

It’s the noun “success,” built on the verb başarmak “to succeed/achieve.” So başarı is the result/concept of succeeding.

Is başarı countable? Can I say başarılar?

As an abstract concept, it’s often uncountable and used in the singular for general truths. You can pluralize to talk about multiple successes: Çalışkanlık başarılar getirir. = “Diligence brings (many) successes,” but the singular sounds more proverbial.

Can I replace getirir with other common verbs?

Yes, with slight nuance and case differences:

sağlar = provides: Çalışkanlık başarı sağlar.
kazandırır = makes (someone) gain: Çalışkanlık başarı kazandırır.
başarıya götürür = leads/takes to success (dative -a/-e): Çalışkanlık başarıya götürür.
başarıya yol açar = paves the way for success: Çalışkanlık başarıya yol açar.

How can I express “hard work brings success” or “working hard brings success”?

Sıkı çalışma başarı getirir. (hard work)
Çok çalışmak başarı getirir. (working hard) These emphasize action rather than the trait çalışkanlık.

How do I soften or qualify the claim (always/often)?

Çalışkanlık her zaman başarı getirir. (always)
Çalışkanlık genellikle/çoğu zaman başarı getirir. (generally/often)
Negative generalization: Çalışkanlık her zaman başarı getirmez. (not always)

How would I say “your/his/her diligence brings success”?

Use the genitive for the possessor and a possessive suffix on the noun:

Senin çalışkanlığın başarı getirir. (your diligence)
Onun çalışkanlığı başarı getirir. (his/her diligence)

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

Negative (Aorist): Çalışkanlık başarı getirmez. (does not bring)
Yes/no question: Çalışkanlık başarı getirir mi? (Does diligence bring success?)