Teyzem sabah armut ve şeftali doğramış olmalı; mutfaktan tatlı bir koku geliyor.

My aunt must have chopped pears and peaches this morning; a sweet smell is coming from the kitchen.

Breakdown of Teyzem sabah armut ve şeftali doğramış olmalı; mutfaktan tatlı bir koku geliyor.

• olmak: to be
• bir: a
• benim: my
• gelmek: to come

Questions & Answers about Teyzem sabah armut ve şeftali doğramış olmalı; mutfaktan tatlı bir koku geliyor.

What does teyzem mean, and why is benim not used?

Teyzem means my aunt.

It breaks down like this:

• teyze = aunt
• -m = my

So the possessive is already built into the noun. Turkish usually does not need a separate word for my when the possessive suffix is present.

• teyzem = my aunt
• benim teyzem = my aunt, but with extra emphasis, contrast, or clarity

So in an ordinary sentence, teyzem by itself is perfectly natural.

Does teyze mean any kind of aunt?

Not exactly. Teyze specifically means maternal aunt, so your mother's sister.

Turkish distinguishes family relationships more precisely than English does. For example:

• teyze = mother's sister
• hala = father's sister

So an English speaker often has to get used to the fact that one English word, aunt, can correspond to different Turkish words.

Also, in everyday speech, teyze can be used as a polite way to address or refer to an older woman, not just a literal aunt.

Why can sabah mean this morning or in the morning without any extra ending?