Adverbial suffix (-ce / -ça)

In Turkish, the suffix -ce / -ca is a versatile tool. In this lesson, we will use it to express personal viewpoints and to transform adjectives into adverbs of manner.

It follows A-type vowel harmony, meaning it becomes -ce after front vowels (e, i, ö, ü) and -ca after back vowels (a, ı, o, u). If the word ends in a voiceless consonant (such as f, s, t, k, ç, ş, h, or p), the suffix hardens to -çe or -ça.

Expressing Personal Opinions

When attached to the personal pronouns ben (I) and sen (you), the suffix translates to "in my opinion" (bence) and "in your opinion" (sence).

In your opinion, is this decision stupid?
Sence bu karar aptalca mı?
In my opinion, he answered that question stupidly.
Bence o soruyu aptalca cevapladı.

Adverbs of Manner

When attached to adjectives or nouns, this suffix acts much like the English "-ly". It describes the manner in which an action is performed, or expresses that a subject is acting "in a [blank] way".

Why are you thinking selfishly like this?
Neden böyle bencilce düşünüyorsun?
He loved her madly but couldn't say it.
Onu delice sevdi ama söyleyemedi.

Consonant Mutation

Remember that words ending in voiceless consonants take the hardened -çe or -ça forms. For example, nazik (polite) becomes nazikçe, and korkak (cowardly) becomes korkakça.

The woman held the baby gently.
Kadın bebeği nazikçe tuttu.
Why did you run away cowardly?
Neden korkakça kaçtın?
I naively believed his lies.
Onun yalanlarına safça inandım.