To indicate equal distribution—such as saying "one each," "three meters apart," or "two by two"—Turkish uses the distributive suffix -(ş)ar / -(ş)er. We will use these numbers to plan the layout of a new vineyard, spacing out our vines and stakes evenly.
Numbers Ending in Consonants
If a number ends in a consonant, simply attach -ar or -er, following 2-way vowel harmony.
- bir (one) becomes birer
- üç (three) becomes üçer
- beş (five) becomes beşer
| We are burying one stake each into the equal holes. | Eşit çukurlara birer kazık gömüyoruz. |
| Let's dig the holes at three-meter intervals. | Çukurları üçer metre mesafeyle kazalım. |
Numbers Ending in Vowels
When a number ends in a vowel, we use the buffer consonant ş to prevent two vowels from meeting. This creates the suffixes -şar and -şer.
- iki (two) becomes ikişer
- altı (six) becomes altışar
| The workers are carrying two saplings to each row. | İşçiler her sıraya ikişer fidan taşıyor. |
| We calculated the lines at six meters apart. | Çizgileri altışar metre olarak hesapladık. |
Doing Things in Batches
You can double a distributive number to turn it into an adverb. This describes how an action is performed in equal batches, translating to phrases like "two by two," "ten by ten," or "fifty at a time."
| Did you plant the saplings two by two into the holes? | Fidanları çukurlara ikişer ikişer mi diktiniz? |
| If the terrain is very large, let's align the rows fifty by fifty. | Arazi çok genişse, sıraları ellişer ellişer hizalayalım. |
Consonant Mutation
Remember the consonant mutation rule for words ending in p, ç, t, k? When adding a suffix that starts with a vowel, the letter t at the end of dört (four) softens to a d, making it dörder.
| Let's align the stakes four by four. | Kazıkları dörder dörder hizalayalım. |