First person plural optative (-(y)AlIm)

Making Suggestions (Let's)

The first-person plural optative mood is used to propose group activities or make suggestions. In English, it translates to "Let's [do something]".

To form this, add the suffix -alım or -elim to the verb stem, following two-way vowel harmony. If the verb stem ends in a vowel, use the buffer letter y before the suffix (-yalım or -yelim).

Verb StemVowel HarmonySuffixExample
al- (buy)a, ı, o, u-alımalalım (let's buy)
seç- (choose)e, i, ö, ü-elimseçelim (let's choose)
alkışla- (applaud)a, ı, o, u-yalımalkışlayalım (let's applaud)
izle- (watch)e, i, ö, ü-yelimizleyelim (let's watch)

Like with other vowel-starting suffixes, verbs ending in t like gitmek (to go) or davet etmek (to invite) change their t to a d (e.g., gidelim, davet edelim).

Let's buy the tickets from the box office at half past six.
Biletleri saat altı buçukta gişeden alalım.
Let's find an available day and join the festival.
Müsait bir gün bulalım ve festivale katılalım.
Let's sit in the very back row.
En arka sıraya oturalım.

Asking for Input (Shall we?)

To ask for the group's opinion, use the interrogative form. This translates to "Shall we...?" or "Should we...?".

Add the question particle or mi as a separate word right after the verb.

  • Use after -alım.
  • Use mi after -elim.
Shall we go to the new show this evening?
Bu akşam yeni gösteriye gidelim mi?
Let's go to the box office. Shall we book two seats from the front row?
Gişeye gidelim. Ön sıradan iki koltuk ayırtalım mı?
Shall we listen to some music and have fun?
Biraz müzik dinleyelim ve eğlenelim mi?
Shall we sit close to the stage?
Sahneye yakın oturalım mı?