The "With" and "By" Suffix (ile / -(y)lA)
To express doing something "with" a tool, "by" a vehicle, or "with" someone, Turkish uses the word ile. In everyday speech and writing, it is almost always attached directly to the noun as the suffix -(y)lA.
Following two-way vowel harmony, the suffix becomes -la or -le. If the noun ends in a vowel, add a buffer y (-yla / -yle).
| Noun Ending | Last Vowel (a, ı, o, u) | Last Vowel (e, i, ö, ü) |
|---|---|---|
| Consonant | -la | -le |
| Vowel | -yla | -yle |
Means of Transportation
Attach this suffix to a vehicle to mean "by" (e.g., by bicycle, by ferry).
| The children are going to school by bicycle. | Çocuklar okula bisikletle gidiyor. |
| Today I am going to work by ferry. | Bugün işe vapurla gidiyorum. |
| The men are carrying the big boxes by truck. | Adamlar büyük kutuları kamyonla taşıyor. |
Tools and Instruments
Use the same suffix for tools and instruments (e.g., cutting with a knife, washing with soap). Notice how fırça (brush) ends in a vowel, taking the buffer y to become fırçayla.
| The woman is cutting the meat with a knife. | Kadın eti bıçakla kesiyor. |
| We are painting the wall with a brush. | Duvarı fırçayla boyuyoruz. |
| I am cleaning the dirty clothes with soap. | Kirli elbiseleri sabunla temizliyorum. |
Doing Things Together
When doing an action with others, attach -la / -le to the person's name, title, or pronoun (like onlar + la = onlarla). It is commonly paired with the word birlikte (together).
| We are entering the meeting together with the manager. | Müdürle birlikte toplantıya giriyoruz. |
| We are walking in the park together with them. | Onlarla birlikte parkta yürüyoruz. |