To turn a verb into an abstract noun representing a process, action, or concept, Turkish uses the suffix -m or -Im.
If the verb stem ends in a vowel, you simply add -m. If it ends in a consonant, you add -ım, -im, -um, or -üm, following four-way vowel harmony.
Naming the Action or Process
You can attach this suffix to verbs to name the act or process of doing that verb:
kullanmak(to use) +ım=kullanım(usage)katılmak(to participate) +ım=katılım(participation)
| The usage of this machine is quite easy. | Bu makinenin kullanımı oldukça kolay. |
| Participation in the meeting will not be mandatory. | Toplantıya katılım zorunlu olmayacak. |
Abstract Concepts and Results
Often, this suffix creates nouns that describe a mental idea, a method, or the physical result of an action:
yaklaşmak(to approach) +ım=yaklaşım(approach)kavramak(to grasp / comprehend) +m=kavram(concept)birikmek(to accumulate) +im=birikim(savings)
| This new approach is very interesting. | Bu yeni yaklaşım çok ilginç. |
| This concept is very important for the project. | Bu kavram proje için çok önemli. |
| He bought a house with his savings. | Birikimiyle bir ev aldı. |
Business and Administration
Because this suffix is perfect for describing processes and systems, it is highly productive in formal contexts like business, sociology, and technology. Many administrative terms are derived this way:
dağıtmak(to distribute) +ım=dağıtım(distribution)yaptırmak(to enforce / have done) +ım=yaptırım(sanction)kurulmak(to be set up / installed) +um=kurulum(installation)saymak(to count) +ım=sayım(count / census)
| The distribution will take approximately two or three days. | Dağıtım yaklaşık iki üç gün sürecek. |
| The new sanctions affected the economy. | Yeni yaptırımlar ekonomiyi etkiledi. |
| The installation of the system is finally finished. | Sistemin kurulumu sonunda bitti. |
| They will do the census tomorrow. | Nüfus sayımını yarın yapacaklar. |
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