The Limit Converb: -(y)asıya / -(y)esiye
When you want to express that an action is done to its absolute limit, Turkish uses the converb suffix -(y)asıya (for back vowels) or -(y)esiye (for front vowels). It attaches directly to the verb stem and translates to "until [verb]ing" or "to the point of [verb]ing."
If the verb stem ends in a vowel, a buffer -y- is added.
While you can use this suffix with many verbs, it is most commonly found in a set of fixed, highly expressive adverbs.
| Verb | Meaning | Converb | Meaning |
|---|
| doymak | to get full | doyasıya | to one's heart's content |
| kıymak | to sacrifice / harm | kıyasıya | fiercely / ruthlessly |
| ölmek | to die | ölesiye | to death / desperately |
| öldürmek | to kill | öldüresiye | half to death / to the point of killing |
To Your Heart's Content
One of the most pleasant uses of this structure comes from the verb doymak (to become full or satisfied). As a converb, doyasıya means doing something until you are completely satisfied, whether that is eating at a buffet or hugging an old friend.
Fierce Competition
To describe an intense, ruthless struggle where neither side holds back, Turkish uses kıyasıya. This comes from the verb kıymak (to harm or sacrifice).
Physical and Emotional Extremes
For actions taken to violent or dramatic extremes, verbs related to injury, death, and madness are used. These describe situations pushed to their literal or metaphorical limits.
For example, öldürmek (to kill) becomes öldüresiye (half to death), and kanatmak (to cause to bleed) becomes kanatasıya (until it bleeds).
When used with emotions, these converbs describe feelings that are intensely passionate or overwhelming, such as loving "to death" (ölesiye) or being "madly" jealous (çıldırasıya).