Learn Turkish: Bu bir kedi.

Bu bir kedi.

This is a cat.

Breakdown of Bu bir kedi.

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Questions & Answers about Bu bir kedi.

Where is the word for "is" in this sentence?

In Turkish, the present tense of "to be" for the third person ("is") is often simply left out! This is called a "zero-copula." By just putting Bu (this) and bir kedi (a cat) together, the "is" is naturally understood by the listener.

Does bir mean "a" or the number "one"?

It means both! In this sentence, it acts as the indefinite article "a". If you wanted to emphasize that there is exactly one cat (and not two), you would stress the word bir when speaking. In normal conversation, it just means "a cat".

How do I know whether to use bu, řu, or o?

Bu is used for things right next to you or very close by ("this"). řu is for things a little further away but still in sight ("that" or "that one over there"). O is for things far away or out of sight ("that"). Since we are pointing out a cat right here, we use bu.

Could I leave out bir and just say Bu kedi?

You can, but it changes the meaning! Bu kedi means "This cat" (for example, "This cat is black"). By including bir, you separate the words so the sentence means "This is a cat."