Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Turkish grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about Bu kim?
Where is the word for "is" in this sentence?
Turkish doesn't use a separate verb for "am", "is", or "are" in simple present-tense sentences like this. The "is" is simply understood from the fact that you are pairing a subject and a noun. So, Bu kim? literally translates to "This who?", but naturally means "Who is this?".
Why is the word order Bu kim? instead of Kim bu?
In Turkish, the question word usually sits in the exact spot where the answer will go. Since you would answer Bu Ahmet (This is Ahmet), the question becomes Bu kim?. You might occasionally hear Kim bu?, but that is mostly used when someone is knocking on a door to ask "Who is it?" or when expressing surprise.
Can I use ne (what) instead of kim if I don't know who the person is?
No, kim is strictly used for people, and ne is used for objects, concepts, or animals. Asking Bu ne? while pointing at a person literally means "What is this?" and comes across as very rude or insulting in Turkish.
How would I ask "Who are these people?" if there is more than one person?
You would simply change Bu (this) to its plural form Bunlar (these), making the sentence Bunlar kim?. You generally leave kim in its singular form, even when you are asking about multiple people.