Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Turkish grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about Bugün neden meşgulsün?
Is neden the word that pairs with çünkü (because)?
Yes! Neden means "why" or "for what reason". When someone asks a question with neden, you will very often answer using çünkü (because) to explain your reason.
Wait, why is the suffix -sün instead of -sun on meşgulsün? Doesn't the vowel "u" usually take "u"?
You have a great eye for vowel harmony! Normally, after a back vowel like "u", we would use the suffix -sun. However, meşgul is a loanword from Arabic, and its final "l" is pronounced softly. Because of this soft sound, it breaks the standard rule and takes the front-vowel suffix -sün. You will see this same exception in a few other loanwords ending in "l".
Could I put neden at the beginning of the sentence, like "Neden bugün meşgulsün?"
Yes, you can! Turkish word order is quite flexible. However, placing the question word right before the verb (as in Bugün neden meşgulsün?) is the most natural and standard way to ask it. Putting neden at the very beginning just puts a little extra emphasis on the "why".
Can I use niye instead of neden here?
Absolutely. Niye and neden both mean "why" and are usually interchangeable. Neden is very common and standard, while niye is slightly more informal and conversational. Either one would work perfectly here.