Questions & Answers about Ben doktorum. Memnun oldum.
Why is there an -um at the end of doktorum?
In Turkish, there is no separate verb for 'to be' like 'am', 'is', or 'are' in the present tense. Instead, you attach a personal suffix to the end of the word. Here, -um means 'I am'. Because the last vowel in doktor is 'o', vowel harmony dictates that the suffix uses 'u', making it -um.
Why isn't there a word for 'a' in Ben doktorum?
When stating someone's profession in Turkish, you generally do not use the word bir (a/an). While an English speaker says 'I am a doctor', a Turkish speaker simply says 'I am doctor'.
If the -um ending already means 'I am', do I still need to say Ben?
Not necessarily! Because the -um suffix clearly shows who you are talking about, dropping the word Ben is very common and perfectly correct. Including it just adds a bit of emphasis or formality when introducing yourself.
Oldum translates to 'I became'. Why use the past tense for 'Pleased to meet you'?
Memnun oldum is a fixed idiom. Literally, it means 'I became pleased' (as a result of meeting you). While English uses the present tense 'I am pleased', Turkish naturally uses this past-tense phrase for greetings.
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