Questions & Answers about Zaten yorgunum.
Where is the word for "I" in this sentence?
In Turkish, the subject is built into the ending of the word. The -um at the end of yorgunum means "I am". You could say Ben zaten yorgunum, but dropping the Ben (I) is much more natural and common.
Why does yorgun (tired) take the -um ending instead of -im?
This is because of Turkish vowel harmony. The "I am" suffix changes to match the last vowel of the word it attaches to. Since the last vowel in yorgun is "u", the suffix becomes -um to keep the sound consistent.
Does zaten always mean "anyway"?
Not always! It is a very versatile word that can mean "anyway", "already", or "as a matter of fact". In this sentence, it gives the feeling of "I am tired as it is," which is often used as a reason not to do an extra task.
Could I swap the order and say Yorgunum zaten?
Yes, you can! While Zaten yorgunum is the standard word order, spoken Turkish is very flexible. Saying Yorgunum zaten is completely natural in everyday conversation and just makes the sentence sound a bit more casual.
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