Questions & Answers about Pekâlâ, şimdi hazırım.
What does the little hat on the 'a' in Pekâlâ mean?
That mark is called a circumflex. In Turkish, it is used to show that the consonant before it is softened, or that the vowel is pronounced slightly longer. For Pekâlâ, it softens the 'l' and stretches the 'a' sound. You will only see it on a few borrowed words!
Is Pekâlâ made up of two different words?
Yes! It comes from pek (very) and the older word âlâ (good or excellent). Put them together, and it literally means 'very good,' but it is used just like 'all right' or 'very well' in English.
Where is the word for 'I am' in this sentence?
It is attached to the end of the word hazır (ready). The suffix -ım is the 'I am' part, making hazırım mean 'I am ready.' Turkish uses these personal suffixes on adjectives or nouns instead of a separate word for 'am' or 'is'.
Could I change the word order and say Hazırım şimdi instead?
Yes, you can! Turkish word order is flexible. Putting şimdi (now) right before the adjective emphasizes when you are ready. Hazırım şimdi is also perfectly understood, but it sounds a bit more casual or conversational.
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