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Questions & Answers about Bu harf ne?
Why is the word order "Bu harf ne?" instead of starting with the word for "what"?
In Turkish, question words like ne (what) usually go exactly where the answer would be. Since you would answer "Bu harf A" (This letter is A), the question becomes "Bu harf ne?" (This letter is what?).
Where is the word for "is" in this sentence?
Turkish doesn't use a separate word for "is" or "are". Instead, "to be" is built into the sentence, often through suffixes. For "it is" or "this is", the suffix is frequently left off entirely in everyday speech. So, "Bu harf ne?" literally translates to "This letter what?".
Does harf mean a letter in the mail, or a letter of the alphabet?
Harf only means a letter of the alphabet (like A, B, or C). If you want to talk about a letter you send in the mail to a friend, you need to use the word mektup.