Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Turkish grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about Nine şarkı söylüyor.
Why does the verb söylemek turn into söylüyor with an ü instead of an e?
The verb root is söyle-, which ends in a vowel. When we add the present continuous suffix -yor, that final vowel must 'narrow.' Because the preceding vowel in the root is ö, the e narrows to ü, creating söylüyor.
Doesn't söylemek usually mean 'to say'?
Yes, it does! But in Turkish, you don't use a separate verb for singing. Instead, you 'say a song' (şarkı söylemek). It is a set phrase you will hear very often.
Why is there no bir (a/an) before şarkı?
When we talk about doing a general activity rather than interacting with one specific item, Turkish usually leaves out bir. The phrase şarkı söylüyor acts almost like one combined idea: 'song-singing'.
I thought grandmother was büyükanne. What is nine?
Büyükanne is the standard word for grandmother, but nine is a common, affectionate word like 'granny' or 'nana' in English. It is often used for any sweet elderly woman, not just your own grandmother.