Learn Turkish: Bu en olası açıklama. - This is the most likely explanation.

Bu en olası açıklama.

This is the most likely explanation.

Breakdown of Bu en olası açıklama.

Questions & Answers about Bu en olası açıklama.

What is the difference between olası and other words for "possible" like mümkün or muhtemel?

Mümkün means "possible" (it can physically happen), while muhtemel means "probable" or "likely." Olası is the modern pure Turkish equivalent of the Arabic-origin muhtemel. Using en olası is the most standard and natural way to express "most likely" in modern Turkish.

Since this lesson is about deductions using -(y)sA gerek, how could we rewrite this to say "This must be the explanation"?

You would attach the -sa suffix to the verb olmak (to be) and say Bu açıklama olsa gerek. While Bu en olası açıklama states "This is the most likely explanation" as a direct adjective-noun fact, Bu açıklama olsa gerek frames it as your strong logical deduction ("This must be the explanation").

How is the adjective olası formed?

It comes from the verb olmak (to be / to happen) combined with the suffix -ası / -esi. While this suffix is sometimes used in older poetry or idioms to mean "that which will happen," here it has completely frozen into a standalone, everyday adjective meaning "likely" or "probable."

Why isn't there a "to be" suffix like -dır at the end of açıklama?