Turkish · A1.6 · 7 min
Plurals with -lar / -ler
Turkish makes plurals with one small ending: -ler or -lar. Which one you use depends on the last vowel of the word. This is your first taste of vowel harmony, the rule that shapes every Turkish ending.
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Meanwhile, the practice below is ready.
In this lesson
- Add -ler or -lar to make a noun plural: ev → evler, kitap → kitaplar.
- The last vowel decides: e, i, ö, ü take -ler; a, ı, o, u take -lar.
- No plural after numbers: iki kitap (two books), not iki kitaplar.
Vowel harmony: which ending?
| Last vowel | Ending | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| e i ö ü | -ler | ev → evler · göz → gözler · süt → sütler |
| a ı o u | -lar | çay → çaylar · kız → kızlar · okul → okullar |
Listen to Fincan
Ev. Evler.
House. Houses.
Kitap. Kitaplar.
Book. Books.
Evler, gözler.
Houses, eyes.
Çaylar, okullar.
Teas, schools.
Practice
kitap → kitap___
The last vowel is a, so the ending is -lar: kitaplar.
ev → ev___
The last vowel is e, so the ending is -ler: evler.
göz → göz___
ö is a front vowel, so it takes -ler: gözler.
okul → okul___
The last vowel is u, so the ending is -lar: okullar.
fincan → fincan___
The last vowel is a: fincanlar. (The first vowel, i, doesn't matter.)
Which one is correct?
After a number, Turkish uses the singular: iki kitap = two books.
Flashcards
Tap a card to flip it.
Repeat after Fincan
Fincan says it first. Then it's your turn: say it out loud, three seconds, no pressure.
Fincanlar!
Cups!