Collocations in Turkish: which verb goes with which noun
Here a sentence can be grammatically right and still wrong. It breaks no rule — nobody says it, that is all. Which verb goes with which noun is not explained by any rule. It is a habit of the language, and habits are learnt in pairs.
A handful of verbs carry almost all of it. Where the obvious choice is a different verb, it is in the third column — those are the places where it goes wrong.
etmek
Turns a noun into a verb: help becomes to help, thanks becomes to thank. etmek mostly goes with nouns from Arabic or Persian that name an activity or a feeling; with a one-syllable noun it has often grown together with it (affetmek, hissetmek).
| Turkish | English | Easy to get wrong |
|---|---|---|
| yardım etmek | help | |
| teşekkür etmek | thank, say thank you | tempting: say |
| dikkat etmek | be careful, pay attention to | tempting: pay |
| telefon etmek | phone, ring | |
| acele etmek | hurry | |
| merak etmek | wonder; worry | |
| kavga etmek | quarrel, fight | tempting: have |
| sohbet etmek | chat, have a chat | tempting: have |
| tercih etmek | prefer | |
| devam etmek | carry on, continue | |
| iptal etmek | cancel | |
| hayal etmek | imagine, picture | |
| kahvaltı etmek | have breakfast | tempting: have |
| davet etmek | invite |
Çantayı taşımana yardım edeyim mi?Shall I help you carry the bag?
Hediyen için çok teşekkür ederim.Thank you very much for your present.
Yolda arabalara dikkat et!Watch out for the cars on the road!
yapmak
The real “do” and “make”: things you produce or carry out as an activity — food, sport, the shopping, mistakes. Where both etmek and yapmak are possible, yapmak sounds more everyday.
| Turkish | English | Easy to get wrong |
|---|---|---|
| alışveriş yapmak | go shopping, do the shopping | tempting: go |
| spor yapmak | do sport, exercise | tempting: play |
| yemek yapmak | cook, make a meal | |
| ödev yapmak | do your homework | |
| hata yapmak | make a mistake | |
| şaka yapmak | joke, make a joke | |
| plan yapmak | make plans | |
| yürüyüş yapmak | go for a walk | tempting: go |
| temizlik yapmak | clean, do the cleaning | tempting: give |
| kahve yapmak | make coffee | |
| rezervasyon yapmak | make a booking, book | |
| ütü yapmak | do the ironing, iron | |
| toplantı yapmak | hold a meeting | tempting: hold |
| makyaj yapmak | put on make-up | tempting: put |
Cumartesi sabahı pazarda alışveriş yaparız.On Saturday mornings we do our shopping at the market.
Haftada üç gün spor yapıyorum.I do sport three days a week.
Bu akşam ben yemek yapacağım.I’ll cook this evening.
vermek
Giving — also where English makes, takes or has: decisions, breaks, answers, even kilos.
| Turkish | English | Easy to get wrong |
|---|---|---|
| karar vermek | make a decision, decide | tempting: make |
| cevap vermek | answer, reply | |
| ara vermek | take a break | tempting: take |
| mola vermek | stop for a rest, take a break (on a journey) | tempting: take |
| söz vermek | promise, give your word | |
| izin vermek | allow, give permission | |
| haber vermek | let someone know | tempting: let |
| ders vermek | teach, give lessons | |
| kilo vermek | lose weight | tempting: lose |
| sipariş vermek | order, place an order | |
| zarar vermek | do damage, harm | tempting: do |
| önem vermek | attach importance to, care about | tempting: attach |
Uzun düşündükten sonra taşınmaya karar verdik.After thinking it over for a long time, we decided to move.
Mesajıma hâlâ cevap vermedi.He still hasn’t replied to my message.
Biraz ara verelim, sonra devam ederiz.Let’s take a short break, then we’ll carry on.
almak
Taking and getting — showers, marks, appointments and a cold.
| Turkish | English | Easy to get wrong |
|---|---|---|
| duş almak | have a shower, take a shower | |
| randevu almak | get an appointment | tempting: make |
| nefes almak | breathe, take a breath | |
| kilo almak | put on weight | tempting: put |
| not almak | get a mark | |
| soğuk almak | catch a cold | tempting: catch |
| ödül almak | win a prize, get an award | tempting: win |
| izin almak | take time off; get permission | |
| zevk almak | enjoy, take pleasure in | |
| yer almak | be located, be found; feature | tempting: be |
Spordan sonra hemen duş aldım.I had a shower straight after sport.
Diş hekiminden yarın için randevu aldım.I’ve got an appointment at the dentist’s for tomorrow.
Derin bir nefes al ve sakin ol.Take a deep breath and calm down.
çekmek
Pulling: photos, cash from a machine, pain and longing.
| Turkish | English | Easy to get wrong |
|---|---|---|
| fotoğraf çekmek | take a photo | tempting: take |
| para çekmek | take out money, withdraw cash | tempting: take |
| video çekmek | film, make a video | tempting: make |
| acı çekmek | be in pain, suffer | tempting: be |
| sıkıntı çekmek | have a hard time | tempting: have |
| dikkat çekmek | attract attention, catch the eye | tempting: catch |
| perde çekmek | draw the curtains | |
| hasret çekmek | long for, miss |
Köprünün önünde fotoğrafımızı çeker misin?Will you take a photo of us in front of the bridge?
Bankamatikten biraz para çekmem lazım.I need to get some money out of the cashpoint.
Düğünde kısa bir video çektim.I filmed a short video at the wedding.
olmak
Being and becoming: falling ill, falling in love, graduating.
| Turkish | English | Easy to get wrong |
|---|---|---|
| hasta olmak | fall ill, get ill | tempting: get |
| mezun olmak | graduate | |
| memnun olmak | be pleased | |
| âşık olmak | fall in love | tempting: fall |
| emin olmak | be sure, make sure | tempting: make |
| sahip olmak | own, have | |
| kaza olmak | there is an accident |
Kışın çocuklar sık sık hasta oluyor.In winter the children often fall ill.
Elif geçen yıl üniversiteden mezun oldu.Elif graduated from university last year.
Sizinle tanıştığıma çok memnun oldum.I’m very pleased to have met you.
kurmak
Setting up: a table, an alarm clock, a sentence, a company.
| Turkish | English | Easy to get wrong |
|---|---|---|
| sofra kurmak | lay the table, set the table | tempting: lay |
| saat kurmak | set the alarm | tempting: set |
| cümle kurmak | make a sentence | tempting: make |
| çadır kurmak | put up a tent, pitch a tent | tempting: put |
| şirket kurmak | set up a company, found a company | |
| hayal kurmak | dream of |
Misafirler gelmeden sofrayı kurdum.I laid the table before the guests arrived.
Saati sabah altıya kurdum.I set the alarm for six in the morning.
Bu kelimelerle bir cümle kurun.Make a sentence with these words.
tutmak
Holding: notes, a promise, a taxi, a fish.
| Turkish | English | Easy to get wrong |
|---|---|---|
| not tutmak | take notes | tempting: take |
| söz tutmak | keep your word | |
| taksi tutmak | take a taxi, get a taxi | tempting: take |
| balık tutmak | fish, catch fish | tempting: go |
| yer tutmak | save a seat, keep a place | tempting: save |
| ev tutmak | rent a flat |
Derste her zaman deftere not tutarım.In class I always take notes in my exercise book.
Sözünü tuttun, teşekkürler.You kept your word — thank you.
Geç kaldık, bir taksi tutalım.We’re late, let’s get a taxi.
atmak
Throwing: a signature, a glance, a message.
| Turkish | English | Easy to get wrong |
|---|---|---|
| imza atmak | sign | |
| mesaj atmak | send a message, text | |
| göz atmak | have a look, glance at | tempting: have |
| tur atmak | go for a stroll, go round | tempting: go |
| kahkaha atmak | burst out laughing, roar with laughter |
Lütfen buraya imza atın.Please sign here.
Vardığında bana mesaj at.Text me when you get there.
Gitmeden önce rapora bir göz atar mısınız?Could you have a look at the report before you go?
açmak
Opening — also the light, the television, an account and the phone.
| Turkish | English | Easy to get wrong |
|---|---|---|
| ışık açmak | turn the light on, switch the light on | tempting: turn |
| televizyon açmak | turn the television on | tempting: turn |
| telefon açmak | answer the phone, pick up | tempting: answer |
| hesap açmak | open an account | |
| konu açmak | bring up a subject, raise a topic | tempting: bring |
Hava karardı, ışığı açar mısın?It’s got dark — will you turn the light on?
Haberler başlıyor, televizyonu aç.The news is starting — turn the television on.
Üç kere aradım ama telefonu açmadı.I rang three times but she didn’t pick up.
kapatmak
Closing — the opposite of açmak, also for the light and the phone.
| Turkish | English | Easy to get wrong |
|---|---|---|
| ışık kapatmak | turn the light off, switch the light off | tempting: turn |
| telefon kapatmak | hang up, put the phone down | tempting: hang |
| musluk kapatmak | turn the tap off | tempting: turn |
Çıkarken ışıkları kapat.Turn the lights off when you leave.
Konuşmamız bitmeden telefonu kapattı.He hung up before we had finished.
Dişini fırçalarken musluğu kapat.Turn the tap off while you brush your teeth.
çalmak
Making something sound: a door, a bell, an instrument. And, quite differently, stealing.
| Turkish | English | Easy to get wrong |
|---|---|---|
| kapı çalmak | knock at the door; ring the bell | tempting: knock |
| gitar çalmak | play the guitar | tempting: play |
| piyano çalmak | play the piano | tempting: play |
Biri kapıyı çalıyor, bakar mısın?Someone’s knocking at the door — will you have a look?
Kardeşim akşamları gitar çalıyor.My brother plays the guitar in the evenings.
Altı yaşından beri piyano çalıyor.She has played the piano since she was six.
içmek
Drinking — also soup, medicine and cigarettes.
| Turkish | English | Easy to get wrong |
|---|---|---|
| sigara içmek | smoke | |
| çorba içmek | have soup, eat soup | tempting: eat |
| ilaç içmek | take medicine | tempting: take |
Burada sigara içmek yasak.Smoking is not allowed here.
Kışın her akşam mercimek çorbası içiyoruz.In winter we have lentil soup every evening.
Bu ilacı yemekten sonra için.Take this medicine after meals.
geçirmek
Spending, going through: time, a holiday, an accident, an operation.
| Turkish | English | Easy to get wrong |
|---|---|---|
| zaman geçirmek | spend time | |
| tatil geçirmek | spend a holiday | |
| kaza geçirmek | have an accident | tempting: have |
| ameliyat geçirmek | have an operation | tempting: have |
Hafta sonu ailemle zaman geçirdim.At the weekend I spent time with my family.
Bu yaz tatilimizi Bodrum'da geçirdik.This summer we spent our holiday in Bodrum.
Babam geçen ay küçük bir trafik kazası geçirdi.Last month my father had a small car accident.
görmek
Seeing — also dreams, damage and treatment.
| Turkish | English | Easy to get wrong |
|---|---|---|
| rüya görmek | have a dream, dream | tempting: have |
| tedavi görmek | be treated, receive treatment | |
| zarar görmek | be damaged, suffer damage |
Dün gece çok garip bir rüya gördüm.Last night I had a very strange dream.
Dedem iki hafta hastanede tedavi gördü.My grandfather was treated in hospital for two weeks.
Selde birçok ev zarar gördü.Many houses were damaged in the flood.
sormak
Asking: the question itself, the way, how someone is.
| Turkish | English | Easy to get wrong |
|---|---|---|
| soru sormak | ask a question | |
| yol sormak | ask the way | |
| hatır sormak | ask after someone |
Bir soru sorabilir miyim?May I ask a question?
Kaybolduk, birine yol soralım.We’re lost — let’s ask someone the way.
Komşumuz her gün annemin hatırını soruyor.Our neighbour asks after my mother every day.
söylemek
Saying — also singing and lying.
| Turkish | English | Easy to get wrong |
|---|---|---|
| şarkı söylemek | sing | |
| yalan söylemek | lie, tell a lie | tempting: tell |
Çocuklar otobüste şarkı söyledi.The children sang on the bus.
Bana yalan söyleme, her şeyi biliyorum.Don’t lie to me, I know everything.
kaçırmak
Letting something get away: a bus, a chance.
| Turkish | English | Easy to get wrong |
|---|---|---|
| otobüs kaçırmak | miss the bus | tempting: miss |
| fırsat kaçırmak | miss a chance | tempting: miss |
Geç uyandım ve otobüsü kaçırdım.I woke up late and missed the bus.
Bu fırsatı kaçırma, indirim yarın bitiyor.Don’t miss this chance — the discount ends tomorrow.
kazanmak
Winning and earning — money, a match, a university place.
| Turkish | English | Easy to get wrong |
|---|---|---|
| para kazanmak | earn money | |
| maç kazanmak | win a match |
Yaz tatilinde garsonluk yaparak para kazandım.In the summer holidays I earned money working as a waiter.
Takımımız dün akşamki maçı kazandı.Our team won last night’s match.