-ış/-iş/-uş/-üş (qarşılıq növü)

Reciprocal Verb Suffix

Level 3

The -ış/-iş/-uş/-üş suffix changes a verb's voice to show that multiple people are doing something to each other (reciprocal) or doing something together (cooperative).

How It Works

The reciprocal-cooperative voice (qarşılıq-birgəlik növü) shifts the focus from a single actor to a group dynamic.

1. Reciprocal Function (Qarşılıq):
Indicates that the participants perform the action toward one another. This function typically involves transitive base verbs (taking a direct object) becoming intransitive (requiring a 'with' construction).
Example: vurmaq (to hit) → vuruşmaq (to fight/hit each other).

2. Cooperative Function (Birgəlik):
Indicates that the participants perform the action together. This function often applies to intransitive base verbs.
Example: gülmək (to laugh) → gülüşmək (to laugh together).

3. Morphological Rules:

  • -ış: After a, ı (e.g., yazmaq → yazışmaq)
  • -iş: After e, i, ə (e.g., kəsmək → kəsişmək, demək → deyişmək)
  • -uş: After o, u (e.g., vurmaq → vuruşmaq)
  • -üş: After ö, ü (e.g., gülmək → gülüşmək, döymək → döyüşmək)
  • -ş: If the stem ends in a vowel (e.g., salamla → salamlaşmaq)

4. Subject Usage:
While these verbs often have plural subjects (Biz görüşdük), a singular subject is perfectly correct if the second participant is linked by the postposition -la/-lə (e.g., Mən müdirlə görüşdüm).

Examples (5)

  1. Onlar parkda görüşdülər.

    They met (each other) in the park.

    Word by Word: They park-in met-each-other-past-they.

    The verb 'görmək' (to see) becomes 'görüşmək' (to meet/see each other) using the -iş suffix.

  2. Uşaqlar həyətdə gülüşürdülər.

    The children were laughing together in the yard.

    Word by Word: Children yard-in laugh-together-past-continuous-they.

    This demonstrates the cooperative function, where the children are laughing as a group.

  3. Mən dostumla görüşdüm.

    I met with my friend.

    Word by Word: I friend-my-with met-each-other-past-I.

    This shows that a singular subject can be used if the other participant is introduced with the postposition -la/-lə.

  4. Biz uzun müddət yazışdıq.

    We corresponded (wrote to each other) for a long time.

    Word by Word: We long time write-each-other-past-we.

    From 'yazmaq' (to write), 'yazışmaq' implies a mutual exchange of letters or messages.

  5. İki dost qucaqlaşdı.

    Two friends hugged each other.

    Word by Word: Two friend hug-each-other-past.

    From 'qucaqlamaq' (to hug), the vowel-ending stem takes only the -ş suffix.

Common Mistakes

  • This is fine when the other person is clear; add -la/-lə to name them.

    Different MeaningMən görüşdüm.
    Mən onunla görüşdüm.

    'Mən görüşdüm' is correct when it is clear whom you met. To name the other person, add -la/-lə (with): 'Mən onunla görüşdüm'. A singular subject is fine because the other person is named.

  • This is correct, but 'bir-biri ilə' repeats what -ış already says.

    Different MeaningOnlar bir-biri ilə vuruşurlar.
    Onlar vuruşurlar.

    While adding bir-biri ilə (with each other) is not strictly wrong for emphasis, it is often redundant because the -ış suffix already conveys that meaning.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

-ış/-iş/-uş/-üş (qarşılıq növü)Level 3Reciprocal Verb Suffix

Learn This First

To understand reciprocal verbs, you need to be comfortable with four-way vowel harmony to correctly attach the suffix. It is also helpful to understand how Azerbaijani uses suffixes to change the 'voice' or direction of an action, similar to how reflexive verbs work, and how these verbs then take standard tense and person endings.

Words in This Pattern

-ış-iş-uş-üş