-ici/-ıcı

Adjectives from Verbs (-ici)

Level 5

The -ici suffix (and its variants -ıcı, -ucu, -ücü) transforms a verb into a word describing someone or something that performs that action regularly or inherently. It is similar to the English suffix -er (as in 'writer') or -ing (as in 'binding').

How It Works

The -ici suffix is a tool in Turkish for creating nouns and adjectives from verbs. While useful, it is less productive than the -(y)en/-(y)an participle; many -ici words are established, lexicalized nouns rather than freely formed descriptors.

1. Vowel Harmony and Stress:
The suffix takes four shapes because it obeys BOTH harmony rules — front/back picks the vowel’s row and rounded/unrounded picks its shape:

  • -ıcı: after a, ı (e.g., bak-ıcı)
  • -ici: after e, i (e.g., ver-ici)
  • -ucu: after o, u (e.g., kur-ucu)
  • -ücü: after ö, ü (e.g., sür-ücü)

Tip: In terms of word stress, the stress follows the standard rule for derivational suffixes and falls on the final syllable of the word (e.g., bakı-CI).

2. Consonant Changes:

  • The Buffer Letter: If the verb stem ends in a vowel, you must insert the buffer -y-. Example: izle-y-ici (viewer).
  • t → d Mutation: This mutation occurs in specific verbs like git- (gidici - transient), et- (edici - making/doing), tat- (tadıcı - taster), and güt- (güdücü - driver/herder). Most verbs, like sat- (satıcı - seller), keep the 't'.

3. Semantic Roles & Usage:

  • Habitual vs. Temporary: A key distinction is that -ici denotes a habitual, permanent, or professional characteristic, whereas -(y)en often describes an action at a given moment, though it can also name habitual doers such as çalışan (employee). For example, ağlayan is someone crying right now, but ağlayıcı refers to a professional mourner.
  • Human Agents & Jobs: Denotes a habitual doer or profession. Example: bakıcı (caregiver), satıcı (seller), kurucu (founder). Note: For a 'writer/author', the word yazar is used instead.
  • Inanimate Qualities & Machines: Describes things that cause a result or specific tools. Example: yazıcı (printer), soğutucu (cooler/refrigerator), üzücü (upsetting).
  • Compound Adjectives: It is very common in compound adjectives using yardım etmek or other etmek structures. Example: rahatsız edici (disturbing).
  • Negative Forms: Unlike the -(y)en participle, the -ici suffix is almost never used with the -me/-ma negative suffix. You would say görmeyen (one who does not see) rather than görmeyici.

Derived Stems:
The suffix can follow an already derived verb stem. In soğutucu, soğu-t- is the causative stem meaning 'make cool'; adding -ucu forms 'cooler' or 'cooling'. In sakinleştirici, sakinleş-tir- means 'make calm', and -ici gives 'calming' or 'sedative'. Apply harmony to the last vowel of that complete stem. Temizleyici comes from vowel-final temizle- plus buffer -y-; it is not a passive-stem example.

Examples (5)

  1. Bu çok üzücü bir haber.

    This is very upsetting news.

    Word by Word: This very upsetting a news.

    Here, the verb 'üzmek' (to upset/sadden) becomes the adjective 'üzücü' to describe the quality of the news.

  2. Eleştirileriniz her zaman yapıcı olmalı.

    Your criticisms should always be constructive.

    Word by Word: Criticisms-your every time constructive must-be.

    'Yapıcı' comes from 'yapmak' (to do/make). It describes a quality of being helpful or 'building up' rather than destroying.

  3. Maçın sonucunu izleyiciler belirledi.

    The viewers determined the result of the match.

    Word by Word: Match-of result-its viewers determined.

    'İzleyici' (viewer) uses the buffer -y- because the stem 'izle-' ends in a vowel.

  4. Yeni yasa tüm taraflar için bağlayıcı olacak.

    The new law will be binding for all parties.

    Word by Word: New law all parties for binding will-be.

    'Bağlayıcı' (binding) comes from 'bağlamak' (to bind/tie). It describes an inherent legal quality of the law.

  5. O, bu şirketin kurucusudur.

    He is the founder of this company.

    Word by Word: He, this company-of founder-its-is.

    'Kurucu' (founder) comes from 'kurmak' (to set up/found). It functions here as a noun denoting a role.

Common Mistakes

  • Overgeneralizing the t → d consonant change.

    sadıcı
    satıcı

    Unlike the t to d voicing rule seen in some verbs, most verbs ending in 't' do not change to 'd' with this suffix. Only a few specific verbs like 'git-' (gidici) and 'et-' (edici) undergo this mutation. For others like 'sat-' or 'at-', the 't' remains.

  • Confusing -ici with the -(y)en participle.

    Gidici adamı gördüm.
    Giden adamı gördüm.

    Use -(y)en/-(y)an for someone doing an action right now ('the man who is going'). Use '-ici' for a habit or role ('gidici' means 'transient' or 'about to leave permanently').

  • Ignoring four-way vowel harmony.

    bakici
    bakıcı

    The suffix must match the last vowel of the stem according to Four-Way Vowel Harmony. Since 'bak-' has an 'a', the suffix must be '-ıcı'.

How It Connects

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

-ici/-ıcıLevel 5Adjectives from Verbs (-ici)

Learn This First

To understand the -ici/-ıcı pattern, learners must be comfortable with four-way vowel harmony and how to handle verb stems that end in vowels using the buffer consonant -y-. This pattern transforms a verb into an adjective or noun describing an agent or a characteristic.

Words in This Pattern

-ici