And Things Like That

Level 3

The m-ikilemesi (m-reduplication) is an informal pattern used to generalize a concept. It turns a specific word into a category meaning 'X and stuff' or 'X and so on.' It is created by repeating the word but starting the second version with the letter m.

How It Works

The m-ikilemesi is a highly productive feature of spoken Turkish. It allows speakers to be vague or dismissive about a topic.

1. Usage and Nuance:
It is strictly informal. You will hear it in daily conversation but should avoid it in formal writing. It often implies that the specific item isn't the only thing being discussed, or that the speaker doesn't care much about the details. For example, para mara means 'money and all that stuff.'

2. Morphological Rules:

  • Consonant-initial: Kalem → Kalem malem (Pens and such).
  • Vowel-initial: Araba → Araba maraba (Cars and the like).
  • Suffixes: If you use a case marker like the locative case, it must appear on both: Okulda mokulda.

3. The 'M' Exception:
If a word already starts with the letter m (like masa or müzik), you cannot use this pattern. Instead, Turkish speakers use the word falan (e.g., masa falan) to achieve the same 'and stuff' meaning.

Examples (5)

  1. Kitap mitap okumuyorum.

    I'm not reading books or anything like that.

    Word by Word: Book [m-book] I am not reading.

    Here, 'kitap mitap' generalizes 'books' to include any kind of reading material or similar activities.

  2. Cebimde para mara yok.

    I don't have any money or anything on me.

    Word by Word: In my pocket money [m-money] there is not.

    The speaker is saying they lack money and any other means of payment.

  3. Tatilde şaka maka çok eğlendik.

    We joked around and had a lot of fun on vacation.

    Word by Word: On vacation joke [m-joke] very we had fun.

    'Şaka maka' is a casual set expression meaning 'joking around and all that'.

  4. Evde mevde oturma, dışarı çık!

    Don't sit at home or whatever, go outside!

    Word by Word: At home [m-at home] do not sit, outside go!

    Notice how the locative suffix -de is repeated on both 'ev' and 'mev'.

  5. Çay may içmek istemiyorum.

    I don't want to drink tea or anything.

    Word by Word: Tea [m-tea] to drink I do not want.

    The speaker is dismissing the offer of tea and similar beverages.

Common Mistakes

  • Forgetting to repeat suffixes on the second word.

    Okulda mokul yoktu.
    Okulda mokulda yoktu.

    If the first word has a suffix (like the locative -da), the 'm' word must also have it. It must be a mirror image.

  • Using the pattern with words that already start with 'm'.

    Meyve meyve yedik.
    Meyve falan yedik.

    You cannot reduplicate words starting with 'm' using this rule. Use 'falan' (and so on) instead.

  • Using this pattern in formal writing.

    Raporu maporu hazırladım.
    Raporu ve ilgili belgeleri hazırladım.

    This pattern is very casual. In a professional context, it sounds dismissive or lazy. Use 've benzeri' (and the like) or specific lists instead.

How It Connects

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

And Things Like ThatLevel 3

Learn This First

The 'm ikilemesi' is a colloquial way to express 'and things like that' by repeating a word but starting the second version with the letter 'm'. To understand this, learners should first be familiar with the general concept of word reduplication (ikileme) and the Turkish alphabet to correctly apply the phonetic change.