artık / hâlâ / henüz

Any More, Still, Yet

Level 3

Artık = Anymore / From now on (Change)
Hâlâ = Still (Continuation)
Henüz = Not yet / Just (Incompletion/Recentness)

How It Works

These adverbs are essential for expressing the timing and status of events in Turkish.

1. Artık (Change of State)
This word marks a 'turning point.'

  • With a negative verb, it means 'anymore' or 'no longer.' (e.g., Artık gitmiyorum - I don't go anymore).
  • With a positive verb, it means 'from now on' or 'finally.' (e.g., Artık anlıyorum - I finally understand).

2. Hâlâ (Continuation)
This means 'still.' It indicates that a situation started in the past and is continuing into the present. Note the circumflex (^) on the 'a's; without them, the word means 'paternal aunt.' It often carries a nuance of surprise or impatience.

3. Henüz (Incompletion/Recentness)
This focuses on the proximity to the present moment.

  • With a negative verb, it means 'not yet.' (e.g., Henüz yemedim - I haven't eaten yet).
  • With a positive verb, it means 'just' or 'only just.' (e.g., Henüz geldim - I just arrived).

In casual speech, daha is often used as a synonym for henüz when meaning 'yet.'

Examples (5)

  1. Artık sigara içmiyorum.

    I don't smoke anymore.

    Word by Word: Anymore cigarette I-am-not-drinking.

    Using 'artık' with a negative verb indicates a habit that has stopped.

  2. Hâlâ ödevini yapıyor musun?

    Are you still doing your homework?

    Word by Word: Still your-homework doing are you?

    'Hâlâ' shows the action is continuing, perhaps longer than expected.

  3. Tren henüz gelmedi.

    The train hasn't arrived yet.

    Word by Word: Train yet did-not-come.

    'Henüz' with a negative past tense verb indicates an expected event that hasn't happened.

  4. Artık gidelim mi?

    Shall we go now (finally)?

    Word by Word: Finally let-us-go [question]?

    In this context, 'artık' implies that the speaker has been waiting and it is finally time to leave.

  5. Henüz eve geldim.

    I just got home.

    Word by Word: Just to-home I-came.

    When used with a positive verb, 'henüz' indicates the action happened very recently.

Common Mistakes

  • Writing 'hâlâ' (still) without circumflexes, like 'hala' (aunt).

    Hala uyuyor.
    Hâlâ uyuyor.

    The circumflex matters. 'Hala' means 'aunt', while 'hâlâ' means 'still'. The 'a' is also longer in 'hâlâ'. Many people skip the marks when typing, but 'hâlâ' is the standard spelling.

  • Using 'artık' with a positive verb to mean 'anymore'.

    Artık çalışıyorum.
    Artık çalışmıyorum.

    'Artık çalışıyorum' means 'I am finally working' or 'I am working from now on.' To say 'I don't work anymore,' you must use the negative verb form.

Words in This Pattern

hâlâhenüz