-y-

Buffer Consonant -y-

Level 1

In Turkish, two vowels generally cannot sit next to each other. When a word ends in a vowel and you add a suffix that starts with a vowel, you must insert the buffer consonant -y- to keep them apart.

How It Works

In Turkish, when a suffix starting with a vowel is added to a word ending in a vowel, a buffer consonant is usually inserted to separate them. While loanwords like saat or şiir can have adjacent vowels, native Turkish grammar generally avoids this. The letter -y- is the most common buffer consonant used for this purpose.

When to use it:

  • Nouns: When adding the Accusative (-(y)I) or Dative (-(y)A) cases to a word ending in a vowel. Example: kedi (cat) + -e → kediye (to the cat). This also applies to the word ne (what): neyi, neye. Note that while ne uses -y- for case endings, it uses the standard -s- buffer for the 3rd person possessive (nesi).
  • Verbs: When attaching vowel-initial suffixes like the Future Tense or the Optative mood. Example: bekle- (wait) + -ecek → bekleyecek (he/she will wait).
  • Particles: When attaching ile (with) or the past tense copula -(y)di to a vowel-ending word. Example: öğrenci (student) + -ydi → öğrenciydi (he/she was a student).

Other Buffer Consonants:
While -y- is frequent, Turkish uses others in specific contexts:

  • The Buffer -n-: Used with the Genitive Case (e.g., kedinin) and when adding case endings after a 3rd person possessive (e.g., arabasına). It is also mandatory when adding case endings to demonstrative pronouns, such as bunu (this [acc.]) or ona (to that).
  • The Buffer -s-: Used specifically for the 3rd person possessive (e.g., annesi). An important exception is the word su (water), which uses -y- for both the possessive (suyu) and the Genitive (suyun).
  • The Buffer -ş-: Used exclusively with Distributive Numbers. Example: iki (two) → ikişer (two each).

Examples (5)

  1. Arabayı yıkıyorum.

    I am washing the car.

    Word by Word: Car-[buffer]-Accusative wash-Present Continuous-I

    The word 'araba' ends in 'a', and the accusative suffix '-ı' starts with a vowel. The '-y-' acts as the bridge.

  2. Kediye süt verdim.

    I gave milk to the cat.

    Word by Word: Cat-[buffer]-Dative milk give-Past-I

    The dative suffix '-e' is added to 'kedi'. Since 'kedi' ends in a vowel, '-y-' is inserted.

  3. Yarın sinemaya gideceğiz.

    We will go to the cinema tomorrow.

    Word by Word: Tomorrow cinema-[buffer]-Dative go-Future-We

    Here, '-y-' connects the noun 'sinema' to the dative case '-a'.

  4. O, soruyu cevaplayacak.

    He/she will answer the question.

    Word by Word: He/she question-Accusative answer-[buffer]-Future

    The verb stem 'cevapla-' ends in a vowel, so '-y-' is needed before the future tense suffix '-acak'.

  5. Bahçedeki suyu içme.

    Don't drink the water in the garden.

    Word by Word: Garden-in-which water-[buffer]-Accusative drink-Negative

    This shows the accusative case on 'su'. Note that 'su' always uses '-y-' as a buffer.

Common Mistakes

  • Using -y- after a 3rd person possessive suffix.

    Onun kedisiye bakıyorum.
    Onun kedisine bakıyorum.

    When adding a case suffix to a word that already has a 3rd person possessive ending (-(s)i), you must use the 'Pronominal n' buffer instead of -y-.

  • Omitting the buffer consonant between two vowels.

    Kedi-e bak.
    Kediye bak.

    Turkish usually avoids two vowels touching when a suffix is added. Use '-y-' to separate them.

  • Using -y- when the word already ends in a consonant.

    Ev-y-e gidiyorum.
    Eve gidiyorum.

    Buffer consonants are only for vowel-to-vowel connections. If the word ends in a consonant like 'ev', the suffix attaches directly.

How It Connects

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

-y-Level 1Buffer Consonant -y-

Learn This First

To understand the buffer consonant -y-, you must first be able to distinguish between vowels and consonants in the Turkish alphabet and understand basic vowel harmony, as this pattern specifically prevents two vowels from occurring together when adding suffixes.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

And 11 more in the full list.