demek / söylemek
Demek or Söylemek?
Turkish uses two different verbs for 'to say' depending on how you report the speech. Demek is for direct quotes (dialogue), while söylemek is for indirect speech (reporting what someone said in your own words).
How It Works
In Turkish, the choice between demek and söylemek involves both grammatical structures and specific usage contexts.
1. Demek (Direct Speech & Meaning)
This verb is primarily used as a dialogue tag for direct quotes. You place the exact words of the speaker inside quotes and follow it with a form of demek.
- Vowel Mutation: The root de- narrows to di- whenever it is followed by a suffix starting with the letter y. This occurs in the present continuous (diyor), the future tense (diyecek), and with various converbs or participles like diyerek, diyen, or diyelim.
- The Particle 'Diye': The form diye acts as a quotative particle. It allows you to use direct speech with other verbs, such as sormak (to ask) or even söylemek (to say/tell).
- Naming and Meaning: It means 'to mean' (Bu ne demek?) or 'to call/name' (Ona ne derler?). The phrase demek ki is used to mean 'so...' or 'that means...' when drawing a conclusion.
2. Söylemek (Indirect Speech & Telling)
This verb is used when reporting information or telling something to someone. Both demek and söylemek require the person being spoken to (the addressee) to be in the dative case (e.g., Bana dedi or Bana söyledi).
- Reporting Statements: Uses the accusative case attached to a participle. The formula is: Participle + Possessive Suffix + Accusative Case (e.g., geleceğini söyledi - he said he would come).
- Reporting Commands: Uses the -me infinitive with a possessive and accusative ending (e.g., Gelmemi söyledi - He told me to come).
- Other Meanings: Used for 'to sing' (şarkı söylemek), 'to tell' (a secret), or 'to order' food and drinks.
Examples (6)
- Annem, "Eve gel," dedi.
My mother said, "Come home."
Word by Word: My mother, "Home come," said.
This is direct speech using 'demek' in the past tense (dedi) to quote the exact command.
- Bana "Gel," dedi.
He said "Come" to me.
Word by Word: To-me "Come," he-said.
Both 'demek' and 'söylemek' take the person being spoken to in the dative case (bana).
- Annem eve gelmemi söyledi.
My mother told me to come home.
Word by Word: My mother my-coming-to home told.
This is indirect speech using 'söylemek'. The command is nominalized, and the focus is on the message conveyed.
- Ona gerçeği söyledim.
I told him the truth.
Word by Word: To-him the-truth I-told.
When telling a specific piece of information (like the truth or a lie), 'söylemek' is used with the dative case for the listener.
- Ali, "Yorgunum," diyor.
Ali is saying, "I am tired."
Word by Word: Ali, "I-am-tired," is-saying.
Note the vowel mutation: 'de-' becomes 'di-' before the letter 'y' in the present continuous.
- Bu kelime ne demek?
What does this word mean?
Word by Word: This word what to-mean?
Here, 'demek' is used in its secondary sense of 'to mean'.
Common Mistakes
Using 'söylemek' for a direct quote.
Ali "geliyorum" söyledi.Ali "geliyorum" dedi.Right after a direct quote, 'demek' is the natural verb (dedi). To use 'söylemek' with a quote, add 'diye', as in: Ali "geliyorum" diye söyledi.
Using 'demek' for an indirect clause.
Geleceğini dedi.Geleceğini söyledi.The verb 'demek' generally does not take a nominalized object clause (ending in -diğini/-eceğini). Use 'söylemek' for these structures.
Forgetting the vowel mutation in 'demek'.
O ne deyor?O ne diyor?The root 'de-' must change to 'di-' when followed by the '-y' buffer or suffixes starting with 'y'.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To understand the difference between 'demek' and 'söylemek', you need to know how to use direct quotes with 'dedi', how to use the accusative case for reported objects with 'söylemek', and how to indicate the listener using dative pronouns.
- dediQuoting with Demek
The verb 'demek' is the foundation for direct speech, and understanding its past tense form 'dedi' is essential for comparing it with 'söylemek'.
Level 3 - -(y)i (belirtme hâli)Accusative Case
The verb 'söylemek' is transitive and typically requires the accusative case for the reported message, unlike the direct quotes used with 'demek'.
Level 1 - bana / sana / onaPronouns in the Dative
Both 'demek' and 'söylemek' often take an indirect object in the dative case to indicate who the speech is directed to.
Level 1
Related Patterns
- diyeSaying and Thinking with Diye
A gerund form of 'demek' used to introduce thoughts, intentions, or reasons, and to link direct speech to other verbs.
Level 3 - -diğini bilmekObject Clauses with -dik
Uses the same -dik participle structure as 'söylemek' for reporting facts or statements indirectly.
Level 5 - -mesini istemekWanting Someone Else to Do Something
Uses the -me infinitive structure similar to how 'söylemek' reports commands or requests.
Level 5 - demek / yemekThe Verbs Demek and Yemek
These two verbs share the unique property of vowel mutation (e to i) before 'y' suffixes.
Level 1
Words in This Pattern
Practice demek / söylemek in Bubblegum
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