bu / şu / o
Demonstratives
bu (this) = near speaker
şu (that/this) = pointing to something new
o (that) = far away or already mentioned
How It Works
Turkish demonstratives serve two main roles: as adjectives (determiners) and as pronouns.
1. The Three Distinctions:
- bu: Used for things within the speaker's reach or immediate presence. In conversation, it refers to the current topic.
- şu: Used for things the speaker is pointing at but the listener hasn't noticed yet. It is an 'attention-directing' word. It is also used to point forward to something you are about to say.
- o: Used for things far from both people, or things already mentioned in the conversation. It also doubles as the personal pronoun for 'he/she/it'.
2. Usage as Determiners:
When used before a noun (e.g., 'this book'), they are invariable. They do not take plural or case suffixes; only the noun changes.
Example: Bu kitaplar (These books).
3. Usage as Pronouns:
When they stand alone (e.g., 'I want this'), they take suffixes. Crucially, they require a buffer consonant -n- before any case ending.
Example: Bunu istiyorum (I want this).
Examples (5)
- Bu çay çok sıcak.
This tea is very hot.
Word by Word: This tea very hot.
'Bu' is used here because the tea is right in front of the speaker.
- Şuna bak! Ne kadar güzel bir kuş!
Look at that! What a beautiful bird!
Word by Word: To-that look! What how-much beautiful a bird!
'Şuna' (şu + n + dative case) is used to direct the listener's attention to a bird they haven't seen yet.
- O gün hava çok güzeldi.
The weather was very nice that day.
Word by Word: That day weather very nice-was.
'O' refers to a specific day in the past that both speakers know about.
- Bu kitaplar benim.
These books are mine.
Word by Word: This books mine.
Notice that 'bu' does not become plural even though 'kitaplar' is plural.
- Bunu bana ver.
Give this to me.
Word by Word: This-acc to-me give.
When 'bu' acts as a pronoun, it takes the accusative case suffix -(y)i, requiring the 'n' buffer.
Common Mistakes
Pluralizing the demonstrative when it is used as an adjective.
Bunlar çiçekler çok güzel.Bu çiçekler çok güzel.When a demonstrative precedes a noun, it never takes the plural suffix -ler/-lar. Only the noun is pluralized.
Forgetting the 'n' buffer before case suffixes.
Bua bak.Buna bak.Demonstrative pronouns always use an 'n' buffer before case endings, not the standard 'y' buffer.
Using 'bu' to introduce a new statement (cataphora).
Sorun bu: Param yok.Sorun şu: Param yok.In Turkish, when you are about to explain something new, 'şu' (or 'şunu') is the usual choice. 'Bu' sounds less natural here.
How It Connects
Related Patterns
- bunlar / şunlar / onlarPlural Demonstratives
These are the plural pronoun forms of the demonstratives.
Level 1 - bu + NounDemonstrative Before a Noun
Focuses specifically on using demonstratives as adjectives before nouns.
Level 1 - -n-Buffer Consonant -n-
Explains the buffer letter 'n' used when demonstratives take case suffixes.
Level 1 - ben / sen / oPersonal Pronouns (Singular)
The demonstrative 'o' is identical to the 3rd person singular personal pronoun.
Level 1 - burada / şurada / oradaHere and There
Locational adverbs derived from these same demonstrative roots.
Level 1 - burası / şurası / orasıHere and There as Nouns
Nouns referring to 'this place' or 'that place' based on the same roots.
Level 2
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice bu / şu / o in Bubblegum
Poppy, your AI tutor, writes Turkish lessons at your level. Tap any grammar point in a lesson to see its full explanation.
