-er/-şer

Distributive Numbers

Level 3

Distributive numbers indicate how items are shared or grouped. By adding -(ş)er or -(ş)ar to a number, you turn 'two' into 'two each' or 'two at a time'.

How It Works

The distributive suffix is the primary way to describe equal sharing or batch actions in Turkish.

1. Formation Rules:

  • If the number ends in a consonant: Add -er (for e, i, ö, ü) or -ar (for a, ı, o, u).
    Example: üç (3) → üçer (three each).
  • If the number ends in a vowel: Add -şer or -şar.
    Example: iki (2) → ikişer (two each).
  • Irregularity: The word yarım (half) takes the buffer -ş- to become yarımşar (half each).

2. Special Cases:

  • Consonant Softening: The number dört (4) becomes dörder (the 't' changes to 'd').
  • Compound Numbers: When using multi-word numbers, only the last word receives the suffix.
    Example: on ikişer (twelve each), not onar ikişer.
  • Non-Numeric Words: Words like tek (single) and çift (pair) can take this suffix to form expressions like teker teker (one by one) or çifter çifter (in pairs).

3. Usage Notes:

  • Questions: To ask 'how many each?', use kaçar (from kaç).
  • Intervals: These suffixes describe physical or temporal intervals, such as beşer metre (every five meters).
  • Singular Nouns: Even if the quantity is more than one, the noun remains singular (e.g., ikişer elma).
  • Repetition: To say 'one by one' or 'two by two', repeat the distributive form: birer birer, ikişer ikişer.
  • Writing: In formal Turkish, these should always be written as words (beşer) rather than digits (5'er).

Examples (6)

  1. Çocuklara ikişer elma verdim.

    I gave the children two apples each.

    Word by Word: To the children two-each apple I gave.

    Notice that 'elma' (apple) remains singular even though each child gets two.

  2. Öğrenciler sınıfa birer birer girdiler.

    The students entered the classroom one by one.

    Word by Word: Students to the classroom one-each one-each they entered.

    Repeating the distributive number creates the meaning of 'one at a time' or 'in groups of one'.

  3. Biletler yirmi beşer liradan satılıyor.

    The tickets are being sold for twenty-five liras each.

    Word by Word: Tickets twenty five-each lira-from are being sold.

    In compound numbers, only the last word receives the suffix. Here, only 'beş' becomes 'beşer'.

  4. Soruları teker teker cevapladık.

    We answered the questions one by one.

    Word by Word: Questions single-each single-each we answered.

    The word 'tek' (single) can also take this suffix to form the common expression 'teker teker' (one by one).

  5. Misafirlere yarımşar bardak çay ikram ettik.

    We offered the guests half a glass of tea each.

    Word by Word: To the guests half-each glass tea offer we did.

    'Yarımşar' (half each) is an irregular form; even though 'yarım' ends in a consonant, it takes the -ş- buffer.

  6. Masalara kaçar kişi oturacak?

    How many people will sit at each table?

    Word by Word: To the tables how-many-each person will sit?

    The question word kaç also takes the distributive suffix to become 'kaçar' (how many each).

Common Mistakes

  • Pluralizing the noun after a distributive number.

    İkişer elmalar aldık.
    İkişer elma aldık.

    Just like standard numbers, distributive numbers require the noun to be in the singular form.

  • Using the wrong buffer consonant for numbers ending in vowels.

    İkiyer elma.
    İkişer elma.

    While -y- is a common buffer in Turkish, distributive numbers exclusively use -ş- as the buffer consonant.

  • Writing distributive numbers as digits in formal contexts.

    Öğrenciler 2'şer kitap okudu.
    Öğrenciler ikişer kitap okudu.

    According to TDK (Turkish Language Association) rules, distributive numbers should be written out in words.

How It Connects

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

-er/-şerLevel 3Distributive Numbers

Learn This First

To understand distributive numbers (-er/-şer), you first need to know the cardinal numbers in Turkish. You must also be familiar with two-way vowel harmony to choose the correct suffix form and understand how buffer consonants (specifically 'ş' in this context) are used when a suffix starting with a vowel is attached to a word ending in a vowel.

Words in This Pattern

-er-şer