gibi

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Level 2

Use gibi after a noun or pronoun to show similarity (like a baby), manner (like a professional), or approximate time (around 5:00).

How It Works

The word gibi is one of the most versatile tools in Turkish. Here is how to use it correctly:

1. With Nouns (Similarity and Examples)
For standard nouns, place gibi after the word. It can mean 'like' or 'such as' when listing examples.
Example: Buz gibi (Like ice); Elma gibi meyveler (Fruits such as apples).

2. With Pronouns (The Genitive Rule)
Personal pronouns and singular demonstratives (when used as pronouns) must be in the genitive form:

  • Benim gibi (Like me)
  • Bunun gibi (Like this one)

Exceptions: Indefinite pronouns (e.g., herkes gibi) and plural demonstratives (e.g., onlar gibi) stay in the plain form. Also, when bu is used as an adjective meaning 'such', it stays plain: bu gibi (such/this kind of).

3. Expressing Opinions (Gibi Gelmek)
The phrase gibi gelmek is used to say 'it seems to me' or 'I feel like'.
Example: Bana öyle gibi geldi. (It seemed like that to me.)

4. Probability and Appearance
When used with a verb, it means 'it looks like' or 'it seems'.
Example: Yağmur yağacak gibi. (It looks like it will rain.)

5. Approximate Time
With hours, it means 'around'.
Example: Saat üç gibi (Around three o'clock).

Examples (6)

  1. O, babası gibi çok inatçı.

    He is very stubborn like his father.

    Word by Word: He, father-his like very stubborn.

    Here, 'gibi' follows the noun 'babası' to compare the subject's character to his father's.

  2. Senin gibi olmak istiyorum.

    I want to be like you.

    Word by Word: Your like to-be I-want.

    Notice that 'sen' becomes 'senin' (genitive) before 'gibi'.

  3. Elma, portakal gibi meyveleri severim.

    I like fruits such as apples and oranges.

    Word by Word: Apple, orange like fruits-acc I-like.

    In this context, 'gibi' is used to list examples, functioning like 'such as' in English.

  4. Bana öyle gibi geliyor.

    It seems like that to me.

    Word by Word: To-me so like it-comes.

    The construction 'gibi gelmek' is a common way to express an opinion or impression.

  5. Herkes gibi ben de yoruldum.

    I am tired too, just like everyone else.

    Word by Word: Everyone like I also got-tired.

    Indefinite pronouns like 'herkes' stay in the plain form before 'gibi', unlike personal pronouns.

  6. Bu gibi durumlar beni üzüyor.

    Such situations (situations like this) make me sad.

    Word by Word: This like situations me is-saddening.

    When used adjectivally to mean 'such', the demonstrative 'bu' stays in the plain form.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the plain form for personal pronouns (except 'onlar').

    Biz gibi çalışkan değiller.
    Bizim gibi çalışkan değiller.

    Personal pronouns (ben, sen, o, biz, siz) must take the genitive suffix before 'gibi'. Only 'onlar' typically stays in the plain form.

  • Placing 'gibi' before the noun (English word order).

    Gibi bir taş sert.
    Taş gibi sert.

    Turkish is a postpositional language; 'gibi' must come AFTER the noun it describes.

How It Connects

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gibiLevel 2Like

Learn This First

To use 'gibi' (like/as) correctly, you need to understand how Turkish postpositions work. Specifically, when 'gibi' is used with personal pronouns, those pronouns must take the genitive case (e.g., 'my like' instead of 'me like'). Additionally, knowing basic sentence structure helps you place these comparative phrases correctly before the action.

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