-lik/-lık

Making Nouns with -lik

Level 3

The suffix -lik/-lık/-luk/-lük transforms nouns and adjectives into new words representing concepts, tools, or categories. It follows the rules of four-way vowel harmony.

How It Works

The -lik suffix is one of the most productive in Turkish. Its meaning changes based on the root word it attaches to:

  • Abstract and Collective Nouns: Turns adjectives or nouns into concepts or groups. (e.g., iyi 'good' → iyilik 'goodness'; insan 'human' → insanlık 'humanity/mankind').
  • Tools and Containers: Creates names for objects used for the root noun. (e.g., göz 'eye' → gözlük 'glasses'; tuz 'salt' → tuzluk 'salt shaker').
  • Professions and Status: Denotes a job or rank. (e.g., öğretmen 'teacher' → öğretmenlik 'teaching').
  • Places: Indicates an area characterized by the root. (e.g., orman 'forest' → ormanlık 'wooded area').
  • Suitability and Clothing: Creates nouns for items intended for specific people or events. (e.g., gelin 'bride' → gelinlik 'wedding dress'; bayram 'holiday' → bayramlık 'holiday clothes').
  • Quantity and Measurement: Expresses worth, duration, or capacity. (e.g., beş liralık 'worth five liras', üç kişilik 'for three people').
  • Purpose and Periodicity: Creates adjectives for specific uses or time intervals. (e.g., kiralık 'for rent', yazlık 'summer house', günlük 'daily', haftalık 'weekly').

Morphology:
1. It follows 4-way vowel harmony: -lık (a, ı), -lik (e, i), -luk (o, u), -lük (ö, ü).
2. If you add a suffix starting with a vowel after it, the final -k changes to -ğ due to consonant softening (e.g., güzellik + i = güzelliği).

Examples (6)

  1. Güzellik göreceli bir kavramdır.

    Beauty is a relative concept.

    Word by Word: Beauty relative a concept-is.

    Here, -lik turns the adjective 'güzel' (beautiful) into the abstract noun 'güzellik' (beauty).

  2. Arkadaşlık bizim için çok önemlidir.

    Friendship is very important for us.

    Word by Word: Friend-ship us for very important-is.

    The suffix -lik can turn a noun like 'arkadaş' (friend) into an abstract concept like 'arkadaşlık' (friendship).

  3. Masanın üstünde bir tuzluk var.

    There is a salt shaker on the table.

    Word by Word: Table-of top-its-at a salt-container there-is.

    The suffix creates a container or tool ('tuzluk') from the substance it holds ('tuz').

  4. Bu yazlık ev çok serin.

    This summer house is very cool.

    Word by Word: This summer-for house very cool.

    The suffix -lik creates an adjective indicating suitability for a season, turning 'yaz' (summer) into 'yazlık' (for summer/summer house).

  5. Bize üç kişilik bir masa lazım.

    We need a table for three people.

    Word by Word: To-us three person-ness a table necessary.

    Here, -lik is used for measurement, indicating a table intended for a specific quantity (three people).

  6. Kiralık bir ev arıyoruz.

    We are looking for a house for rent.

    Word by Word: Rent-for a house we-are-looking-for.

    In this context, -lik creates an adjective of purpose ('intended for rent').

Common Mistakes

  • Confusing -lik with the -li suffix.

    Şekerlik kahve istiyorum.
    Şekerli kahve istiyorum.

    Use -li to mean 'with' or 'containing'. Use -lik for the container itself (şekerlik = sugar bowl).

  • Attaching -lik to verb stems.

    Yaplık çok zor.
    Yapım çok zor.

    -lik only attaches to nouns and adjectives. To turn a verb into a noun, use suffixes like -me or -iş.

  • Forgetting consonant softening.

    Onun güzelliki çok meşhur.
    Onun güzelliği çok meşhur.

    When a vowel follows the -k, it must soften to ğ according to consonant softening rules.

How It Connects

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

-lik/-lıkLevel 3Making Nouns with -lik

Learn This First

To understand the -lik/-lık suffix, you need to be familiar with four-way vowel harmony to correctly attach the suffix to nouns or adjectives. Additionally, knowledge of consonant softening is necessary because the 'k' at the end of the suffix often changes when further suffixes are added.

Words in This Pattern

-lik