benimki / seninki

Mine and Yours

Level 3

Use benimki (mine), seninki (yours), etc., to replace a noun that has already been mentioned. It turns a possessive relationship into a standalone noun.

How It Works

The suffix -ki acts as a nominalizer, allowing you to avoid repeating a noun. Unlike the conjunction ki, which is written as a separate word, this suffix is always attached to the preceding word.

1. Formation:
It attaches to the genitive form of personal pronouns:

  • Benim (my) + -ki = Benimki (mine)
  • Senin (your) + -ki = Seninki (yours)
  • Onun (his/her/its) + -ki = Onunki (his/hers/its)
  • Bizim (our) + -ki = Bizimki (ours)
  • Sizin (your pl.) + -ki = Sizinki (yours)
  • Onların (their) + -ki = Onlarınki (theirs)

It can also attach to nouns: Ali'ninki (Ali's [one]).

2. Vowel Harmony Exception:
When forming possessive pronouns, -ki is strictly invariant. It never changes to -kı, -ku, or -kü. While the suffix -ki can harmonize when attached to certain time words (like dünkü or bugünkü), it remains fixed as -ki for all possessive forms (e.g., onunki, not *onunkı).

3. Pluralization:
You can make these pronouns plural by adding the plural suffix directly to -ki: Benimkiler (mine / the ones that are mine).

4. Adding Case Endings:
When you add a case suffix (like the accusative, dative, or locative) directly to the -ki suffix, you must use the buffer consonant -n-.
Example: Benimkini aldım (I took mine).

However, the instrumental case uses the buffer consonant -y- (e.g., benimkiyle). If the plural suffix is used first, the buffer -n- is not used before the case ending.
Example: Seninkileri gördüm (I saw yours [plural]).

5. Usage Nuance:
In Turkish, for simple predicates ('This is mine'), the bare genitive benim is preferred: Bu kitap benim. Using benimki implies a contrast: 'This book is the one that is mine'. Colloquially, benimki or seninki is also frequently used to refer to a romantic partner or spouse (e.g., Benimki yine geç kaldı - Mine [my partner] is late again).

Examples (5)

  1. Benim arabam eski, seninki yeni.

    My car is old, yours is new.

    Word by Word: My car old, yours new.

    Here, 'seninki' replaces the need to say 'senin araban' (your car) again.

  2. Anahtarlarımı bulamıyorum; seninkini ödünç alabilir miyim?

    I can't find my keys; can I borrow yours?

    Word by Word: Keys-my-acc find-not-able-pres; yours-acc borrow can-I?

    Note the buffer -n- before the accusative suffix -(y)i in 'seninkini'.

  3. Bizim bahçemiz küçük ama onlarınki çok büyük.

    Our garden is small, but theirs is very big.

    Word by Word: Our garden-our small but theirs very big.

    'Onlarınki' stands in for 'onların bahçesi' (their garden).

  4. Senin çayın soğuk, benimkini iç.

    Your tea is cold, drink mine.

    Word by Word: Your tea cold, mine-acc drink.

    'Benimkini' is the object of the verb 'iç' (drink), so it takes the accusative case with a buffer -n-.

  5. Ali'nin evi uzak, Ayşe'ninki çok yakın.

    Ali's house is far, Ayşe's is very close.

    Word by Word: Ali-gen house-his far, Ayşe-gen-ki very close.

    The suffix -ki can also be attached to proper nouns after the genitive case.

Common Mistakes

  • Applying vowel harmony to the suffix -ki in possessive forms.

    Onunkı burada.
    Onunki burada.

    When used as a possessive pronoun, the suffix -ki is an exception to vowel harmony rules; it never changes to -kı, -ku, or -kü.

  • Forgetting the buffer -n- before case endings.

    Benimkiyi gördün mü?
    Benimkini gördün mü?

    When adding case endings such as accusative, dative or locative to -ki, use the pronominal 'n' buffer, not 'y'.

  • Using -ki when the noun is still present.

    Benimki kitabım masada.
    Benim kitabım masada.

    The suffix -ki replaces the noun. You cannot use it if you are also saying the noun (kitabım).

How It Connects

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benimki / seninkiLevel 3Mine and Yours

Learn This First

To understand 'benimki' (mine) and 'seninki' (yours), you first need to be comfortable with possessive pronouns like 'benim' and 'senin'. You also need to understand the function of the suffix -ki, which acts as a relative pronoun marker to replace a noun that has already been mentioned.

Words in This Pattern

-ki