biz / siz / onlar
Personal Pronouns (Plural)
Biz = We
Siz = You (plural or formal singular)
Onlar = They
How It Works
Turkish plural pronouns function as the subject of a sentence. Because Turkish uses subject dropping, the pronouns are usually left out unless you want to emphasize the person.
- Biz (We): Used for the first-person plural.
- Siz (You): Used for a group of people ('you all') or as a polite/formal way to address a single person. When used for politeness, the verb must still take the plural suffix.
- Onlar (They): Used for the third-person plural. It is gender-neutral and can refer to people, animals, or objects.
When using these pronouns in sentences without a verb or with the present continuous, the predicate takes a matching personal suffix:
- biz → -(y)iz / -(y)ız / -(y)uz / -(y)üz. These follow four-way vowel harmony. The y is a buffer consonant used only if the word ends in a vowel.
- siz → -siniz / -sınız / -sunuz / -sünüz. These also follow four-way vowel harmony but never require a buffer consonant.
- onlar → -lar / -ler. This suffix follows two-way vowel harmony and never requires a buffer consonant.
Note that when using the present continuous, the vowels for biz and siz are fixed as -uz and -sunuz (e.g., geliyoruz, geliyorsunuz) because they always follow the 'o' in the tense suffix. These endings do not apply to the simple past tense, which uses different endings.
Agreement Rules:
- For onlar, the plural suffix on the verb is optional if the pronoun or a plural noun is explicitly mentioned.
- If the subject is an inanimate object or an animal, the verb usually stays singular. Plural verbs for animals are generally reserved for personification.
Examples (4)
- Biz öğrenciyiz.
We are students.
Word by Word: We student-are.
The pronoun 'biz' is used here for emphasis, and the verb takes the matching suffix -(y)iz.
- Siz nasılsınız?
How are you? (Plural or Formal)
Word by Word: You how-are-you?
This can be said to a group of friends or to one person you don't know well to show respect.
- Onlar çok yorgunlar.
They are very tired.
Word by Word: They very tired-plural.
The suffix -lar on the adjective matches the pronoun 'onlar'.
- Biz geliyoruz, siz kalıyorsunuz.
We are coming, you are staying.
Word by Word: We coming-are, you staying-are.
Pronouns are used here to create a clear contrast between what 'we' are doing versus what 'you' are doing.
Common Mistakes
Using 'sen' (informal you) for strangers or elders instead of 'siz'.
Sen nasılsın, öğretmenim?Siz nasılsınız, öğretmenim?In Turkish culture, using the plural 'siz' for a single person is a sign of respect. Using 'sen' with a teacher or elder can sound rude.
Forcing plural verb endings for non-human subjects.
Onlar (kitaplar) masadalar.Onlar (kitaplar) masada.When 'onlar' refers to inanimate objects like books, the verb usually stays singular. The plural suffix on the verb is mostly for humans.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To understand plural personal pronouns, you should first be familiar with singular pronouns and the basic rules of vowel harmony, which govern how these words are formed and used with suffixes.
- ben / sen / oPersonal Pronouns (Singular)
Understanding singular personal pronouns provides the conceptual foundation for learning their plural counterparts.
Level 1 - Vowel Harmony: Front and Back
Vowel harmony is necessary to understand how suffixes (like the plural suffix -lar/-ler in 'onlar') are attached to pronoun stems.
Level 1
Related Patterns
- Dropping the Subject Pronoun
Explains why these pronouns are often omitted in natural speech.
Level 1 - The Plural of Respect
Focuses specifically on using 'siz' to show respect to one person.
Level 5 - onlar geldi / geldilerPlural Agreement Is Optional
Explains when the plural suffix on the verb is optional with 'onlar'.
Level 2 - bunlar / şunlar / onlarPlural Demonstratives
Explains 'onlar' as a demonstrative pronoun (those) rather than a personal pronoun (they).
Level 1
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice biz / siz / onlar in Bubblegum
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