-iş (işteş)

Reciprocal Verbs

Level 5

The işteş çatı (reciprocal/cooperative voice) uses the suffix -(I)ş to show that an action involves more than one person. It can mean 'each other' (reciprocal) or 'together' (cooperative).

How It Works

The işteş çatı serves two primary functions:

1. Reciprocal (Karşılıklı): The subjects perform the action on each other.
Example: görmek (to see) → görüşmek (to see each other/meet).

2. Cooperative/Collective (Birlikte): The subjects perform the action simultaneously or together, but not necessarily directed at each other.
Example: gülmek (to laugh) → gülüşmek (to laugh together).

Morphology:

  • Consonant-final stems: Add -ış, -iş, -uş, -üş based on four-way vowel harmony. (e.g., bak- + -ış = bakışmak)
  • Vowel-final stems: Add only -ş. (e.g., anla- + -ş = anlaşmak)

Inherently Reciprocal Verbs (Kendiliğinden İşteş):
Some verbs are inherently reciprocal in meaning and form, even though they do not have a base verb in modern Turkish. Examples include barışmak (to make peace), savaşmak (to fight/war), and güreşmek (to wrestle).

Plurality Requirement:
Because the action is shared, the subject must be plural (e.g., biz görüştük) or the singular subject must be linked to another participant using the postposition ile (e.g., Ali, Veli ile görüştü).

Transitivity Change:
Most transitive verbs become intransitive when they take the -iş suffix. For example, while you can say Ali'yi gördüm (I saw Ali), you typically use ile with görüşmek. However, some reciprocal verbs can still take the accusative case in specific contexts (e.g., Bu konuyu görüştük). Note that paylaşmak (to share) and bölüşmek (to divide up) are common işteş verbs that remain transitive, though paylaşmak is morphologically derived from the noun pay using the -laş suffix (as seen in -leşmek patterns).

Examples (6)

  1. Onlar uzun süre bakıştılar.

    They looked at each other for a long time.

    Word by Word: They long time looked-at-each-other.

    Here, 'bakışmak' is reciprocal; they are exchanging looks.

  2. Çocuklar parkta gülüşüyorlar.

    The children are laughing together in the park.

    Word by Word: Children park-in are-laughing-together.

    Here, 'gülüşmek' is cooperative; they are laughing at the same time, not at each other.

  3. Yarın saat kaçta buluşuyoruz?

    What time are we meeting tomorrow?

    Word by Word: Tomorrow hour what-at are-we-meeting-up?

    The verb 'buluşmak' (to meet up) is a very common reciprocal verb derived from 'bulmak' (to find).

  4. İki ülke sonunda barıştı.

    The two countries finally made peace.

    Word by Word: Two country finally made-peace.

    'Barışmak' is an inherently reciprocal verb; it functions as an işteş verb even though it has no separate base form in modern Turkish.

  5. Sonunda her konuda anlaştık.

    Finally, we agreed on every matter.

    Word by Word: Finally every subject-on we-understood-each-other.

    The verb 'anlaşmak' (to agree/understand each other) uses the -ş suffix because 'anla-' ends in a vowel.

  6. Askerler cephede savaşıyor.

    The soldiers are fighting at the front.

    Word by Word: Soldiers front-at are-fighting.

    'Savaşmak' is another example of an inherently reciprocal verb where the reciprocal meaning is built into the root.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'birbiri' redundantly with an işteş verb.

    Birbirimizle selamlaştık.
    Selamlaştık.

    'Birbirimizle selamlaştık' is grammatical, but 'selamlaşmak' already means 'to greet each other,' so adding 'birbirimizle' is redundant. It is only used for emphasis.

  • Confusing the reciprocal (-iş) with the reflexive (-in).

    Düşmanlar dövündü.
    Düşmanlar dövüştü.

    'Dövünmek' (reflexive) means to beat oneself in grief, while 'dövüşmek' (reciprocal) means to fight each other.

How It Connects

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

-iş (işteş)Level 5Reciprocal Verbs

Learn This First

To understand reciprocal verbs (-iş), you need to be comfortable with four-way vowel harmony for suffix attachment and have a basic understanding of how Turkish uses suffixes to change the 'voice' of a verb, similar to the passive voice.

Words in This Pattern

-iş