biri / birisi / kimse
Someone and Anyone
Use biri or birisi for 'someone' in positive sentences. Use kimse for 'anyone' in questions/conditions, or 'no one' when paired with a negative verb.
How It Works
These pronouns are essential for referring to people without naming them.
1. Biri and Birisi (Someone)
Both mean 'someone' or 'somebody.' Biri is the standard form, while birisi is a more colloquial or informal variant. Their plural form is birileri (some people).
2. Kimse and Hiç Kimse (Anyone / No one)
Kimse is a 'negative polarity item.' Its meaning depends on the context:
- With a negative verb: It means 'nobody.' (e.g., Kimse gelmedi - Nobody came).
- In questions: It means 'anyone.' (e.g., Kimse var mı? - Is anyone there?).
- In conditional sentences: It means 'anyone.' (e.g., Kimse ararsa... - If anyone calls...).
- Hiç kimse: This is the emphatic version ('nobody at all'). Note that hiç kimse is written as two words.
3. Herhangi Biri (Anyone)
In positive, non-conditional sentences where you mean 'anyone at all' or 'any one person,' use herhangi biri. (e.g., Herhangi biri bunu yapabilir - Anyone can do this).
4. Case Markings
Because these act as nouns, you must add the correct case endings:
- Accusative: birini / kimseyi (e.g., I saw someone).
- Dative: birine / kimseye (e.g., I gave it to someone).
- Locative: birinde / kimsede (e.g., Someone has it).
- Ablative: birinden / kimseden (e.g., I heard it from someone).
- Genitive: birinin / kimsenin (e.g., Someone's car).
Examples (6)
- Biri kapıda bekliyor.
Someone is waiting at the door.
Word by Word: One-person at-the-door is-waiting.
Here, 'biri' is the subject of a positive sentence, meaning 'someone'.
- Dün çarşıda birini gördüm.
I saw someone at the market yesterday.
Word by Word: Yesterday at-market someone-(acc) I-saw.
Since 'someone' is the specific object of the verb 'see', it takes the accusative suffix -(n)i.
- Kimse gelmedi mi?
Did no one come?
Word by Word: Anyone come-not (question)?
In Turkish, 'kimse' combined with a negative verb ('gelmedi') creates the meaning of 'no one'.
- Bu sırrı kimseye söyleme.
Don't tell this secret to anyone.
Word by Word: This secret anyone-(dat) tell-not.
The dative case -ye is added to 'kimse' because the secret is being told 'to' someone.
- İçeride kimse var mı?
Is anyone inside?
Word by Word: Inside anyone exists (question)?
In a question with a positive verb, 'kimse' translates to 'anyone'.
- Eğer kimse gelirse bana haber ver.
If anyone comes, let me know.
Word by Word: If anyone comes-if to-me news give.
In conditional sentences, 'kimse' is used to mean 'anyone'.
Common Mistakes
Using 'kimse' with a positive verb to mean 'nobody'.
Kimse geldi.Kimse gelmedi.In Turkish, 'kimse' requires a negative verb to mean 'nobody'. 'Kimse geldi' sounds like 'Anyone came', which is ungrammatical in this context.
Forgetting the buffer 'n' before case suffixes on 'biri'.
Biriye sordum.Birine sordum.When adding case suffixes to 'biri' or 'birisi', a buffer 'n' is used (e.g., biri-n-e) because the word ends in a possessive-style marker.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To understand 'biri', 'birisi', and 'kimse', you need to understand how the number 'bir' (one) can be turned into a pronoun using possessive suffixes. Additionally, understanding 'yok' is essential because 'kimse' is primarily used in negative contexts to mean 'nobody' or 'anyone' (in a negative sense).
Related Patterns
- hiç kimse / hiçbir şeyNobody and Nothing
Hiç kimse is the emphatic version of kimse, meaning 'nobody at all', and is always written as two words.
Level 2 - kimWho
Kim is the question word 'who', from which kimse is historically derived.
Level 1 - birThe Word Bir
Biri is derived from the number 'bir' (one) plus a possessive suffix.
Level 1 - -(y)i (belirtme hâli)Accusative Case
These pronouns frequently take the accusative case when they are the direct object of a sentence.
Level 1 - -den/-dan (ayrılma hâli)Ablative Case
The ablative case is used with these pronouns to indicate movement away from someone or a source.
Level 2 - -in (ilgi hâli)Genitive Case
The genitive case is used to show that something belongs to 'someone' or 'no one'.
Level 2
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice biri / birisi / kimse in Bubblegum
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