mı/mi/mu/mü

The Question Word

Level 1

Turkish uses the separate particle mı/mi/mu/mü to ask questions. It follows four-way vowel harmony and is always written as a separate word.

How It Works

The question particle is one of the most important tools in Turkish. Here is how to use it:

1. Vowel Harmony Rules
The particle must match the last vowel of the word it follows:

  • a, ı → mı (e.g., Hazır mı? - Is it ready?)
  • e, i → mi (e.g., Kedi mi? - Is it a cat?)
  • o, u → mu (e.g., Bu mu? - Is it this?)
  • ö, ü → mü (e.g., Gözlük mü? - Is it glasses?)

2. Placement and Focus
Usually, the particle goes at the end of the sentence after the verb. However, it is a 'focus marker.' If you place it after a specific noun, you are questioning that specific part of the sentence.

  • Ali geldi mi? (Did Ali come?)
  • Ali mi geldi? (Was it Ali who came?)

3. Writing Rules and Person Endings
The particle is always written as a separate word. However, how personal endings attach depends on the tense:

  • Type 1 (Present, Future, -miş): Endings attach directly to the particle (e.g., Öğrenci misin?). If the ending starts with a vowel (1st person), you must use a buffer 'y' (e.g., Hazır mıyım?, Mutlu muyuz?). See Question Word With Person Endings.
  • Type 2 (Past -di, Conditional -se): Endings attach to the verb, and the particle follows alone (e.g., Geldin mi?, Baktık mı?).
  • 3rd Person Plural: The plural suffix -ler/-lar stays on the verb (e.g., Gidiyorlar mı?).

4. Word Stress
The question particle itself is never stressed. Instead, the Word Stress falls on the last syllable of the word immediately preceding the particle.

5. Important Restriction
Do not use this particle if the sentence already contains a question word like ne (what) or kim (who).

Examples (5)

  1. Bu çay sıcak mı?

    Is this tea hot?

    Word by Word: This tea hot [question]?

    The particle 'mı' follows 'sıcak' because the last vowel is 'a'.

  2. Okul güzel mi?

    Is the school beautiful?

    Word by Word: School beautiful [question]?

    The particle 'mi' follows 'güzel' because the last vowel is 'e'.

  3. O bir doktor mu?

    Is he/she a doctor?

    Word by Word: He/She a doctor [question]?

    The particle 'mu' follows 'doktor' because the last vowel is 'o'.

  4. Süt soğuk mu?

    Is the milk cold?

    Word by Word: Milk cold [question]?

    The particle 'mu' follows 'soğuk' because the last vowel is 'u'.

  5. Bugün mü gidiyorsun?

    Are you going today?

    Word by Word: Today [question] you are going?

    Here, 'mü' follows 'bugün' to emphasize the question on 'today'.

Common Mistakes

  • Attaching the particle to the word.

    Geldimi?
    Geldi mi?

    The question particle must always be written as a separate word, even though it follows vowel harmony.

  • Using the particle with other question words.

    Kim geldi mi?
    Kim geldi?

    If you use a question word like 'Kim' (Who), you do not need the 'mi' particle.

  • Ignoring vowel harmony.

    Yorgun mi?
    Yorgun mu?

    The particle must follow four-way vowel harmony. Since 'yorgun' ends in 'u', the particle must be 'mu'.

How It Connects

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mı/mi/mu/müLevel 1The Question Word

Learn This First

To use the question particle correctly, you must understand Four-Way Vowel Harmony to choose the correct form (mı/mi/mu/mü). Additionally, familiarity with basic sentence structure and nominal sentences provides the necessary context for forming yes-or-no questions.

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