-ken

While

Level 3

The suffix -ken (while/when) is used to link two events happening at the same time. It is unique because it does not follow vowel harmony and often attaches to tense markers rather than verb roots.

How It Works

The suffix -ken is a powerful tool for describing background contexts and contrasts. It is the suffixed version of the word iken, which remains in use in formal or emphatic Turkish. Because it is a contraction, it does not follow Two-Way Vowel Harmony.

1. With Verbs:
It follows a tense marker rather than the root. Note that the Aorist is the standard form for most 'while' actions, whether general or specific:

Aorist + -ken: The default for 'while doing'. Example: gelirken (while coming/on the way).
Continuous + -ken: Used for specific emphasis on the ongoing nature of the act. Example: okuyorken (while [in the middle of] reading).
Future + -ken: 'Just as one was about to'. Example: çıkacakken.
-miş + -ken: 'Since one is already at it'. Example: gitmişken.

2. Negative Verbs:
You can use -ken with negative markers to mean 'while not doing'. Example: bilmezken (while not knowing) or bakmıyorken (while not looking).

3. With Nouns and Adjectives:
Describes a state or period. Example: çocukken (when [I was] a child). It can also show contrast (whereas/although), such as o çalışkanken kardeşi tembel (while he is hardworking, his brother is lazy).

4. No Personal Endings:
Unlike most Turkish suffixes, -ken never takes personal endings. The subject is determined by the rest of the sentence.

5. The Buffer Letter:
If the word ends in a vowel, the i from iken transforms into the buffer consonant -y- (e.g., hastayken, evindeyken).

6. Vowel Harmony Exception:
This suffix is invariant. It remains -ken regardless of the preceding vowels (e.g., bakarken, not bakarkan).

Examples (5)

Ders çalışırken uyuyakalmışım.
I fell asleep while studying.
Word by Word: Lesson while-working I-fell-asleep.
Here, -ken is attached to the aorist form of 'çalışmak' to show the background action.
Hava güneşliyken dışarı çıkalım.
Let's go out while the weather is sunny.
Word by Word: Weather while-sunny outside let-us-go-out.
Attached to an adjective (güneşli), requiring the buffer consonant -y-.
Hazır markete gitmişken ekmek de al.
Since you've already gone to the market, buy bread too.
Word by Word: Ready market-to since-gone bread also buy.
The -mişken construction is used to mean 'since you are already doing/at it'.
O çok zenginken ben fakirim.
While he is very rich, I am poor.
Word by Word: He very while-rich I poor-am.
This demonstrates the contrastive use of -ken, meaning 'whereas' or 'although'.
Ben çocukken çok yaramazdım.
When I was a child, I was very naughty.
Word by Word: I while-child very naughty-was.
Used with a noun to describe a past state. Note that the person is indicated by the main verb 'yaramazdım', not by -ken.

Common Mistakes

Adding personal endings to the -ken suffix.
Ben çocukkenim çok yaramazdım.
Ben çocukken çok yaramazdım.
The suffix -ken is invariant regarding person. It never takes personal suffixes like -im or -sin; the subject is understood from the context or the main verb.
Applying vowel harmony to the suffix.
Kitaba bakarkan onu gördüm.
Kitaba bakarken onu gördüm.
-ken is invariant. It never changes to -kan, even after back vowels like 'a'.
Attaching -ken directly to the verb root.
Eve gelken ekmek aldım.
Eve gelirken ekmek aldım.
With verbs, -ken must follow a tense marker (usually the aorist -ir/-er).

How It Connects

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

-kenLevel 3While

Learn This First

To understand -ken, you need to know how to handle vowel-ending stems using the buffer -y-. You also need to understand the Aorist tense, as -ken typically attaches to the Aorist form of verbs. Finally, familiarity with how the copula works with nouns and adjectives is essential for using -ken to describe states (e.g., 'while a child').

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