You will choose between bilmek and tanımak and say that you know a fact, a language, a person or a place.
The idea
Use bilmek for information you hold: a fact, an answer, an address, a language, a skill (cevabı biliyorum, Almanca biliyorum). Use tanımak for a person you have met or a place you know well, and for recognising someone (komşumu tanıyorum, bu şehri tanıyorum). With a definite object both verbs take the accusative.
| What is known | Verb | Example |
|---|---|---|
| a fact or an answer | bilmek | Adresi biliyorum. |
| a language or a skill | bilmek | Rusça biliyorum. |
| a person you have met | tanımak | Onu tanıyorum. |
| a place you know well | tanımak | Burayı tanıyorum. |
Examples
- Ben komşumu tanıyorum.I know my neighbour.
- Ahmet cevabı biliyor.Ahmet knows the answer.
- Ben Almanca biliyorum.I know German.
- Bu şehri çok iyi tanıyorum.I know this city very well.
- Komşumu tanıyorum ama adını bilmiyorum.I know my neighbour, but I don't know their name.One sentence needs both verbs: the person is known with tanımak, the name is a fact and takes bilmek.
- Bu adamı tanımıyorum.I don't know this man.
- Doğru yolu biliyor musun?Do you know the right way?
- Sizi nereden tanıyorum?Where do I know you from?
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Watch out
Do not use bilmek for someone you know personally: Elif'i biliyorum sounds as if you only know who Elif is, while Elif'i tanıyorum says you know her. Information goes the other way: say adresi biliyorum, not adresi tanıyorum.
Try it yourself
Do you know Elif? Fill in bilmek or tanımak in the present continuous; the person ending is already in musun.
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tanıyor
tanıyor: Elif is a person you may have met, so the verb is tanımak, and the question word musun carries the person ending.
I don't know the phone number. Fill in the right verb in the present continuous, negative.
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bilmiyorum
bilmiyorum: a phone number is information, so bilmek; the negative -mi- comes before -yor, and -um means "I".
I know English. Fill in the right verb in the present continuous.
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biliyorum
biliyorum: a language is something you hold in your head, so bilmek; İngilizce takes no ending.
I don't recognise you. Fill in the right verb in the present continuous, negative.
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tanımıyorum
tanımıyorum: recognising someone is tanımak, and after the last vowel ı of tanı- the negative is -mı-.
Practice round
Answer questions, then rebuild Turkish sentences and words where available. We keep your score.
Do you know Elif? Fill in bilmek or tanımak in the present continuous; the person ending is already in musun.
I don't know the phone number. Fill in the right verb in the present continuous, negative.
I know English. Fill in the right verb in the present continuous.
I don't recognise you. Fill in the right verb in the present continuous, negative.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
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Write four sentences: two about people or places you know and two about facts or languages you know. Check that each verb fits what is known.