A family is preparing for a celebration. Use these short exchanges to work out which event they mean and who is arriving. Every exchange was written for this lesson.
The idea
First separate the event from the people. Nişan means engagement and can name its celebration; düğün names the wedding celebration. In these scenes, gelin is the bride and damat the groom. Kına gecesi names a henna evening before a wedding. Nişanlı can describe someone as engaged or name their fiancé or fiancée; the word itself does not specify gender.
| Word or phrase | Meaning in this scene |
|---|---|
| nişan | engagement; engagement celebration |
| düğün | wedding celebration |
| gelin | bride (here) |
| damat | groom (here) |
| nişanlı | engaged; fiancé or fiancée |
| kına gecesi | henna night before a wedding |
Examples
- Nişan yarın akşam.The engagement celebration is tomorrow evening.
- Gelin kapıda bekliyor.The bride is waiting at the door.
- Damat salona geliyor.The groom is coming into the hall.
- — Nişan bugün mü? — Hayır, düğün bugün.— Is the engagement celebration today? — No, the wedding is today.
- — Bu senin nişanlın mı? — Evet, nişanlım.— Is this your fiancé or fiancée? — Yes, my fiancé or fiancée.
- — Kına gecesi nerede? — Bu akşam evde.— Where is the henna night? — At home this evening.
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Watch out
Nişanlım means my fiancé or fiancée; nişanlıyım means I am engaged. In Bu benim nişanlım, you introduce another person. Replacing the last word with nişanlıyım does not introduce that person.
Try it yourself
Complete ___ cuma günü. Name the engagement celebration, not the wedding.
Show answer or example answer
nişan
nişan: the prompt specifies an engagement celebration on Friday. Düğün would change the event to a wedding.
Complete Gelin ve ___ burada. The bride and groom are here.
Show answer or example answer
damat
damat: the pair is the bride and groom at their wedding. Nişanlı would identify an engaged person without saying that this is the groom.
Complete Bu benim ___. Use nişanlı to introduce your fiancé or fiancée.
Show answer or example answer
nişanlım
nişanlım: benim points to a person connected to the speaker, so the noun takes the possessive -m. Nişanlıyım would describe the speaker’s own status.
Complete ___ bu akşam evde. Write the two-word name for the henna night.
Show answer or example answer
kına gecesi
kına gecesi: the clue asks for the henna evening, so both words are needed. Kına alone names henna; gece alone names a night.
Practice round
Answer questions, then rebuild Turkish sentences and words where available. We keep your score.
Complete ___ cuma günü. Name the engagement celebration, not the wedding.
Complete Gelin ve ___ burada. The bride and groom are here.
Complete Bu benim ___. Use nişanlı to introduce your fiancé or fiancée.
Complete ___ bu akşam evde. Write the two-word name for the henna night.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Keep your progress
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Write a four-line exchange: ask which celebration is happening, answer, ask who someone is, and introduce a fiancé or fiancée. Use an event word and a person word.