ekmek: bread and the k that turns into ğ

The idea

Words of two or more syllables that end in k usually change it to ğ before a suffix that begins with a vowel: ekmek → ekmeği, ekmeğe, ekmeğim, ekmeğimiz. Before a suffix that begins with a consonant the k stays: ekmekler, ekmekte, ekmekten, ekmekçi.

Examples

• Annem ekmeği kesiyor.My mother is cutting the bread.A definite object takes -i, and the k of ekmek turns into ğ before that vowel: ekmeği.
• Sofrada sıcak ekmek var.There is warm bread on the table.
• Evde ekmeğimiz yok.We have no bread at home.
• ekmeklerloaves of breadekmek·ler-ler / -lar: the plural suffixThe plural -ler starts with a consonant, so the k stays: ekmekler, never ekmeğler.
• ekmeğimmy breadekmeğ·im-im / -ım / -um / -üm / -m: my
• ekmektein the breadekmek·te-de / -da / -te / -ta: in, at, on
• ekmeğimizdenfrom our breadekmeğ·imiz-imiz / -ımız / -umuz / -ümüz: our·den-den / -dan / -ten / -tan: from, out of
• Ekmeğe tereyağı sürüyorum.I am spreading butter on the bread.
• ekmekçibread sellerekmek·çi-ci / -cı / -çi / -çı: the person who does it

Watch out

Learners usually make one of two mistakes: they keep the k (ekmeki, ekmeke) or they carry the ğ into every form (ekmeğler, ekmeğte). The first letter of the suffix decides, not the noun.

Try it yourself

1. Add the right ending: My bread is fresh.

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   ekmeğim

   ekmeğim: the ending -im starts with a vowel, so the k softens to ğ, and i follows the front vowel e.

2. Add the right ending: I am spreading butter on the bread.

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   ekmeğe

   ekmeğe: -e starts with a vowel, so k becomes ğ, and e matches the front vowel of the word.

3. Add the plural: There are warm loaves in the bakery.

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   ekmekler

   ekmekler: -ler starts with a consonant, so nothing softens, and the vowel e gives -ler.

4. Add the locative: There is no salt in the bread.

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   ekmekte

   ekmekte: -te starts with a consonant, so the k stays; it is t because k is voiceless.

Use it today

Write three sentences about bread in your home: one with ekmeği, one with ekmeğimiz and one with ekmekte or ekmekten. Circle the first letter of each suffix.