Use gelenek for a tradition passed on within a family or community. Here you will describe preserving, questioning or giving up a tradition, while keeping track of whose tradition it is.
The idea
The forms of gelenek depend on the next suffix: geleneği, geleneğe and geleneğimiz have ğ, but gelenekler, gelenekte and gelenekten keep k. The compound aile geleneği means “family tradition”. Compare bu geleneği yaşatmak (keep this tradition alive), where geleneği is an object, with ailenin geleneği (the family’s tradition), where the same form marks possession. A personal routine is more often an alışkanlık (habit); it is not automatically a tradition.
| Function | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Unmarked | gelenek | gelenekler |
| Accusative: specific object | geleneği | gelenekleri |
| Dative | geleneğe | geleneklere |
| Locative | gelenekte | geleneklerde |
| Ablative | gelenekten | geleneklerden |
| Genitive: of the tradition(s) | geleneğin | geleneklerin |
| My | geleneğim | geleneklerim |
| Your (singular) | geleneğin | geleneklerin |
| His / her / its | geleneği | gelenekleri |
| Our | geleneğimiz | geleneklerimiz |
| Your (plural / polite) | geleneğiniz | gelenekleriniz |
| Their | gelenekleri | gelenekleri |
Examples
- Bu geleneği birlikte yaşatıyoruz.We keep this tradition alive together.
- Çocuklar gelenekleri merak ediyor.The children are curious about the traditions.
- Gelenekler zamanla değişebilir.Traditions can change over time.
- Bu gelenekte misafire önce çay sunulur.In this tradition, tea is served to the guest first.
- Bu gelenekten vazgeçmek istemiyoruz.We do not want to give up this tradition.
- Ailemizin geleneğine göre herkes bir yemek getirir.According to our family’s tradition, everyone brings a dish.
- Geleneklerimizi sorgulamak onlardan vazgeçmek değildir.Questioning our traditions does not mean giving them up.
- Bu geleneğin anlamını büyükannem açıkladı.My grandmother explained the meaning of this tradition.
Read-aloud uses a synthetic Turkish voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.
No Turkish device voice is available. You can still read the text.
Watch out
After ailenin geleneği, another case needs the linking n: ailenin geleneğine saygı duymak means “respect the family’s tradition”. Bare geleneğe has no possessive ending, while geleneğine preserves the family’s connection to the tradition. Do not replace it with geleneğiye.
Try it yourself
Complete with the form of gelenek: We want to pass this tradition on to future generations.
Show answer or example answer
geleneği
geleneği: bu identifies the particular tradition being passed on, so it is a definite object of aktarmak. The vowel of the accusative ending changes the stem’s final k to ğ.
Use the locative of gelenek: In this tradition, guests are served tea first.
Show answer or example answer
gelenekte
gelenekte: the sentence places the serving of tea within this custom. The locative begins with t after voiceless k, so the stem stays unchanged.
Write “our traditions”, using gelenek: Our traditions can change over time.
Show answer or example answer
geleneklerimiz
geleneklerimiz: bizim identifies the owner as “we”, and the prompt asks for several traditions. Add the plural before “our”; the l directly after the stem keeps its final k intact.
Complete with gelenek, referring to one tradition: We respect the family’s tradition.
Show answer or example answer
geleneğine
geleneğine: ailenin requires possession on the noun, and saygı duymak takes the dative. Starting from geleneği, insert n before the final e to keep both relationships visible.
Practice round
Answer questions, then rebuild Turkish sentences and words where available. We keep your score.
Complete with the form of gelenek: We want to pass this tradition on to future generations.
Use the locative of gelenek: In this tradition, guests are served tea first.
Write “our traditions”, using gelenek: Our traditions can change over time.
Complete with gelenek, referring to one tradition: We respect the family’s tradition.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Keep your progress
Sign up for free to save your practice results in your account.
Sign up to saveI already have an accountUse it today
Describe an invented family tradition in three sentences: say what the family does, whether you would preserve it, and how you would show respect for it. Use gelenekte, geleneği and ailenin geleneğine.