You will distinguish vowel length from a consonant pronounced further forward, and use context to read the circumflex. No recording is attached; this lesson uses written contrasts and mouth position.
The idea
The circumflex has several jobs. Compare hala (your father’s sister) with hâlâ (still): in the latter, sustain both vowels without adding syllables. In kâr (profit), unlike kar (snow), the vowel is long and the k is palatal: bring the body of the tongue toward the hard palate. In borrowed words, â or û can signal a preceding palatal k or g: kâğıt, mahkûm, tezgâh. Some names mark a clear l: Lâle. In resmî (official), î marks a relational adjective, unlike resmi (his/her picture, or the picture as an object).
| Without a circumflex | With a circumflex |
|---|---|
| hala | hâlâ |
| kar | kâr |
| resmi | resmî |
Examples
- Bu dükkân hâlâ açık.This shop is still open.
- Masada iki kâğıt var.There are two sheets of paper on the table.
- Bu ay kâr arttı.Profit increased this month.
- halapaternal aunt
- hâlâstill
- karsnow
- kârprofit
- resmihis/her picture; the picture (accusative)
- resmîofficial (adjective)
- mahkûmprisoner
- tezgâhworkbench; stall counter
- LâleLâle (given name)
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
Do not read the hat as a stress mark or an instruction to double every vowel. It can tell you about the preceding consonant. Nor does every long vowel take a hat: sade has none. In mahkûm, keep rounded lips for u; a palatal k does not turn it into ü.
Try it yourself
In this sentence, which meaning matches hâlâ: henüz (still/yet) or kazanç (earnings)? Write the Turkish word.
Show answer or example answer
henüz
henüz matches hâlâ here: both refer to a situation continuing. Hala instead names a family relationship.
Choose the meaning of kâr: kazanç (earnings) or yağış (precipitation). Write the Turkish word.
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kazanç
kazanç identifies the intended meaning of kâr: money gained, not the snow called kar. The meaning tells you which spelling to read.
In resmî yazı (official correspondence), is resmî a sıfat (adjective) or an ad (noun)? Write the Turkish term.
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sıfat
sıfat: in resmî yazı, the word describes the correspondence as official. It does not name someone’s picture, so the final î belongs to the adjective.
In mahkûm, which consonant immediately before û is palatal? Write one letter.
Show answer or example answer
k
k: this is the consonant immediately before û in mahkûm. Move its tongue contact forward while keeping the following vowel rounded.
Practice round
Answer questions, then rebuild Turkish sentences and words where available. We keep your score.
In this sentence, which meaning matches hâlâ: henüz (still/yet) or kazanç (earnings)? Write the Turkish word.
Choose the meaning of kâr: kazanç (earnings) or yağış (precipitation). Write the Turkish word.
In resmî yazı (official correspondence), is resmî a sıfat (adjective) or an ad (noun)? Write the Turkish term.
In mahkûm, which consonant immediately before û is palatal? Write one letter.
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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Read kar/kâr and hala/hâlâ slowly, then write a new sentence with hâlâ and one with resmî. Compare every circumflex with the model spellings. Explain whether it distinguishes meaning, signals a consonant, or marks an adjective.