Use familiar noun–adjective pairs to describe a field, a connection or a quality. Then add an abstract-noun ending to name the quality itself.
The idea
With established bases, -sel follows a front vowel (e, i, ö, ü) and -sal a back vowel (a, ı, o, u): bilim → bilimsel, duygu → duygusal. Both attach directly, including after a vowel: kişi → kişisel. Before s, the final k stays in geleneksel. These adjectives can precede nouns; a later -lik/-lık names a quality: bilimsellik, duygusallık. Choose familiar words rather than assuming every noun takes this suffix.
| Last vowel | Suffix | Base | Adjective |
|---|---|---|---|
| a, ı, o, u | -sal | duygu | duygusal |
| e, i, ö, ü | -sel | bilim | bilimsel |
| e, i, ö, ü | -sel | gelenek | geleneksel |
| e, i, ö, ü | -sel | kişi | kişisel |
Examples
- Bu dergi bilimsel makaleler yayımlıyor.This journal publishes scientific articles.
- Bu atölye geleneksel yöntemleri öğretiyor.This workshop teaches traditional methods.
- Festival kültürel etkinliklerle başladı.The festival began with cultural activities.
- Ulusal yarışma yarın başlıyor.The national competition starts tomorrow.
- Bu karar tamamen kişisel.This decision is entirely personal.
- Hikâyenin sonu oldukça duygusal.The ending of the story is quite emotional.
- bilimsellikscientific characterbilimsel-sel / -sal: relational adjectiveslik-lik / -lık / -luk / -lük: quality, state, job
- duygusallıkemotionalityduygusal-sel / -sal: relational adjectiveslık-lik / -lık / -luk / -lük: quality, state, job
- geleneksellikbeing traditionalgeleneksel-sel / -sal: relational adjectiveslik-lik / -lık / -luk / -lük: quality, state, job
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Watch out
Do not force every relational adjective into this pattern. Learn kültürel (cultural) as an established word ending in -el, and ulusal (national) with just one s. Neither word licenses freely adding or deleting s elsewhere.
Try it yourself
Form the adjective from bilim (science): a scientific method.
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bilimsel
bilimsel: the final vowel of bilim is i, so the adjective has e. It describes the method’s scientific basis; the noun bilim alone means science.
Form the adjective from duygu (feeling): an emotional reaction.
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duygusal
duygusal: the last vowel u selects a, not another rounded vowel. The adjective describes a reaction shaped by feelings, and no linking consonant is inserted after duygu.
Join the three parts into the noun meaning “being traditional”.
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geleneksellik
geleneksellik: gelenek + sel + lik first forms an adjective and then a quality noun. The stem’s k stands before s, while the final k belongs to -lik; neither is followed by a vowel here.
Choose the adjective meaning “cultural”, not “national”.
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kültürel
kültürel: the clue concerns culture. Ulusal instead concerns a nation or the national level; choosing between them requires meaning, not just vowel harmony.
Practice round
Answer questions, then rebuild Turkish sentences and words where available. We keep your score.
Form the adjective from bilim (science): a scientific method.
Form the adjective from duygu (feeling): an emotional reaction.
Join the three parts into the noun meaning “being traditional”.
Choose the adjective meaning “cultural”, not “national”.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the parts in order to build this word: scientific character
Tap the parts in order to build this word: emotionality
Keep your progress
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Write one sentence about a scientific method and one about a cultural event. Segment geleneksellik and explain why its two occurrences of k are still present.