Use this reference to attach the reciprocal suffix to familiar verb stems. It can express an action directed at one another or done together, but the resulting verb has its own meaning.
The idea
After a consonant, choose -ış after a/ı, -iş after e/i, -uş after o/u, and -üş after ö/ü. After a vowel, attach just -ş: tanı-ş-mak. Remove the infinitive ending before adding the suffix, then add -mak/-mek again: gör-üş-mek. For a finite verb, tense and person follow: gör-üş-tü-k. The k stays in bakışmak. Learn established verbs rather than attaching the suffix to every verb: buluşmak means to meet up, while gülüşmek means to laugh together, not at each other.
| Suffix | Verb stem | Infinitive |
|---|---|---|
| -ış | bak- | bakışmak |
| -iş | sev- | sevişmek |
| -uş | bul- | buluşmak |
| -üş | gör- | görüşmek |
| -ş | tanı- | tanışmak |
Examples
- Biz pazartesi kütüphanede görüştük.We met at the library on Monday.
- Komşular kapının önünde bakıştı.The neighbours exchanged looks in front of the door.
- İki arkadaş durakta buluştu.Two friends met up at the stop.
- görüşmekto meet and talkgörüşReciprocal verb suffixmek-mek / -mak: the infinitive
- bakışmakto look at each otherbakışReciprocal verb suffixmak-mek / -mak: the infinitive
- buluşmakto meet upbuluşReciprocal verb suffixmak-mek / -mak: the infinitive
- sevişmekto make lovesevişReciprocal verb suffixmek-mek / -mak: the infinitive
- tanışmakto get acquaintedtanışReciprocal verb suffixmak-mek / -mak: the infinitive
- gülüşmekto laugh togethergülüşReciprocal verb suffixmek-mek / -mak: the infinitive
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Watch out
Sevişmek normally means to make love in contemporary standard Turkish. For general affection, use Birbirimizi seviyoruz. (We love each other). A mechanically correct suffix does not guarantee the intended meaning.
Try it yourself
Build the infinitive meaning “meet up”: bul- + reciprocal suffix + infinitive ending.
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buluşmak
buluşmak: the rounded back vowel u calls for -uş; the resulting verb means to meet up, and its infinitive ends in -mak.
Build the infinitive meaning “get acquainted”: tanı- + reciprocal suffix + infinitive ending.
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tanışmak
tanışmak: tanı- already ends in a vowel, so only -ş is added before -mak; there is no extra ı.
Fill the gap with the past tense of görüşmek for “we”: Biz dün kütüphanede ___.
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görüştük
görüştük: the final ş makes the past suffix start with t, ü preserves vowel harmony, and -k identifies “we”.
Choose and write the sentence meaning “We love each other” in the general emotional sense: Birbirimizi seviyoruz. / Sevişiyoruz.
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Birbirimizi seviyoruz.
Birbirimizi seviyoruz. expresses mutual affection through birbirimizi and keeps the verb sevmek. Sevişiyoruz would normally suggest sexual activity.
Practice round
Answer questions, then rebuild Turkish sentences and words where available. We keep your score.
Build the infinitive meaning “meet up”: bul- + reciprocal suffix + infinitive ending.
Build the infinitive meaning “get acquainted”: tanı- + reciprocal suffix + infinitive ending.
Fill the gap with the past tense of görüşmek for “we”: Biz dün kütüphanede ___.
Choose and write the sentence meaning “We love each other” in the general emotional sense: Birbirimizi seviyoruz. / Sevişiyoruz.
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: to meet and talk
Tap the parts in order to build this word: to look at each other
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Build three infinitives from the table, mark their parts, then write a past-tense sentence about meeting someone. Check both the suffix spelling and the meaning of the whole verb.