what is it?
The suffix -ki (or -DAki when it follows a locative case ending) is a relativiser: it attaches to a noun phrase that already carries a case suffix — most commonly the locative -DA — and converts the whole phrase into a modifier or a standalone pronoun-like noun. In English this often corresponds to «the one at/in/on …» or a possessive pronoun such as «mine», «yours». The key feature that sets -ki apart from most Turkish suffixes is that it does not follow standard vowel harmony — it is always -ki regardless of the preceding vowel, with one small exception for time words ending in -ün (see Formation).
when to use it?
Locative phrase → noun modifier. When a locative phrase (noun + -DA) describes which noun you mean, add -ki to make it a true adjective-like modifier: masadaki kitap (the book on the table).
Locative phrase → standalone noun. When the head noun is omitted because it is understood from context, the -DAki form stands alone as a noun: evdekiler (the ones at home).
Genitive pronoun → possessive pronoun. Attach -ki directly to a genitive pronoun to form an independent possessive: benim → benimki (mine).
Time word → temporal modifier. Time words such as bugün and dün take -ki directly (no locative needed) to mean «of today» or «of yesterday»: bugünkü gazete, dünkü film.
formation
The suffix is added after the locative ending -DA (which itself follows vowel harmony: -da or -de). The -ki part is invariable — it does not change to match the preceding vowel. The only exception: when -ki is added directly to a time word whose last vowel is ü (i.e. dün, bugün), the suffix surfaces as -kü.
| base | locative | with -ki | meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| masa | masada | masadaki | the one on the table |
| ev | evde | evdeki | the one at home |
| okul | okulda | okuldaki | the one at school |
| dün | — | dünkü | yesterday's |
| bugün | — | bugünkü | today's |
| benim | — | benimki | mine |
Notice that evdeki and masadaki both end in -ki, even though the locative vowels differ (-de vs -da). The -ki never changes to -kı or -ku.
examples in context
common pitfalls
Dropping -ki when modifying a noun. A bare locative phrase cannot directly modify a noun in Turkish. Masada kitap means «there is a book on the table» (an existential sentence), not «the book on the table». To use the phrase as a modifier, you must add -ki: masadaki kitap.
Applying vowel harmony to -ki. Learners sometimes write *evdekı or *masadekı by analogy with other suffixes. This is wrong: -ki is invariable. The only genuine variant is -kü, which appears exclusively after the time words dün and bugün (and similar -gün words). Everywhere else, write -ki.
Three sentences, graded here. Nothing is saved and no account is needed.
___ süt çok taze. (raf)
Fill in the blank with the correct form of the word in parentheses.