what is it?
The suffix -(ş)Ar attaches to a numeral to create a distributive numeral — a form that means «… each» or «… apiece». Where a plain numeral simply counts (iki elma = two apples), the distributive form specifies that the quantity is distributed individually across people or things (ikişer elma = two apples each). The suffix follows Turkish vowel harmony, so its vowel alternates between -ar and -er, and a linking -ş- appears when the numeral stem ends in a vowel.
when to use it
Distributing a quantity across people or things. Use the distributive when each person or item receives the stated amount: «Herkese birer elma verdim» (I gave everyone one apple each).
Specifying group or portion size. When dividing into equal groups or portions, the distributive marks the size of each unit: «Üçer kişilik gruplar kurun» (Form groups of three each).
Expressing «X by X» or «in groups of X» through reduplication. Repeating the distributive form back-to-back gives the meaning «X at a time» or «X by X»: «ikişer ikişer» = two by two, «birer birer» = one by one.
formation
The suffix has two shapes determined by two rules:
Vowel harmony. The suffix vowel is a after back vowels and e after front vowels.
Linking -ş-. When the numeral stem ends in a vowel, -ş- is inserted before the suffix (iki → ikişer, altı → altışar). When the stem ends in a consonant, no linking consonant is needed (üç → üçer, beş → beşer, on → onar).
| stem | ends in | distributive form | meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| bir | consonant | birer | one each |
| iki | vowel | ikişer | two each |
| üç | consonant | üçer | three each |
| dört | consonant | dörder | four each |
| beş | consonant | beşer | five each |
| altı | vowel | altışar | six each |
| yedi | vowel | yedişer | seven each |
| sekiz | consonant | sekizer | eight each |
| dokuz | consonant | dokuzar | nine each |
| on | consonant | onar | ten each |
Reduplication. To express «X by X» or «in sets of X», simply repeat the distributive form: ikişer ikişer (two by two), birer birer (one by one). No additional suffix is needed.
examples in context
common pitfalls
Using a plain numeral instead of the distributive. «Herkese iki elma verdim» means I gave everyone two apples (total or ambiguous), not two each. To express distribution, the suffix is required: «Herkese ikişer elma verdim» (two apples each).
Getting the linking -ş- wrong. The linking consonant -ş- appears only when the stem ends in a vowel: iki → ikişer, altı → altışar. It does not appear after a consonant: üç → üçer (not ✗üçşer), on → onar (not ✗onşar).
Forgetting that reduplication changes the meaning. A single distributive form (ikişer) means «two each». Reduplicating it (ikişer ikişer) shifts the meaning to «two by two / in twos». The two patterns are not interchangeable: «Çocuklar ikişer girdi» (the children came in, two each) vs. «Çocuklar ikişer ikişer girdi» (the children came in two by two).
Three sentences, graded here. Nothing is saved and no account is needed.
Yolcular uçağa ___ biner biner değil, düzenli bir şekilde girdi.
Fill in the blank with the correct distributive numeral form.