In Turkish, the preposition for "in," "on," "at," and "with" (possession) is expressed by a single suffix: -DA. Unlike English prepositions, this suffix is attached directly to the end of the word.
💡 The Phonetic Rule: How to Choose the Right Form?
The suffix changes its form based on the vowels and consonants of the word it attaches to. It can take four forms: da, de, ta, te.
1. Choosing the Vowel (a / e):
If the last vowel of the word is Heavy (a, ı, o, u) → Use -a.
If the last vowel of the word is Light (e, i, ö, ü) → Use -e.
2. Choosing the Consonant (d / t):
Default: Usually, the suffix starts with d.
The "Fıstıkçı Şahap" Rule: If the word ends with one of these hard consonants: ç, f, h, k, p, s, ş, t, the d changes to t to make it easier to pronounce.
The Four Forms of the Preposition:
Condition | Suffix | Example | Meaning |
Last vowel heavy + soft ending | -da | Masada | On the table |
Last vowel light + soft ending | -de | Evde | At home |
Last vowel heavy + hard ending | -ta | Parkta | In the park |
Last vowel light + hard ending | -te | Ofiste | In the office |
Asking "Where?" and "With Whom?"
When you ask a question using these particles, the answer must also contain the -DA suffix:
Nerede? (Where?): Used for locations.
Nerede oynuyorlar? (Where are they playing?) → Bahçede (In the garden).
Kimde? (Who has it? / With whom?): Used for possession or people.
Para kimde? (Who has the money?) → Kardeşimde (My brother has it).
Using the Preposition with (Var / Yok)
This suffix is almost always used when stating the existence (Var) or non-existence (Yok) of something in a place:
Sınıfta kimler var? (Who is in the class?) → Sınıfta öğrenciler var.
Bende para yok. (I don't have money / There is no money on me).
Odada yatak var. (There is a bed in the room).
Important Notes:
Proper Nouns: When adding the suffix to names of cities or people, use an apostrophe: Ankara'da, Ahmet'te.
Personal Pronouns: It changes the meaning of pronouns:
Bende (With me), Sende (With you), Onda (With him/her/it).
Mastering the -DA suffix is essential for describing locations and possession in Turkish.