Bilmek Conjugation: All Turkish Tenses of 'to know'
bilmek means “to know”. Its stem is bil-, so “I am knowing” is biliyorum, “I knew” is bildim and “I will know” is bileceğim. Below you'll find every form in 10 tenses and moods, with negatives, questions and English meanings.
Quick facts
- Stem
- bil-infinitive minus -mek
- Meaning
- to know
- Aorist
- bilir-ir / -ır / -ur / -ür — irregular: one of the 13 one-syllable stems that take -Ir instead of -Ar
- Vowel harmony
- front unrounded (e / i) — last stem vowel i
- Level
- CEFR A1 · #9 of 247 by frequency
At a glance
One form per tense, split into its suffixes. Tap 🔊 to hear it.
- biliyorumbil·iyor·umPresent Continuous · I am knowing
- bildimbil·di·mDefinite Past · I knew
- bilmişimbil·miş·imReported Past · I apparently knew
- bileceğimbil·eceğ·imFuture · I will know
- bilirimbil·ir·imAorist (Simple Present) · I know
- bilmeliyimbil·meli·yimNecessitative · I must know
- bilsembil·se·mConditional · if I knew
- bilbilImperative & Optative · Know!
- bilebilirimbil·ebil·ir·imAbility (can) · I can know
- biliyordumbil·iyor·du·mPast Continuous · I was knowing
Example sentences with bilmek
Common mistakes with bilmek
- Yüzmeyi biliyorum.
Bilmek also means "to know how to": yüzmeyi biliyorum = I know how to swim. For "can", Turkish uses the ability suffix: yüzebilirim.
- Incorrect: bilerbilir
Bilmek is one of only 13 one-syllable verbs that take -Ir in the aorist instead of -Ar: bilir, bilirim, biliriz. Learn the rule →
- Incorrect: bilmezimbilmem
The negative aorist drops its -z in the first person: bilmem ("I do not know"), bilmeyiz — but bilmez, bilmezsin. Learn the rule →
Full conjugation of bilmek
All 10 tenses and moods × 6 persons, in positive, negative, question and negative-question form. Imperative questions do not exist for sen and siz.
Present ContinuousŞimdiki Zamanbiliyor
Actions happening right now, ongoing situations and near-future plans. Marker: -(I)yor. Grammar guide · Open in the conjugator
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question | Negative question |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| benI | biliyorumI am knowing | bilmiyorumI am not knowing | biliyor muyumAm I knowing? | bilmiyor muyumAm I not knowing? |
| senyou | biliyorsunyou are knowing | bilmiyorsunyou are not knowing | biliyor musunAre you knowing? | bilmiyor musunAre you not knowing? |
| ohe/she | biliyorhe/she is knowing | bilmiyorhe/she is not knowing | biliyor muIs he/she knowing? | bilmiyor muIs he/she not knowing? |
| bizwe | biliyoruzwe are knowing | bilmiyoruzwe are not knowing | biliyor muyuzAre we knowing? | bilmiyor muyuzAre we not knowing? |
| sizyou (pl.) | biliyorsunuzyou (pl.) are knowing | bilmiyorsunuzyou (pl.) are not knowing | biliyor musunuzAre you (pl.) knowing? | bilmiyor musunuzAre you (pl.) not knowing? |
| onlarthey | biliyorlarthey are knowing | bilmiyorlarthey are not knowing | biliyorlar mıAre they knowing? | bilmiyorlar mıAre they not knowing? |
Definite PastGörülen Geçmiş Zamanbildi
Completed past actions the speaker witnessed or is certain about. Marker: -DI. Grammar guide · Open in the conjugator
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question | Negative question |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| benI | bildimI knew | bilmedimI did not know | bildim miDid I know? | bilmedim miDidn't I know? |
| senyou | bildinyou knew | bilmedinyou did not know | bildin miDid you know? | bilmedin miDidn't you know? |
| ohe/she | bildihe/she knew | bilmedihe/she did not know | bildi miDid he/she know? | bilmedi miDidn't he/she know? |
| bizwe | bildikwe knew | bilmedikwe did not know | bildik miDid we know? | bilmedik miDidn't we know? |
| sizyou (pl.) | bildinizyou (pl.) knew | bilmedinizyou (pl.) did not know | bildiniz miDid you (pl.) know? | bilmediniz miDidn't you (pl.) know? |
| onlarthey | bildilerthey knew | bilmedilerthey did not know | bildiler miDid they know? | bilmediler miDidn't they know? |
Reported PastÖğrenilen Geçmiş Zamanbilmiş
Past events learned from others, inferred, or noticed with surprise. Marker: -mIş. Grammar guide · Open in the conjugator
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question | Negative question |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| benI | bilmişimI apparently knew | bilmemişimI apparently did not know | bilmiş miyimDid I know? (reportedly) | bilmemiş miyimDidn't I know? (reportedly) |
| senyou | bilmişsinyou apparently knew | bilmemişsinyou apparently did not know | bilmiş misinDid you know? (reportedly) | bilmemiş misinDidn't you know? (reportedly) |
| ohe/she | bilmişhe/she apparently knew | bilmemişhe/she apparently did not know | bilmiş miDid he/she know? (reportedly) | bilmemiş miDidn't he/she know? (reportedly) |
| bizwe | bilmişizwe apparently knew | bilmemişizwe apparently did not know | bilmiş miyizDid we know? (reportedly) | bilmemiş miyizDidn't we know? (reportedly) |
| sizyou (pl.) | bilmişsinizyou (pl.) apparently knew | bilmemişsinizyou (pl.) apparently did not know | bilmiş misinizDid you (pl.) know? (reportedly) | bilmemiş misinizDidn't you (pl.) know? (reportedly) |
| onlarthey | bilmişlerthey apparently knew | bilmemişlerthey apparently did not know | bilmişler miDid they know? (reportedly) | bilmemişler miDidn't they know? (reportedly) |
FutureGelecek Zamanbilecek
Plans, predictions and decisions about the future. Marker: -(y)AcAk. Grammar guide · Open in the conjugator
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question | Negative question |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| benI | bileceğimI will know | bilmeyeceğimI will not know | bilecek miyimWill I know? | bilmeyecek miyimWon't I know? |
| senyou | bileceksinyou will know | bilmeyeceksinyou will not know | bilecek misinWill you know? | bilmeyecek misinWon't you know? |
| ohe/she | bilecekhe/she will know | bilmeyecekhe/she will not know | bilecek miWill he/she know? | bilmeyecek miWon't he/she know? |
| bizwe | bileceğizwe will know | bilmeyeceğizwe will not know | bilecek miyizWill we know? | bilmeyecek miyizWon't we know? |
| sizyou (pl.) | bileceksinizyou (pl.) will know | bilmeyeceksinizyou (pl.) will not know | bilecek misinizWill you (pl.) know? | bilmeyecek misinizWon't you (pl.) know? |
| onlarthey | bileceklerthey will know | bilmeyeceklerthey will not know | bilecekler miWill they know? | bilmeyecekler miWon't they know? |
Aorist (Simple Present)Geniş Zamanbilir
Habits, general truths, willingness and polite requests. Marker: -r / -Ar / -Ir (neg. -mAz). Grammar guide · Open in the conjugator
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question | Negative question |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| benI | bilirimI know | bilmemI do not know | bilir miyimDo I know? | bilmez miyimDon't I know? |
| senyou | bilirsinyou know | bilmezsinyou do not know | bilir misinDo you know? | bilmez misinDon't you know? |
| ohe/she | bilirhe/she knows | bilmezhe/she does not know | bilir miDoes he/she know? | bilmez miDoesn't he/she know? |
| bizwe | bilirizwe know | bilmeyizwe do not know | bilir miyizDo we know? | bilmez miyizDon't we know? |
| sizyou (pl.) | bilirsinizyou (pl.) know | bilmezsinizyou (pl.) do not know | bilir misinizDo you (pl.) know? | bilmez misinizDon't you (pl.) know? |
| onlarthey | bilirlerthey know | bilmezlerthey do not know | bilirler miDo they know? | bilmezler miDon't they know? |
NecessitativeGereklilik Kipibilmeli
Obligation and advice: must, should, ought to. Marker: -mAlI. Grammar guide · Open in the conjugator
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question | Negative question |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| benI | bilmeliyimI must know | bilmemeliyimI must not know | bilmeli miyimMust I know? | bilmemeli miyimMustn't I know? |
| senyou | bilmelisinyou must know | bilmemelisinyou must not know | bilmeli misinMust you know? | bilmemeli misinMustn't you know? |
| ohe/she | bilmelihe/she must know | bilmemelihe/she must not know | bilmeli miMust he/she know? | bilmemeli miMustn't he/she know? |
| bizwe | bilmeliyizwe must know | bilmemeliyizwe must not know | bilmeli miyizMust we know? | bilmemeli miyizMustn't we know? |
| sizyou (pl.) | bilmelisinizyou (pl.) must know | bilmemelisinizyou (pl.) must not know | bilmeli misinizMust you (pl.) know? | bilmemeli misinizMustn't you (pl.) know? |
| onlarthey | bilmelilerthey must know | bilmemelilerthey must not know | bilmeliler miMust they know? | bilmemeliler miMustn't they know? |
ConditionalDilek-Şart Kipibilse
Conditions and wishes: "if I…", "if only…", "what if I…?". Marker: -sA. Grammar guide · Open in the conjugator
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question | Negative question |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| benI | bilsemif I knew | bilmesemif I did not know | bilsem miShould I know? | bilmesem miShould I not know? |
| senyou | bilsenif you knew | bilmesenif you did not know | bilsen miShould you know? | bilmesen miShould you not know? |
| ohe/she | bilseif he/she knew | bilmeseif he/she did not know | bilse miShould he/she know? | bilmese miShould he/she not know? |
| bizwe | bilsekif we knew | bilmesekif we did not know | bilsek miShould we know? | bilmesek miShould we not know? |
| sizyou (pl.) | bilsenizif you (pl.) knew | bilmesenizif you (pl.) did not know | bilseniz miShould you (pl.) know? | bilmeseniz miShould you (pl.) not know? |
| onlarthey | bilselerif they knew | bilmeselerif they did not know | bilseler miShould they know? | bilmeseler miShould they not know? |
Imperative & OptativeEmir ve İstek Kipibil
Commands ("Go!") and suggestions ("Let me…", "Let's…"). Marker: Ø / -sIn / -(y)In; -(y)AyIm / -(y)AlIm. Grammar guide · Open in the conjugator
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question | Negative question |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| benI | bileyimlet me know | bilmeyeyimlet me not know | bileyim miShall I know? | bilmeyeyim miShall I not know? |
| senyou | bilKnow! | bilmeDon't know! | — | — |
| ohe/she | bilsinlet him/her know | bilmesinlet him/her not know | bilsin miShall he/she know? | bilmesin miShall he/she not know? |
| bizwe | bilelimlet's know | bilmeyelimlet's not know | bilelim miShall we know? | bilmeyelim miShall we not know? |
| sizyou (pl.) | bilinKnow! (pl./polite) | bilmeyinDon't know! (pl./polite) | — | — |
| onlarthey | bilsinlerlet them know | bilmesinlerlet them not know | bilsinler miShall they know? | bilmesinler miShall they not know? |
Ability (can)Yeterlilikbilebilir
What someone can or cannot do, and permission. Marker: -(y)Abil- + aorist (neg. -(y)AmA-). Grammar guide · Open in the conjugator
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question | Negative question |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| benI | bilebilirimI can know | bilememI cannot know | bilebilir miyimCan I know? | bilemez miyimCan't I know? |
| senyou | bilebilirsinyou can know | bilemezsinyou cannot know | bilebilir misinCan you know? | bilemez misinCan't you know? |
| ohe/she | bilebilirhe/she can know | bilemezhe/she cannot know | bilebilir miCan he/she know? | bilemez miCan't he/she know? |
| bizwe | bilebilirizwe can know | bilemeyizwe cannot know | bilebilir miyizCan we know? | bilemez miyizCan't we know? |
| sizyou (pl.) | bilebilirsinizyou (pl.) can know | bilemezsinizyou (pl.) cannot know | bilebilir misinizCan you (pl.) know? | bilemez misinizCan't you (pl.) know? |
| onlarthey | bilebilirlerthey can know | bilemezlerthey cannot know | bilebilirler miCan they know? | bilemezler miCan't they know? |
Past ContinuousŞimdiki Zamanın Hikâyesibiliyordu
What was happening at a moment in the past. Marker: -(I)yordu. Grammar guide · Open in the conjugator
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question | Negative question |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| benI | biliyordumI was knowing | bilmiyordumI was not knowing | biliyor muydumWas I knowing? | bilmiyor muydumWas I not knowing? |
| senyou | biliyordunyou were knowing | bilmiyordunyou were not knowing | biliyor muydunWere you knowing? | bilmiyor muydunWere you not knowing? |
| ohe/she | biliyorduhe/she was knowing | bilmiyorduhe/she was not knowing | biliyor muyduWas he/she knowing? | bilmiyor muyduWas he/she not knowing? |
| bizwe | biliyordukwe were knowing | bilmiyordukwe were not knowing | biliyor muydukWere we knowing? | bilmiyor muydukWere we not knowing? |
| sizyou (pl.) | biliyordunuzyou (pl.) were knowing | bilmiyordunuzyou (pl.) were not knowing | biliyor muydunuzWere you (pl.) knowing? | bilmiyor muydunuzWere you (pl.) not knowing? |
| onlarthey | biliyorlardıthey were knowing | bilmiyorlardıthey were not knowing | biliyorlar mıydıWere they knowing? | bilmiyorlar mıydıWere they not knowing? |
Related verbs
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Frequently asked questions
What is the past tense of bilmek?
The definite past (-DI) of bilmek is bildim (I knew), bildin, bildi, bildik, bildiniz, bildiler. The negative is bilmedim (I did not know), and the reported past is bilmiş (he/she apparently knew).
Is bilmek irregular?
Only in the aorist (simple present). One-syllable stems normally take -Ar, but bilmek is one of 13 exceptions that take -Ir: bilir, bilirim; negative bilmem. Every other tense is regular: biliyorum, bildim, bileceğim.
How do you say "I will know" in Turkish?
"I will know" is bileceğim. "I won't know" is bilmeyeceğim, and "Will you know?" is bilecek misin? For plans you have already made, Turkish also uses the present continuous: biliyorum.
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