İstemek Conjugation: All Turkish Tenses of 'to want'
istemek means “to want”. Its stem is iste-, so “I am wanting” is istiyorum, “I wanted” is istedim and “I will want” is isteyeceğim. Below you'll find every form in 10 tenses and moods, with negatives, questions and English meanings.
Quick facts
- Stem
- iste-infinitive minus -mek
- Meaning
- to want
- Aorist
- ister-r — regular: vowel-final stems just add -r
- Vowel harmony
- front unrounded (e / i) — last stem vowel e
- Vowel narrowing
- final e narrows before -yor: istiyorum
- Level
- CEFR A1 · #11 of 247 by frequency
At a glance
One form per tense, split into its suffixes. Tap 🔊 to hear it.
- istiyorumisti·yor·umPresent Continuous · I am wanting
- istedimiste·di·mDefinite Past · I wanted
- istemişimiste·miş·imReported Past · I apparently wanted
- isteyeceğimiste·yeceğ·imFuture · I will want
- isterimiste·r·imAorist (Simple Present) · I want
- istemeliyimiste·meli·yimNecessitative · I must want
- istesemiste·se·mConditional · if I wanted
- isteisteImperative & Optative · Want!
- isteyebilirimiste·yebil·ir·imAbility (can) · I can want
- istiyordumisti·yor·du·mPast Continuous · I was wanting
Example sentences with istemek
Common mistakes with istemek
- Incorrect: isteyorumistiyorum
Before -yor the final e of iste- changes to a narrow vowel: istiyorum. In other tenses it stays: istedim, isteyeceğim. Learn the rule →
- ister
Vowel stems simply add -r in the aorist: ister, isterim. Don't mix up ister (habit: "he/she wants") with istiyor (right now: "he/she is wanting"). Learn the rule →
- Incorrect: istemezimistemem
The negative aorist drops its -z in the first person: istemem ("I do not want"), istemeyiz — but istemez, istemezsin. Learn the rule →
Full conjugation of istemek
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 Zamanistiyor
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 | istiyorumI am wanting | istemiyorumI am not wanting | istiyor muyumAm I wanting? | istemiyor muyumAm I not wanting? |
| senyou | istiyorsunyou are wanting | istemiyorsunyou are not wanting | istiyor musunAre you wanting? | istemiyor musunAre you not wanting? |
| ohe/she | istiyorhe/she is wanting | istemiyorhe/she is not wanting | istiyor muIs he/she wanting? | istemiyor muIs he/she not wanting? |
| bizwe | istiyoruzwe are wanting | istemiyoruzwe are not wanting | istiyor muyuzAre we wanting? | istemiyor muyuzAre we not wanting? |
| sizyou (pl.) | istiyorsunuzyou (pl.) are wanting | istemiyorsunuzyou (pl.) are not wanting | istiyor musunuzAre you (pl.) wanting? | istemiyor musunuzAre you (pl.) not wanting? |
| onlarthey | istiyorlarthey are wanting | istemiyorlarthey are not wanting | istiyorlar mıAre they wanting? | istemiyorlar mıAre they not wanting? |
Definite PastGörülen Geçmiş Zamanistedi
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 | istedimI wanted | istemedimI did not want | istedim miDid I want? | istemedim miDidn't I want? |
| senyou | istedinyou wanted | istemedinyou did not want | istedin miDid you want? | istemedin miDidn't you want? |
| ohe/she | istedihe/she wanted | istemedihe/she did not want | istedi miDid he/she want? | istemedi miDidn't he/she want? |
| bizwe | istedikwe wanted | istemedikwe did not want | istedik miDid we want? | istemedik miDidn't we want? |
| sizyou (pl.) | istedinizyou (pl.) wanted | istemedinizyou (pl.) did not want | istediniz miDid you (pl.) want? | istemediniz miDidn't you (pl.) want? |
| onlarthey | istedilerthey wanted | istemedilerthey did not want | istediler miDid they want? | istemediler miDidn't they want? |
Reported PastÖğrenilen Geçmiş Zamanistemiş
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 | istemişimI apparently wanted | istememişimI apparently did not want | istemiş miyimDid I want? (reportedly) | istememiş miyimDidn't I want? (reportedly) |
| senyou | istemişsinyou apparently wanted | istememişsinyou apparently did not want | istemiş misinDid you want? (reportedly) | istememiş misinDidn't you want? (reportedly) |
| ohe/she | istemişhe/she apparently wanted | istememişhe/she apparently did not want | istemiş miDid he/she want? (reportedly) | istememiş miDidn't he/she want? (reportedly) |
| bizwe | istemişizwe apparently wanted | istememişizwe apparently did not want | istemiş miyizDid we want? (reportedly) | istememiş miyizDidn't we want? (reportedly) |
| sizyou (pl.) | istemişsinizyou (pl.) apparently wanted | istememişsinizyou (pl.) apparently did not want | istemiş misinizDid you (pl.) want? (reportedly) | istememiş misinizDidn't you (pl.) want? (reportedly) |
| onlarthey | istemişlerthey apparently wanted | istememişlerthey apparently did not want | istemişler miDid they want? (reportedly) | istememişler miDidn't they want? (reportedly) |
FutureGelecek Zamanisteyecek
Plans, predictions and decisions about the future. Marker: -(y)AcAk. Grammar guide · Open in the conjugator
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question | Negative question |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| benI | isteyeceğimI will want | istemeyeceğimI will not want | isteyecek miyimWill I want? | istemeyecek miyimWon't I want? |
| senyou | isteyeceksinyou will want | istemeyeceksinyou will not want | isteyecek misinWill you want? | istemeyecek misinWon't you want? |
| ohe/she | isteyecekhe/she will want | istemeyecekhe/she will not want | isteyecek miWill he/she want? | istemeyecek miWon't he/she want? |
| bizwe | isteyeceğizwe will want | istemeyeceğizwe will not want | isteyecek miyizWill we want? | istemeyecek miyizWon't we want? |
| sizyou (pl.) | isteyeceksinizyou (pl.) will want | istemeyeceksinizyou (pl.) will not want | isteyecek misinizWill you (pl.) want? | istemeyecek misinizWon't you (pl.) want? |
| onlarthey | isteyeceklerthey will want | istemeyeceklerthey will not want | isteyecekler miWill they want? | istemeyecekler miWon't they want? |
Aorist (Simple Present)Geniş Zamanister
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 | isterimI want | istememI do not want | ister miyimDo I want? | istemez miyimDon't I want? |
| senyou | istersinyou want | istemezsinyou do not want | ister misinDo you want? | istemez misinDon't you want? |
| ohe/she | isterhe/she wants | istemezhe/she does not want | ister miDoes he/she want? | istemez miDoesn't he/she want? |
| bizwe | isterizwe want | istemeyizwe do not want | ister miyizDo we want? | istemez miyizDon't we want? |
| sizyou (pl.) | istersinizyou (pl.) want | istemezsinizyou (pl.) do not want | ister misinizDo you (pl.) want? | istemez misinizDon't you (pl.) want? |
| onlarthey | isterlerthey want | istemezlerthey do not want | isterler miDo they want? | istemezler miDon't they want? |
NecessitativeGereklilik Kipiistemeli
Obligation and advice: must, should, ought to. Marker: -mAlI. Grammar guide · Open in the conjugator
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question | Negative question |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| benI | istemeliyimI must want | istememeliyimI must not want | istemeli miyimMust I want? | istememeli miyimMustn't I want? |
| senyou | istemelisinyou must want | istememelisinyou must not want | istemeli misinMust you want? | istememeli misinMustn't you want? |
| ohe/she | istemelihe/she must want | istememelihe/she must not want | istemeli miMust he/she want? | istememeli miMustn't he/she want? |
| bizwe | istemeliyizwe must want | istememeliyizwe must not want | istemeli miyizMust we want? | istememeli miyizMustn't we want? |
| sizyou (pl.) | istemelisinizyou (pl.) must want | istememelisinizyou (pl.) must not want | istemeli misinizMust you (pl.) want? | istememeli misinizMustn't you (pl.) want? |
| onlarthey | istemelilerthey must want | istememelilerthey must not want | istemeliler miMust they want? | istememeliler miMustn't they want? |
ConditionalDilek-Şart Kipiistese
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 | istesemif I wanted | istemesemif I did not want | istesem miShould I want? | istemesem miShould I not want? |
| senyou | istesenif you wanted | istemesenif you did not want | istesen miShould you want? | istemesen miShould you not want? |
| ohe/she | isteseif he/she wanted | istemeseif he/she did not want | istese miShould he/she want? | istemese miShould he/she not want? |
| bizwe | istesekif we wanted | istemesekif we did not want | istesek miShould we want? | istemesek miShould we not want? |
| sizyou (pl.) | istesenizif you (pl.) wanted | istemesenizif you (pl.) did not want | isteseniz miShould you (pl.) want? | istemeseniz miShould you (pl.) not want? |
| onlarthey | isteselerif they wanted | istemeselerif they did not want | isteseler miShould they want? | istemeseler miShould they not want? |
Imperative & OptativeEmir ve İstek Kipiiste
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 | isteyeyimlet me want | istemeyeyimlet me not want | isteyeyim miShall I want? | istemeyeyim miShall I not want? |
| senyou | isteWant! | istemeDon't want! | — | — |
| ohe/she | istesinlet him/her want | istemesinlet him/her not want | istesin miShall he/she want? | istemesin miShall he/she not want? |
| bizwe | isteyelimlet's want | istemeyelimlet's not want | isteyelim miShall we want? | istemeyelim miShall we not want? |
| sizyou (pl.) | isteyinWant! (pl./polite) | istemeyinDon't want! (pl./polite) | — | — |
| onlarthey | istesinlerlet them want | istemesinlerlet them not want | istesinler miShall they want? | istemesinler miShall they not want? |
Ability (can)Yeterlilikisteyebilir
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 | isteyebilirimI can want | isteyememI cannot want | isteyebilir miyimCan I want? | isteyemez miyimCan't I want? |
| senyou | isteyebilirsinyou can want | isteyemezsinyou cannot want | isteyebilir misinCan you want? | isteyemez misinCan't you want? |
| ohe/she | isteyebilirhe/she can want | isteyemezhe/she cannot want | isteyebilir miCan he/she want? | isteyemez miCan't he/she want? |
| bizwe | isteyebilirizwe can want | isteyemeyizwe cannot want | isteyebilir miyizCan we want? | isteyemez miyizCan't we want? |
| sizyou (pl.) | isteyebilirsinizyou (pl.) can want | isteyemezsinizyou (pl.) cannot want | isteyebilir misinizCan you (pl.) want? | isteyemez misinizCan't you (pl.) want? |
| onlarthey | isteyebilirlerthey can want | isteyemezlerthey cannot want | isteyebilirler miCan they want? | isteyemezler miCan't they want? |
Past ContinuousŞimdiki Zamanın Hikâyesiistiyordu
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 | istiyordumI was wanting | istemiyordumI was not wanting | istiyor muydumWas I wanting? | istemiyor muydumWas I not wanting? |
| senyou | istiyordunyou were wanting | istemiyordunyou were not wanting | istiyor muydunWere you wanting? | istemiyor muydunWere you not wanting? |
| ohe/she | istiyorduhe/she was wanting | istemiyorduhe/she was not wanting | istiyor muyduWas he/she wanting? | istemiyor muyduWas he/she not wanting? |
| bizwe | istiyordukwe were wanting | istemiyordukwe were not wanting | istiyor muydukWere we wanting? | istemiyor muydukWere we not wanting? |
| sizyou (pl.) | istiyordunuzyou (pl.) were wanting | istemiyordunuzyou (pl.) were not wanting | istiyor muydunuzWere you (pl.) wanting? | istemiyor muydunuzWere you (pl.) not wanting? |
| onlarthey | istiyorlardıthey were wanting | istemiyorlardıthey were not wanting | istiyorlar mıydıWere they wanting? | istemiyorlar mıydıWere they not wanting? |
Related verbs
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Frequently asked questions
What is the past tense of istemek?
The definite past (-DI) of istemek is istedim (I wanted), istedin, istedi, istedik, istediniz, istediler. The negative is istemedim (I did not want), and the reported past is istemiş (he/she apparently wanted).
Is istemek irregular?
No, istemek is a regular verb. Every tense is built from the stem iste- with the standard suffixes: istiyorum, istedim, isteyeceğim, and its aorist ister follows the rule. The final vowel narrows before -yor (istiyorum), which is the normal rule for vowel-final stems.
How do you say "I will want" in Turkish?
"I will want" is isteyeceğim. "I won't want" is istemeyeceğim, and "Will you want?" is isteyecek misin? For plans you have already made, Turkish also uses the present continuous: istiyorum.
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