Korumak Conjugation: All Turkish Tenses of 'to protect'
korumak means “to protect”. Its stem is koru-, so “I am protecting” is koruyorum, “I protected” is korudum and “I will protect” is koruyacağım. Below you'll find every form in 10 tenses and moods, with negatives, questions and English meanings.
Quick facts
- Stem
- koru-infinitive minus -mak
- Meaning
- to protect
- Aorist
- korur-r — regular: vowel-final stems just add -r
- Vowel harmony
- back rounded (a / u) — last stem vowel u
- Level
- CEFR B1 · #150 of 247 by frequency
At a glance
One form per tense, split into its suffixes. Tap 🔊 to hear it.
- koruyorumkoru·yor·umPresent Continuous · I am protecting
- korudumkoru·du·mDefinite Past · I protected
- korumuşumkoru·muş·umReported Past · I apparently protected
- koruyacağımkoru·yacağ·ımFuture · I will protect
- korurumkoru·r·umAorist (Simple Present) · I protect
- korumalıyımkoru·malı·yımNecessitative · I must protect
- korusamkoru·sa·mConditional · if I protected
- korukoruImperative & Optative · Protect!
- koruyabilirimkoru·yabil·ir·imAbility (can) · I can protect
- koruyordumkoru·yor·du·mPast Continuous · I was protecting
Example sentences with korumak
Common mistakes with korumak
- korur
Vowel stems simply add -r in the aorist: korur, korurum. Don't mix up korur (habit: "he/she protects") with koruyor (right now: "he/she is protecting"). Learn the rule →
- Incorrect: korumazımkorumam
The negative aorist drops its -z in the first person: korumam ("I do not protect"), korumayız — but korumaz, korumazsın. Learn the rule →
- Incorrect: koruyacakımkoruyacağım
The k of -AcAk softens to ğ before a vowel: koruyacağım, koruyacağız — but koruyacak and koruyacaksın keep it. Learn the rule →
Full conjugation of korumak
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 Zamankoruyor
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 | koruyorumI am protecting | korumuyorumI am not protecting | koruyor muyumAm I protecting? | korumuyor muyumAm I not protecting? |
| senyou | koruyorsunyou are protecting | korumuyorsunyou are not protecting | koruyor musunAre you protecting? | korumuyor musunAre you not protecting? |
| ohe/she | koruyorhe/she is protecting | korumuyorhe/she is not protecting | koruyor muIs he/she protecting? | korumuyor muIs he/she not protecting? |
| bizwe | koruyoruzwe are protecting | korumuyoruzwe are not protecting | koruyor muyuzAre we protecting? | korumuyor muyuzAre we not protecting? |
| sizyou (pl.) | koruyorsunuzyou (pl.) are protecting | korumuyorsunuzyou (pl.) are not protecting | koruyor musunuzAre you (pl.) protecting? | korumuyor musunuzAre you (pl.) not protecting? |
| onlarthey | koruyorlarthey are protecting | korumuyorlarthey are not protecting | koruyorlar mıAre they protecting? | korumuyorlar mıAre they not protecting? |
Definite PastGörülen Geçmiş Zamankorudu
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 | korudumI protected | korumadımI did not protect | korudum muDid I protect? | korumadım mıDidn't I protect? |
| senyou | korudunyou protected | korumadınyou did not protect | korudun muDid you protect? | korumadın mıDidn't you protect? |
| ohe/she | koruduhe/she protected | korumadıhe/she did not protect | korudu muDid he/she protect? | korumadı mıDidn't he/she protect? |
| bizwe | korudukwe protected | korumadıkwe did not protect | koruduk muDid we protect? | korumadık mıDidn't we protect? |
| sizyou (pl.) | korudunuzyou (pl.) protected | korumadınızyou (pl.) did not protect | korudunuz muDid you (pl.) protect? | korumadınız mıDidn't you (pl.) protect? |
| onlarthey | korudularthey protected | korumadılarthey did not protect | korudular mıDid they protect? | korumadılar mıDidn't they protect? |
Reported PastÖğrenilen Geçmiş Zamankorumuş
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 | korumuşumI apparently protected | korumamışımI apparently did not protect | korumuş muyumDid I protect? (reportedly) | korumamış mıyımDidn't I protect? (reportedly) |
| senyou | korumuşsunyou apparently protected | korumamışsınyou apparently did not protect | korumuş musunDid you protect? (reportedly) | korumamış mısınDidn't you protect? (reportedly) |
| ohe/she | korumuşhe/she apparently protected | korumamışhe/she apparently did not protect | korumuş muDid he/she protect? (reportedly) | korumamış mıDidn't he/she protect? (reportedly) |
| bizwe | korumuşuzwe apparently protected | korumamışızwe apparently did not protect | korumuş muyuzDid we protect? (reportedly) | korumamış mıyızDidn't we protect? (reportedly) |
| sizyou (pl.) | korumuşsunuzyou (pl.) apparently protected | korumamışsınızyou (pl.) apparently did not protect | korumuş musunuzDid you (pl.) protect? (reportedly) | korumamış mısınızDidn't you (pl.) protect? (reportedly) |
| onlarthey | korumuşlarthey apparently protected | korumamışlarthey apparently did not protect | korumuşlar mıDid they protect? (reportedly) | korumamışlar mıDidn't they protect? (reportedly) |
FutureGelecek Zamankoruyacak
Plans, predictions and decisions about the future. Marker: -(y)AcAk. Grammar guide · Open in the conjugator
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question | Negative question |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| benI | koruyacağımI will protect | korumayacağımI will not protect | koruyacak mıyımWill I protect? | korumayacak mıyımWon't I protect? |
| senyou | koruyacaksınyou will protect | korumayacaksınyou will not protect | koruyacak mısınWill you protect? | korumayacak mısınWon't you protect? |
| ohe/she | koruyacakhe/she will protect | korumayacakhe/she will not protect | koruyacak mıWill he/she protect? | korumayacak mıWon't he/she protect? |
| bizwe | koruyacağızwe will protect | korumayacağızwe will not protect | koruyacak mıyızWill we protect? | korumayacak mıyızWon't we protect? |
| sizyou (pl.) | koruyacaksınızyou (pl.) will protect | korumayacaksınızyou (pl.) will not protect | koruyacak mısınızWill you (pl.) protect? | korumayacak mısınızWon't you (pl.) protect? |
| onlarthey | koruyacaklarthey will protect | korumayacaklarthey will not protect | koruyacaklar mıWill they protect? | korumayacaklar mıWon't they protect? |
Aorist (Simple Present)Geniş Zamankorur
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 | korurumI protect | korumamI do not protect | korur muyumDo I protect? | korumaz mıyımDon't I protect? |
| senyou | korursunyou protect | korumazsınyou do not protect | korur musunDo you protect? | korumaz mısınDon't you protect? |
| ohe/she | korurhe/she protects | korumazhe/she does not protect | korur muDoes he/she protect? | korumaz mıDoesn't he/she protect? |
| bizwe | koruruzwe protect | korumayızwe do not protect | korur muyuzDo we protect? | korumaz mıyızDon't we protect? |
| sizyou (pl.) | korursunuzyou (pl.) protect | korumazsınızyou (pl.) do not protect | korur musunuzDo you (pl.) protect? | korumaz mısınızDon't you (pl.) protect? |
| onlarthey | korurlarthey protect | korumazlarthey do not protect | korurlar mıDo they protect? | korumazlar mıDon't they protect? |
NecessitativeGereklilik Kipikorumalı
Obligation and advice: must, should, ought to. Marker: -mAlI. Grammar guide · Open in the conjugator
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question | Negative question |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| benI | korumalıyımI must protect | korumamalıyımI must not protect | korumalı mıyımMust I protect? | korumamalı mıyımMustn't I protect? |
| senyou | korumalısınyou must protect | korumamalısınyou must not protect | korumalı mısınMust you protect? | korumamalı mısınMustn't you protect? |
| ohe/she | korumalıhe/she must protect | korumamalıhe/she must not protect | korumalı mıMust he/she protect? | korumamalı mıMustn't he/she protect? |
| bizwe | korumalıyızwe must protect | korumamalıyızwe must not protect | korumalı mıyızMust we protect? | korumamalı mıyızMustn't we protect? |
| sizyou (pl.) | korumalısınızyou (pl.) must protect | korumamalısınızyou (pl.) must not protect | korumalı mısınızMust you (pl.) protect? | korumamalı mısınızMustn't you (pl.) protect? |
| onlarthey | korumalılarthey must protect | korumamalılarthey must not protect | korumalılar mıMust they protect? | korumamalılar mıMustn't they protect? |
ConditionalDilek-Şart Kipikorusa
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 | korusamif I protected | korumasamif I did not protect | korusam mıShould I protect? | korumasam mıShould I not protect? |
| senyou | korusanif you protected | korumasanif you did not protect | korusan mıShould you protect? | korumasan mıShould you not protect? |
| ohe/she | korusaif he/she protected | korumasaif he/she did not protect | korusa mıShould he/she protect? | korumasa mıShould he/she not protect? |
| bizwe | korusakif we protected | korumasakif we did not protect | korusak mıShould we protect? | korumasak mıShould we not protect? |
| sizyou (pl.) | korusanızif you (pl.) protected | korumasanızif you (pl.) did not protect | korusanız mıShould you (pl.) protect? | korumasanız mıShould you (pl.) not protect? |
| onlarthey | korusalarif they protected | korumasalarif they did not protect | korusalar mıShould they protect? | korumasalar mıShould they not protect? |
Imperative & OptativeEmir ve İstek Kipikoru
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 | koruyayımlet me protect | korumayayımlet me not protect | koruyayım mıShall I protect? | korumayayım mıShall I not protect? |
| senyou | koruProtect! | korumaDon't protect! | — | — |
| ohe/she | korusunlet him/her protect | korumasınlet him/her not protect | korusun muShall he/she protect? | korumasın mıShall he/she not protect? |
| bizwe | koruyalımlet's protect | korumayalımlet's not protect | koruyalım mıShall we protect? | korumayalım mıShall we not protect? |
| sizyou (pl.) | koruyunProtect! (pl./polite) | korumayınDon't protect! (pl./polite) | — | — |
| onlarthey | korusunlarlet them protect | korumasınlarlet them not protect | korusunlar mıShall they protect? | korumasınlar mıShall they not protect? |
Ability (can)Yeterlilikkoruyabilir
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 | koruyabilirimI can protect | koruyamamI cannot protect | koruyabilir miyimCan I protect? | koruyamaz mıyımCan't I protect? |
| senyou | koruyabilirsinyou can protect | koruyamazsınyou cannot protect | koruyabilir misinCan you protect? | koruyamaz mısınCan't you protect? |
| ohe/she | koruyabilirhe/she can protect | koruyamazhe/she cannot protect | koruyabilir miCan he/she protect? | koruyamaz mıCan't he/she protect? |
| bizwe | koruyabilirizwe can protect | koruyamayızwe cannot protect | koruyabilir miyizCan we protect? | koruyamaz mıyızCan't we protect? |
| sizyou (pl.) | koruyabilirsinizyou (pl.) can protect | koruyamazsınızyou (pl.) cannot protect | koruyabilir misinizCan you (pl.) protect? | koruyamaz mısınızCan't you (pl.) protect? |
| onlarthey | koruyabilirlerthey can protect | koruyamazlarthey cannot protect | koruyabilirler miCan they protect? | koruyamazlar mıCan't they protect? |
Past ContinuousŞimdiki Zamanın Hikâyesikoruyordu
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 | koruyordumI was protecting | korumuyordumI was not protecting | koruyor muydumWas I protecting? | korumuyor muydumWas I not protecting? |
| senyou | koruyordunyou were protecting | korumuyordunyou were not protecting | koruyor muydunWere you protecting? | korumuyor muydunWere you not protecting? |
| ohe/she | koruyorduhe/she was protecting | korumuyorduhe/she was not protecting | koruyor muyduWas he/she protecting? | korumuyor muyduWas he/she not protecting? |
| bizwe | koruyordukwe were protecting | korumuyordukwe were not protecting | koruyor muydukWere we protecting? | korumuyor muydukWere we not protecting? |
| sizyou (pl.) | koruyordunuzyou (pl.) were protecting | korumuyordunuzyou (pl.) were not protecting | koruyor muydunuzWere you (pl.) protecting? | korumuyor muydunuzWere you (pl.) not protecting? |
| onlarthey | koruyorlardıthey were protecting | korumuyorlardıthey were not protecting | koruyorlar mıydıWere they protecting? | korumuyorlar mıydıWere they not protecting? |
Learn the grammar
Frequently asked questions
What is the past tense of korumak?
The definite past (-DI) of korumak is korudum (I protected), korudun, korudu, koruduk, korudunuz, korudular. The negative is korumadım (I did not protect), and the reported past is korumuş (he/she apparently protected).
Is korumak irregular?
No, korumak is a regular verb. Every tense is built from the stem koru- with the standard suffixes: koruyorum, korudum, koruyacağım, and its aorist korur follows the rule.
How do you say "I will protect" in Turkish?
"I will protect" is koruyacağım. "I won't protect" is korumayacağım, and "Will you protect?" is koruyacak mısın? For plans you have already made, Turkish also uses the present continuous: koruyorum.
Practice Korumak Until It's Automatic
Conjugation tables show the forms; the TurkLogic app drills them. Build sentences with common verbs, hear native-speed audio and review with spaced repetition.
Free Download • In-App Purchases