Merak etmek Conjugation: All Turkish Tenses of 'to wonder, to be curious'
merak etmek means “to wonder, to be curious”. Its stem is merak et-, so “I am wondering” is merak ediyorum, “I wondered” is merak ettim and “I will wonder” is merak edeceğim. Below you'll find every form in 10 tenses and moods, with negatives, questions and English meanings.
Quick facts
- Stem
- merak et-infinitive minus -mek
- Meaning
- to wonder, to be curious
- Aorist
- merak eder-er / -ar — regular: one-syllable stems take -Ar
- Vowel harmony
- front unrounded (e / i) — last stem vowel e
- Consonant softening
- et- → ed-t becomes d before a vowel (merak ediyorum), stays t before a consonant (merak ettim)
- Level
- CEFR B1 · #193 of 247 by frequency
At a glance
One form per tense, split into its suffixes. Tap 🔊 to hear it.
- merak ediyorummerak ed·iyor·umPresent Continuous · I am wondering
- merak ettimmerak et·ti·mDefinite Past · I wondered
- merak etmişimmerak et·miş·imReported Past · I apparently wondered
- merak edeceğimmerak ed·eceğ·imFuture · I will wonder
- merak ederimmerak ed·er·imAorist (Simple Present) · I wonder
- merak etmeliyimmerak et·meli·yimNecessitative · I must wonder
- merak etsemmerak et·se·mConditional · if I wondered
- merak etmerak etImperative & Optative · Wonder!
- merak edebilirimmerak ed·ebil·ir·imAbility (can) · I can wonder
- merak ediyordummerak ed·iyor·du·mPast Continuous · I was wondering
Example sentences with merak etmek
Common mistakes with merak etmek
- Incorrect: merak etiyorummerak ediyorum
The final t of et- softens to d before a vowel: merak ediyorum, merak edeceğim, merak eder — but it stays t before a consonant: merak ettim, merak etmeliyim. Learn the rule →
- Incorrect: merak edirmerak eder
One-syllable stems take -Ar in the aorist: merak eder, merak ederim. Only 13 verbs such as gelir and alır break this rule. Learn the rule →
- Incorrect: merak etmezimmerak etmem
The negative aorist drops its -z in the first person: merak etmem ("I do not wonder"), merak etmeyiz — but merak etmez, merak etmezsin. Learn the rule →
Full conjugation of merak etmek
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 Zamanmerak ediyor
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 | merak ediyorumI am wondering | merak etmiyorumI am not wondering | merak ediyor muyumAm I wondering? | merak etmiyor muyumAm I not wondering? |
| senyou | merak ediyorsunyou are wondering | merak etmiyorsunyou are not wondering | merak ediyor musunAre you wondering? | merak etmiyor musunAre you not wondering? |
| ohe/she | merak ediyorhe/she is wondering | merak etmiyorhe/she is not wondering | merak ediyor muIs he/she wondering? | merak etmiyor muIs he/she not wondering? |
| bizwe | merak ediyoruzwe are wondering | merak etmiyoruzwe are not wondering | merak ediyor muyuzAre we wondering? | merak etmiyor muyuzAre we not wondering? |
| sizyou (pl.) | merak ediyorsunuzyou (pl.) are wondering | merak etmiyorsunuzyou (pl.) are not wondering | merak ediyor musunuzAre you (pl.) wondering? | merak etmiyor musunuzAre you (pl.) not wondering? |
| onlarthey | merak ediyorlarthey are wondering | merak etmiyorlarthey are not wondering | merak ediyorlar mıAre they wondering? | merak etmiyorlar mıAre they not wondering? |
Definite PastGörülen Geçmiş Zamanmerak etti
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 | merak ettimI wondered | merak etmedimI did not wonder | merak ettim miDid I wonder? | merak etmedim miDidn't I wonder? |
| senyou | merak ettinyou wondered | merak etmedinyou did not wonder | merak ettin miDid you wonder? | merak etmedin miDidn't you wonder? |
| ohe/she | merak ettihe/she wondered | merak etmedihe/she did not wonder | merak etti miDid he/she wonder? | merak etmedi miDidn't he/she wonder? |
| bizwe | merak ettikwe wondered | merak etmedikwe did not wonder | merak ettik miDid we wonder? | merak etmedik miDidn't we wonder? |
| sizyou (pl.) | merak ettinizyou (pl.) wondered | merak etmedinizyou (pl.) did not wonder | merak ettiniz miDid you (pl.) wonder? | merak etmediniz miDidn't you (pl.) wonder? |
| onlarthey | merak ettilerthey wondered | merak etmedilerthey did not wonder | merak ettiler miDid they wonder? | merak etmediler miDidn't they wonder? |
Reported PastÖğrenilen Geçmiş Zamanmerak etmiş
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 | merak etmişimI apparently wondered | merak etmemişimI apparently did not wonder | merak etmiş miyimDid I wonder? (reportedly) | merak etmemiş miyimDidn't I wonder? (reportedly) |
| senyou | merak etmişsinyou apparently wondered | merak etmemişsinyou apparently did not wonder | merak etmiş misinDid you wonder? (reportedly) | merak etmemiş misinDidn't you wonder? (reportedly) |
| ohe/she | merak etmişhe/she apparently wondered | merak etmemişhe/she apparently did not wonder | merak etmiş miDid he/she wonder? (reportedly) | merak etmemiş miDidn't he/she wonder? (reportedly) |
| bizwe | merak etmişizwe apparently wondered | merak etmemişizwe apparently did not wonder | merak etmiş miyizDid we wonder? (reportedly) | merak etmemiş miyizDidn't we wonder? (reportedly) |
| sizyou (pl.) | merak etmişsinizyou (pl.) apparently wondered | merak etmemişsinizyou (pl.) apparently did not wonder | merak etmiş misinizDid you (pl.) wonder? (reportedly) | merak etmemiş misinizDidn't you (pl.) wonder? (reportedly) |
| onlarthey | merak etmişlerthey apparently wondered | merak etmemişlerthey apparently did not wonder | merak etmişler miDid they wonder? (reportedly) | merak etmemişler miDidn't they wonder? (reportedly) |
FutureGelecek Zamanmerak edecek
Plans, predictions and decisions about the future. Marker: -(y)AcAk. Grammar guide · Open in the conjugator
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question | Negative question |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| benI | merak edeceğimI will wonder | merak etmeyeceğimI will not wonder | merak edecek miyimWill I wonder? | merak etmeyecek miyimWon't I wonder? |
| senyou | merak edeceksinyou will wonder | merak etmeyeceksinyou will not wonder | merak edecek misinWill you wonder? | merak etmeyecek misinWon't you wonder? |
| ohe/she | merak edecekhe/she will wonder | merak etmeyecekhe/she will not wonder | merak edecek miWill he/she wonder? | merak etmeyecek miWon't he/she wonder? |
| bizwe | merak edeceğizwe will wonder | merak etmeyeceğizwe will not wonder | merak edecek miyizWill we wonder? | merak etmeyecek miyizWon't we wonder? |
| sizyou (pl.) | merak edeceksinizyou (pl.) will wonder | merak etmeyeceksinizyou (pl.) will not wonder | merak edecek misinizWill you (pl.) wonder? | merak etmeyecek misinizWon't you (pl.) wonder? |
| onlarthey | merak edeceklerthey will wonder | merak etmeyeceklerthey will not wonder | merak edecekler miWill they wonder? | merak etmeyecekler miWon't they wonder? |
Aorist (Simple Present)Geniş Zamanmerak eder
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 | merak ederimI wonder | merak etmemI do not wonder | merak eder miyimDo I wonder? | merak etmez miyimDon't I wonder? |
| senyou | merak edersinyou wonder | merak etmezsinyou do not wonder | merak eder misinDo you wonder? | merak etmez misinDon't you wonder? |
| ohe/she | merak ederhe/she wonders | merak etmezhe/she does not wonder | merak eder miDoes he/she wonder? | merak etmez miDoesn't he/she wonder? |
| bizwe | merak ederizwe wonder | merak etmeyizwe do not wonder | merak eder miyizDo we wonder? | merak etmez miyizDon't we wonder? |
| sizyou (pl.) | merak edersinizyou (pl.) wonder | merak etmezsinizyou (pl.) do not wonder | merak eder misinizDo you (pl.) wonder? | merak etmez misinizDon't you (pl.) wonder? |
| onlarthey | merak ederlerthey wonder | merak etmezlerthey do not wonder | merak ederler miDo they wonder? | merak etmezler miDon't they wonder? |
NecessitativeGereklilik Kipimerak etmeli
Obligation and advice: must, should, ought to. Marker: -mAlI. Grammar guide · Open in the conjugator
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question | Negative question |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| benI | merak etmeliyimI must wonder | merak etmemeliyimI must not wonder | merak etmeli miyimMust I wonder? | merak etmemeli miyimMustn't I wonder? |
| senyou | merak etmelisinyou must wonder | merak etmemelisinyou must not wonder | merak etmeli misinMust you wonder? | merak etmemeli misinMustn't you wonder? |
| ohe/she | merak etmelihe/she must wonder | merak etmemelihe/she must not wonder | merak etmeli miMust he/she wonder? | merak etmemeli miMustn't he/she wonder? |
| bizwe | merak etmeliyizwe must wonder | merak etmemeliyizwe must not wonder | merak etmeli miyizMust we wonder? | merak etmemeli miyizMustn't we wonder? |
| sizyou (pl.) | merak etmelisinizyou (pl.) must wonder | merak etmemelisinizyou (pl.) must not wonder | merak etmeli misinizMust you (pl.) wonder? | merak etmemeli misinizMustn't you (pl.) wonder? |
| onlarthey | merak etmelilerthey must wonder | merak etmemelilerthey must not wonder | merak etmeliler miMust they wonder? | merak etmemeliler miMustn't they wonder? |
ConditionalDilek-Şart Kipimerak etse
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 | merak etsemif I wondered | merak etmesemif I did not wonder | merak etsem miShould I wonder? | merak etmesem miShould I not wonder? |
| senyou | merak etsenif you wondered | merak etmesenif you did not wonder | merak etsen miShould you wonder? | merak etmesen miShould you not wonder? |
| ohe/she | merak etseif he/she wondered | merak etmeseif he/she did not wonder | merak etse miShould he/she wonder? | merak etmese miShould he/she not wonder? |
| bizwe | merak etsekif we wondered | merak etmesekif we did not wonder | merak etsek miShould we wonder? | merak etmesek miShould we not wonder? |
| sizyou (pl.) | merak etsenizif you (pl.) wondered | merak etmesenizif you (pl.) did not wonder | merak etseniz miShould you (pl.) wonder? | merak etmeseniz miShould you (pl.) not wonder? |
| onlarthey | merak etselerif they wondered | merak etmeselerif they did not wonder | merak etseler miShould they wonder? | merak etmeseler miShould they not wonder? |
Imperative & OptativeEmir ve İstek Kipimerak et
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 | merak edeyimlet me wonder | merak etmeyeyimlet me not wonder | merak edeyim miShall I wonder? | merak etmeyeyim miShall I not wonder? |
| senyou | merak etWonder! | merak etmeDon't wonder! | — | — |
| ohe/she | merak etsinlet him/her wonder | merak etmesinlet him/her not wonder | merak etsin miShall he/she wonder? | merak etmesin miShall he/she not wonder? |
| bizwe | merak edelimlet's wonder | merak etmeyelimlet's not wonder | merak edelim miShall we wonder? | merak etmeyelim miShall we not wonder? |
| sizyou (pl.) | merak edinWonder! (pl./polite) | merak etmeyinDon't wonder! (pl./polite) | — | — |
| onlarthey | merak etsinlerlet them wonder | merak etmesinlerlet them not wonder | merak etsinler miShall they wonder? | merak etmesinler miShall they not wonder? |
Ability (can)Yeterlilikmerak edebilir
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 | merak edebilirimI can wonder | merak edememI cannot wonder | merak edebilir miyimCan I wonder? | merak edemez miyimCan't I wonder? |
| senyou | merak edebilirsinyou can wonder | merak edemezsinyou cannot wonder | merak edebilir misinCan you wonder? | merak edemez misinCan't you wonder? |
| ohe/she | merak edebilirhe/she can wonder | merak edemezhe/she cannot wonder | merak edebilir miCan he/she wonder? | merak edemez miCan't he/she wonder? |
| bizwe | merak edebilirizwe can wonder | merak edemeyizwe cannot wonder | merak edebilir miyizCan we wonder? | merak edemez miyizCan't we wonder? |
| sizyou (pl.) | merak edebilirsinizyou (pl.) can wonder | merak edemezsinizyou (pl.) cannot wonder | merak edebilir misinizCan you (pl.) wonder? | merak edemez misinizCan't you (pl.) wonder? |
| onlarthey | merak edebilirlerthey can wonder | merak edemezlerthey cannot wonder | merak edebilirler miCan they wonder? | merak edemezler miCan't they wonder? |
Past ContinuousŞimdiki Zamanın Hikâyesimerak ediyordu
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 | merak ediyordumI was wondering | merak etmiyordumI was not wondering | merak ediyor muydumWas I wondering? | merak etmiyor muydumWas I not wondering? |
| senyou | merak ediyordunyou were wondering | merak etmiyordunyou were not wondering | merak ediyor muydunWere you wondering? | merak etmiyor muydunWere you not wondering? |
| ohe/she | merak ediyorduhe/she was wondering | merak etmiyorduhe/she was not wondering | merak ediyor muyduWas he/she wondering? | merak etmiyor muyduWas he/she not wondering? |
| bizwe | merak ediyordukwe were wondering | merak etmiyordukwe were not wondering | merak ediyor muydukWere we wondering? | merak etmiyor muydukWere we not wondering? |
| sizyou (pl.) | merak ediyordunuzyou (pl.) were wondering | merak etmiyordunuzyou (pl.) were not wondering | merak ediyor muydunuzWere you (pl.) wondering? | merak etmiyor muydunuzWere you (pl.) not wondering? |
| onlarthey | merak ediyorlardıthey were wondering | merak etmiyorlardıthey were not wondering | merak ediyorlar mıydıWere they wondering? | merak etmiyorlar mıydıWere they not wondering? |
Related verbs
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Frequently asked questions
What is the past tense of merak etmek?
The definite past (-DI) of merak etmek is merak ettim (I wondered), merak ettin, merak etti, merak ettik, merak ettiniz, merak ettiler. The negative is merak etmedim (I did not wonder), and the reported past is merak etmiş (he/she apparently wondered).
Is merak etmek irregular?
Its endings are regular, but the stem changes: et- becomes ed- before a vowel (merak ediyorum, merak edeceğim, merak eder) and stays et- before a consonant (merak ettim, merak etmeliyim). Only a few verbs soften like this: gitmek, etmek and its compounds, and tatmak.
How do you say "I will wonder" in Turkish?
"I will wonder" is merak edeceğim. "I won't wonder" is merak etmeyeceğim, and "Will you wonder?" is merak edecek misin? For plans you have already made, Turkish also uses the present continuous: merak ediyorum.
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