Okumak Conjugation: All Turkish Tenses of 'to read'
okumak means “to read”. Its stem is oku-, so “I am reading” is okuyorum, “I read” is okudum and “I will read” is okuyacağım. Below you'll find every form in 10 tenses and moods, with negatives, questions and English meanings.
Quick facts
- Stem
- oku-infinitive minus -mak
- Meaning
- to read
- Vowel harmony
- back rounded (a / u) — last stem vowel u
- Level
- CEFR A1 · #24 of 247 by frequency
At a glance
One form per tense, split into its suffixes. Tap 🔊 to hear it.
- okuyorumoku·yor·umPresent Continuous · I am reading
- okudumoku·du·mDefinite Past · I read
- okumuşumoku·muş·umReported Past · I apparently read
- okuyacağımoku·yacağ·ımFuture · I will read
- okurumoku·r·umAorist (Simple Present) · I read
- okumalıyımoku·malı·yımNecessitative · I must read
- okusamoku·sa·mConditional · if I read
- okuokuImperative & Optative · Read!
- okuyabilirimoku·yabil·ir·imAbility (can) · I can read
- okuyordumoku·yor·du·mPast Continuous · I was reading
Example sentences with okumak
Common mistakes with okumak
- okur
Vowel stems simply add -r in the aorist: okur, okurum. Don't mix up okur (habit: "he/she reads") with okuyor (right now: "he/she is reading"). Learn the rule →
- Incorrect: okumazımokumam
The negative aorist drops its -z in the first person: okumam ("I do not read"), okumayız — but okumaz, okumazsın. Learn the rule →
- Incorrect: okuyacakımokuyacağım
The k of -AcAk softens to ğ before a vowel: okuyacağım, okuyacağız — but okuyacak and okuyacaksın keep it. Learn the rule →
Full conjugation of okumak
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 Zamanokuyor
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 | okuyorumI am reading | okumuyorumI am not reading | okuyor muyumAm I reading? | okumuyor muyumAm I not reading? |
| senyou | okuyorsunyou are reading | okumuyorsunyou are not reading | okuyor musunAre you reading? | okumuyor musunAre you not reading? |
| ohe/she | okuyorhe/she is reading | okumuyorhe/she is not reading | okuyor muIs he/she reading? | okumuyor muIs he/she not reading? |
| bizwe | okuyoruzwe are reading | okumuyoruzwe are not reading | okuyor muyuzAre we reading? | okumuyor muyuzAre we not reading? |
| sizyou (pl.) | okuyorsunuzyou (pl.) are reading | okumuyorsunuzyou (pl.) are not reading | okuyor musunuzAre you (pl.) reading? | okumuyor musunuzAre you (pl.) not reading? |
| onlarthey | okuyorlarthey are reading | okumuyorlarthey are not reading | okuyorlar mıAre they reading? | okumuyorlar mıAre they not reading? |
Definite PastGörülen Geçmiş Zamanokudu
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 | okudumI read | okumadımI did not read | okudum muDid I read? | okumadım mıDidn't I read? |
| senyou | okudunyou read | okumadınyou did not read | okudun muDid you read? | okumadın mıDidn't you read? |
| ohe/she | okuduhe/she read | okumadıhe/she did not read | okudu muDid he/she read? | okumadı mıDidn't he/she read? |
| bizwe | okudukwe read | okumadıkwe did not read | okuduk muDid we read? | okumadık mıDidn't we read? |
| sizyou (pl.) | okudunuzyou (pl.) read | okumadınızyou (pl.) did not read | okudunuz muDid you (pl.) read? | okumadınız mıDidn't you (pl.) read? |
| onlarthey | okudularthey read | okumadılarthey did not read | okudular mıDid they read? | okumadılar mıDidn't they read? |
Reported PastÖğrenilen Geçmiş Zamanokumuş
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 | okumuşumI apparently read | okumamışımI apparently did not read | okumuş muyumDid I read? (reportedly) | okumamış mıyımDidn't I read? (reportedly) |
| senyou | okumuşsunyou apparently read | okumamışsınyou apparently did not read | okumuş musunDid you read? (reportedly) | okumamış mısınDidn't you read? (reportedly) |
| ohe/she | okumuşhe/she apparently read | okumamışhe/she apparently did not read | okumuş muDid he/she read? (reportedly) | okumamış mıDidn't he/she read? (reportedly) |
| bizwe | okumuşuzwe apparently read | okumamışızwe apparently did not read | okumuş muyuzDid we read? (reportedly) | okumamış mıyızDidn't we read? (reportedly) |
| sizyou (pl.) | okumuşsunuzyou (pl.) apparently read | okumamışsınızyou (pl.) apparently did not read | okumuş musunuzDid you (pl.) read? (reportedly) | okumamış mısınızDidn't you (pl.) read? (reportedly) |
| onlarthey | okumuşlarthey apparently read | okumamışlarthey apparently did not read | okumuşlar mıDid they read? (reportedly) | okumamışlar mıDidn't they read? (reportedly) |
FutureGelecek Zamanokuyacak
Plans, predictions and decisions about the future. Marker: -(y)AcAk. Grammar guide · Open in the conjugator
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question | Negative question |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| benI | okuyacağımI will read | okumayacağımI will not read | okuyacak mıyımWill I read? | okumayacak mıyımWon't I read? |
| senyou | okuyacaksınyou will read | okumayacaksınyou will not read | okuyacak mısınWill you read? | okumayacak mısınWon't you read? |
| ohe/she | okuyacakhe/she will read | okumayacakhe/she will not read | okuyacak mıWill he/she read? | okumayacak mıWon't he/she read? |
| bizwe | okuyacağızwe will read | okumayacağızwe will not read | okuyacak mıyızWill we read? | okumayacak mıyızWon't we read? |
| sizyou (pl.) | okuyacaksınızyou (pl.) will read | okumayacaksınızyou (pl.) will not read | okuyacak mısınızWill you (pl.) read? | okumayacak mısınızWon't you (pl.) read? |
| onlarthey | okuyacaklarthey will read | okumayacaklarthey will not read | okuyacaklar mıWill they read? | okumayacaklar mıWon't they read? |
Aorist (Simple Present)Geniş Zamanokur
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 | okurumI read | okumamI do not read | okur muyumDo I read? | okumaz mıyımDon't I read? |
| senyou | okursunyou read | okumazsınyou do not read | okur musunDo you read? | okumaz mısınDon't you read? |
| ohe/she | okurhe/she reads | okumazhe/she does not read | okur muDoes he/she read? | okumaz mıDoesn't he/she read? |
| bizwe | okuruzwe read | okumayızwe do not read | okur muyuzDo we read? | okumaz mıyızDon't we read? |
| sizyou (pl.) | okursunuzyou (pl.) read | okumazsınızyou (pl.) do not read | okur musunuzDo you (pl.) read? | okumaz mısınızDon't you (pl.) read? |
| onlarthey | okurlarthey read | okumazlarthey do not read | okurlar mıDo they read? | okumazlar mıDon't they read? |
NecessitativeGereklilik Kipiokumalı
Obligation and advice: must, should, ought to. Marker: -mAlI. Grammar guide · Open in the conjugator
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question | Negative question |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| benI | okumalıyımI must read | okumamalıyımI must not read | okumalı mıyımMust I read? | okumamalı mıyımMustn't I read? |
| senyou | okumalısınyou must read | okumamalısınyou must not read | okumalı mısınMust you read? | okumamalı mısınMustn't you read? |
| ohe/she | okumalıhe/she must read | okumamalıhe/she must not read | okumalı mıMust he/she read? | okumamalı mıMustn't he/she read? |
| bizwe | okumalıyızwe must read | okumamalıyızwe must not read | okumalı mıyızMust we read? | okumamalı mıyızMustn't we read? |
| sizyou (pl.) | okumalısınızyou (pl.) must read | okumamalısınızyou (pl.) must not read | okumalı mısınızMust you (pl.) read? | okumamalı mısınızMustn't you (pl.) read? |
| onlarthey | okumalılarthey must read | okumamalılarthey must not read | okumalılar mıMust they read? | okumamalılar mıMustn't they read? |
ConditionalDilek-Şart Kipiokusa
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 | okusamif I read | okumasamif I did not read | okusam mıShould I read? | okumasam mıShould I not read? |
| senyou | okusanif you read | okumasanif you did not read | okusan mıShould you read? | okumasan mıShould you not read? |
| ohe/she | okusaif he/she read | okumasaif he/she did not read | okusa mıShould he/she read? | okumasa mıShould he/she not read? |
| bizwe | okusakif we read | okumasakif we did not read | okusak mıShould we read? | okumasak mıShould we not read? |
| sizyou (pl.) | okusanızif you (pl.) read | okumasanızif you (pl.) did not read | okusanız mıShould you (pl.) read? | okumasanız mıShould you (pl.) not read? |
| onlarthey | okusalarif they read | okumasalarif they did not read | okusalar mıShould they read? | okumasalar mıShould they not read? |
Imperative & OptativeEmir ve İstek Kipioku
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 | okuyayımlet me read | okumayayımlet me not read | okuyayım mıShall I read? | okumayayım mıShall I not read? |
| senyou | okuRead! | okumaDon't read! | — | — |
| ohe/she | okusunlet him/her read | okumasınlet him/her not read | okusun muShall he/she read? | okumasın mıShall he/she not read? |
| bizwe | okuyalımlet's read | okumayalımlet's not read | okuyalım mıShall we read? | okumayalım mıShall we not read? |
| sizyou (pl.) | okuyunRead! (pl./polite) | okumayınDon't read! (pl./polite) | — | — |
| onlarthey | okusunlarlet them read | okumasınlarlet them not read | okusunlar mıShall they read? | okumasınlar mıShall they not read? |
Ability (can)Yeterlilikokuyabilir
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 | okuyabilirimI can read | okuyamamI cannot read | okuyabilir miyimCan I read? | okuyamaz mıyımCan't I read? |
| senyou | okuyabilirsinyou can read | okuyamazsınyou cannot read | okuyabilir misinCan you read? | okuyamaz mısınCan't you read? |
| ohe/she | okuyabilirhe/she can read | okuyamazhe/she cannot read | okuyabilir miCan he/she read? | okuyamaz mıCan't he/she read? |
| bizwe | okuyabilirizwe can read | okuyamayızwe cannot read | okuyabilir miyizCan we read? | okuyamaz mıyızCan't we read? |
| sizyou (pl.) | okuyabilirsinizyou (pl.) can read | okuyamazsınızyou (pl.) cannot read | okuyabilir misinizCan you (pl.) read? | okuyamaz mısınızCan't you (pl.) read? |
| onlarthey | okuyabilirlerthey can read | okuyamazlarthey cannot read | okuyabilirler miCan they read? | okuyamazlar mıCan't they read? |
Past ContinuousŞimdiki Zamanın Hikâyesiokuyordu
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 | okuyordumI was reading | okumuyordumI was not reading | okuyor muydumWas I reading? | okumuyor muydumWas I not reading? |
| senyou | okuyordunyou were reading | okumuyordunyou were not reading | okuyor muydunWere you reading? | okumuyor muydunWere you not reading? |
| ohe/she | okuyorduhe/she was reading | okumuyorduhe/she was not reading | okuyor muyduWas he/she reading? | okumuyor muyduWas he/she not reading? |
| bizwe | okuyordukwe were reading | okumuyordukwe were not reading | okuyor muydukWere we reading? | okumuyor muydukWere we not reading? |
| sizyou (pl.) | okuyordunuzyou (pl.) were reading | okumuyordunuzyou (pl.) were not reading | okuyor muydunuzWere you (pl.) reading? | okumuyor muydunuzWere you (pl.) not reading? |
| onlarthey | okuyorlardıthey were reading | okumuyorlardıthey were not reading | okuyorlar mıydıWere they reading? | okumuyorlar mıydıWere they not reading? |
Related verbs
Learn the grammar
Frequently asked questions
What is the past tense of okumak?
The definite past (-DI) of okumak is okudum (I read), okudun, okudu, okuduk, okudunuz, okudular. The negative is okumadım (I did not read), and the reported past is okumuş (he/she apparently read).
Is okumak irregular?
No, okumak is a regular verb. Every tense is built from the stem oku- with the standard suffixes: okuyorum, okudum, okuyacağım, and its aorist okur follows the rule.
How do you say "I will read" in Turkish?
"I will read" is okuyacağım. "I won't read" is okumayacağım, and "Will you read?" is okuyacak mısın? For plans you have already made, Turkish also uses the present continuous: okuyorum.
Practice Okumak Until It's Automatic
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