Olmak Conjugation: All Turkish Tenses of 'to be, to become'
olmak means “to be, to become”. Its stem is ol-, so “I am becoming” is oluyorum, “I became” is oldum and “I will become” is olacağım. Below you'll find every form in 10 tenses and moods, with negatives, questions and English meanings.
Quick facts
- Stem
- ol-infinitive minus -mak
- Meaning
- to be, to become
- Aorist
- olur-ir / -ır / -ur / -ür — irregular: one of the 13 one-syllable stems that take -Ir instead of -Ar
- Vowel harmony
- back rounded (a / u) — last stem vowel o
- Level
- CEFR A1 · #1 of 247 by frequency
At a glance
One form per tense, split into its suffixes. Tap 🔊 to hear it.
- oluyorumol·uyor·umPresent Continuous · I am becoming
- oldumol·du·mDefinite Past · I became
- olmuşumol·muş·umReported Past · I apparently became
- olacağımol·acağ·ımFuture · I will become
- olurumol·ur·umAorist (Simple Present) · I become
- olmalıyımol·malı·yımNecessitative · I must become
- olsamol·sa·mConditional · if I became
- ololImperative & Optative · Become!
- olabilirimol·abil·ir·imAbility (can) · I can become
- oluyordumol·uyor·du·mPast Continuous · I was becoming
Example sentences with olmak
Sabırlı olmalısın, her şey yoluna girecek.
You must be patient; everything will work out.
Necessitative
Common mistakes with olmak
- Incorrect: Öğretmen oluyorum.Öğretmenim.
For "I am a teacher" Turkish uses a personal suffix, not olmak. Öğretmen oluyorum means "I am becoming a teacher"; olmak supplies the tenses the suffixes lack, e.g. the future öğretmen olacağım.
- Incorrect: olarolur
Olmak is one of only 13 one-syllable verbs that take -Ir in the aorist instead of -Ar: olur, olurum, oluruz. Learn the rule →
- Incorrect: olmazımolmam
The negative aorist drops its -z in the first person: olmam ("I do not become"), olmayız — but olmaz, olmazsın. Learn the rule →
Full conjugation of olmak
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 Zamanoluyor
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 | oluyorumI am becoming | olmuyorumI am not becoming | oluyor muyumAm I becoming? | olmuyor muyumAm I not becoming? |
| senyou | oluyorsunyou are becoming | olmuyorsunyou are not becoming | oluyor musunAre you becoming? | olmuyor musunAre you not becoming? |
| ohe/she | oluyorhe/she is becoming | olmuyorhe/she is not becoming | oluyor muIs he/she becoming? | olmuyor muIs he/she not becoming? |
| bizwe | oluyoruzwe are becoming | olmuyoruzwe are not becoming | oluyor muyuzAre we becoming? | olmuyor muyuzAre we not becoming? |
| sizyou (pl.) | oluyorsunuzyou (pl.) are becoming | olmuyorsunuzyou (pl.) are not becoming | oluyor musunuzAre you (pl.) becoming? | olmuyor musunuzAre you (pl.) not becoming? |
| onlarthey | oluyorlarthey are becoming | olmuyorlarthey are not becoming | oluyorlar mıAre they becoming? | olmuyorlar mıAre they not becoming? |
Definite PastGörülen Geçmiş Zamanoldu
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 | oldumI became | olmadımI did not become | oldum muDid I become? | olmadım mıDidn't I become? |
| senyou | oldunyou became | olmadınyou did not become | oldun muDid you become? | olmadın mıDidn't you become? |
| ohe/she | olduhe/she became | olmadıhe/she did not become | oldu muDid he/she become? | olmadı mıDidn't he/she become? |
| bizwe | oldukwe became | olmadıkwe did not become | olduk muDid we become? | olmadık mıDidn't we become? |
| sizyou (pl.) | oldunuzyou (pl.) became | olmadınızyou (pl.) did not become | oldunuz muDid you (pl.) become? | olmadınız mıDidn't you (pl.) become? |
| onlarthey | oldularthey became | olmadılarthey did not become | oldular mıDid they become? | olmadılar mıDidn't they become? |
Reported PastÖğrenilen Geçmiş Zamanolmuş
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 | olmuşumI apparently became | olmamışımI apparently did not become | olmuş muyumDid I become? (reportedly) | olmamış mıyımDidn't I become? (reportedly) |
| senyou | olmuşsunyou apparently became | olmamışsınyou apparently did not become | olmuş musunDid you become? (reportedly) | olmamış mısınDidn't you become? (reportedly) |
| ohe/she | olmuşhe/she apparently became | olmamışhe/she apparently did not become | olmuş muDid he/she become? (reportedly) | olmamış mıDidn't he/she become? (reportedly) |
| bizwe | olmuşuzwe apparently became | olmamışızwe apparently did not become | olmuş muyuzDid we become? (reportedly) | olmamış mıyızDidn't we become? (reportedly) |
| sizyou (pl.) | olmuşsunuzyou (pl.) apparently became | olmamışsınızyou (pl.) apparently did not become | olmuş musunuzDid you (pl.) become? (reportedly) | olmamış mısınızDidn't you (pl.) become? (reportedly) |
| onlarthey | olmuşlarthey apparently became | olmamışlarthey apparently did not become | olmuşlar mıDid they become? (reportedly) | olmamışlar mıDidn't they become? (reportedly) |
FutureGelecek Zamanolacak
Plans, predictions and decisions about the future. Marker: -(y)AcAk. Grammar guide · Open in the conjugator
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question | Negative question |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| benI | olacağımI will become | olmayacağımI will not become | olacak mıyımWill I become? | olmayacak mıyımWon't I become? |
| senyou | olacaksınyou will become | olmayacaksınyou will not become | olacak mısınWill you become? | olmayacak mısınWon't you become? |
| ohe/she | olacakhe/she will become | olmayacakhe/she will not become | olacak mıWill he/she become? | olmayacak mıWon't he/she become? |
| bizwe | olacağızwe will become | olmayacağızwe will not become | olacak mıyızWill we become? | olmayacak mıyızWon't we become? |
| sizyou (pl.) | olacaksınızyou (pl.) will become | olmayacaksınızyou (pl.) will not become | olacak mısınızWill you (pl.) become? | olmayacak mısınızWon't you (pl.) become? |
| onlarthey | olacaklarthey will become | olmayacaklarthey will not become | olacaklar mıWill they become? | olmayacaklar mıWon't they become? |
Aorist (Simple Present)Geniş Zamanolur
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 | olurumI become | olmamI do not become | olur muyumDo I become? | olmaz mıyımDon't I become? |
| senyou | olursunyou become | olmazsınyou do not become | olur musunDo you become? | olmaz mısınDon't you become? |
| ohe/she | olurhe/she becomes | olmazhe/she does not become | olur muDoes he/she become? | olmaz mıDoesn't he/she become? |
| bizwe | oluruzwe become | olmayızwe do not become | olur muyuzDo we become? | olmaz mıyızDon't we become? |
| sizyou (pl.) | olursunuzyou (pl.) become | olmazsınızyou (pl.) do not become | olur musunuzDo you (pl.) become? | olmaz mısınızDon't you (pl.) become? |
| onlarthey | olurlarthey become | olmazlarthey do not become | olurlar mıDo they become? | olmazlar mıDon't they become? |
NecessitativeGereklilik Kipiolmalı
Obligation and advice: must, should, ought to. Marker: -mAlI. Grammar guide · Open in the conjugator
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question | Negative question |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| benI | olmalıyımI must become | olmamalıyımI must not become | olmalı mıyımMust I become? | olmamalı mıyımMustn't I become? |
| senyou | olmalısınyou must become | olmamalısınyou must not become | olmalı mısınMust you become? | olmamalı mısınMustn't you become? |
| ohe/she | olmalıhe/she must become | olmamalıhe/she must not become | olmalı mıMust he/she become? | olmamalı mıMustn't he/she become? |
| bizwe | olmalıyızwe must become | olmamalıyızwe must not become | olmalı mıyızMust we become? | olmamalı mıyızMustn't we become? |
| sizyou (pl.) | olmalısınızyou (pl.) must become | olmamalısınızyou (pl.) must not become | olmalı mısınızMust you (pl.) become? | olmamalı mısınızMustn't you (pl.) become? |
| onlarthey | olmalılarthey must become | olmamalılarthey must not become | olmalılar mıMust they become? | olmamalılar mıMustn't they become? |
ConditionalDilek-Şart Kipiolsa
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 | olsamif I became | olmasamif I did not become | olsam mıShould I become? | olmasam mıShould I not become? |
| senyou | olsanif you became | olmasanif you did not become | olsan mıShould you become? | olmasan mıShould you not become? |
| ohe/she | olsaif he/she became | olmasaif he/she did not become | olsa mıShould he/she become? | olmasa mıShould he/she not become? |
| bizwe | olsakif we became | olmasakif we did not become | olsak mıShould we become? | olmasak mıShould we not become? |
| sizyou (pl.) | olsanızif you (pl.) became | olmasanızif you (pl.) did not become | olsanız mıShould you (pl.) become? | olmasanız mıShould you (pl.) not become? |
| onlarthey | olsalarif they became | olmasalarif they did not become | olsalar mıShould they become? | olmasalar mıShould they not become? |
Imperative & OptativeEmir ve İstek Kipiol
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 | olayımlet me become | olmayayımlet me not become | olayım mıShall I become? | olmayayım mıShall I not become? |
| senyou | olBecome! | olmaDon't become! | — | — |
| ohe/she | olsunlet him/her become | olmasınlet him/her not become | olsun muShall he/she become? | olmasın mıShall he/she not become? |
| bizwe | olalımlet's become | olmayalımlet's not become | olalım mıShall we become? | olmayalım mıShall we not become? |
| sizyou (pl.) | olunBecome! (pl./polite) | olmayınDon't become! (pl./polite) | — | — |
| onlarthey | olsunlarlet them become | olmasınlarlet them not become | olsunlar mıShall they become? | olmasınlar mıShall they not become? |
Ability (can)Yeterlilikolabilir
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 | olabilirimI can become | olamamI cannot become | olabilir miyimCan I become? | olamaz mıyımCan't I become? |
| senyou | olabilirsinyou can become | olamazsınyou cannot become | olabilir misinCan you become? | olamaz mısınCan't you become? |
| ohe/she | olabilirhe/she can become | olamazhe/she cannot become | olabilir miCan he/she become? | olamaz mıCan't he/she become? |
| bizwe | olabilirizwe can become | olamayızwe cannot become | olabilir miyizCan we become? | olamaz mıyızCan't we become? |
| sizyou (pl.) | olabilirsinizyou (pl.) can become | olamazsınızyou (pl.) cannot become | olabilir misinizCan you (pl.) become? | olamaz mısınızCan't you (pl.) become? |
| onlarthey | olabilirlerthey can become | olamazlarthey cannot become | olabilirler miCan they become? | olamazlar mıCan't they become? |
Past ContinuousŞimdiki Zamanın Hikâyesioluyordu
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 | oluyordumI was becoming | olmuyordumI was not becoming | oluyor muydumWas I becoming? | olmuyor muydumWas I not becoming? |
| senyou | oluyordunyou were becoming | olmuyordunyou were not becoming | oluyor muydunWere you becoming? | olmuyor muydunWere you not becoming? |
| ohe/she | oluyorduhe/she was becoming | olmuyorduhe/she was not becoming | oluyor muyduWas he/she becoming? | olmuyor muyduWas he/she not becoming? |
| bizwe | oluyordukwe were becoming | olmuyordukwe were not becoming | oluyor muydukWere we becoming? | olmuyor muydukWere we not becoming? |
| sizyou (pl.) | oluyordunuzyou (pl.) were becoming | olmuyordunuzyou (pl.) were not becoming | oluyor muydunuzWere you (pl.) becoming? | olmuyor muydunuzWere you (pl.) not becoming? |
| onlarthey | oluyorlardıthey were becoming | olmuyorlardıthey were not becoming | oluyorlar mıydıWere they becoming? | olmuyorlar mıydıWere they not becoming? |
Related verbs
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Frequently asked questions
What is the past tense of olmak?
The definite past (-DI) of olmak is oldum (I became), oldun, oldu, olduk, oldunuz, oldular. The negative is olmadım (I did not become), and the reported past is olmuş (he/she apparently became).
Is olmak irregular?
Only in the aorist (simple present). One-syllable stems normally take -Ar, but olmak is one of 13 exceptions that take -Ir: olur, olurum; negative olmam. Every other tense is regular: oluyorum, oldum, olacağım.
How do you say "I will become" in Turkish?
"I will become" is olacağım. "I won't become" is olmayacağım, and "Will you become?" is olacak mısın? For plans you have already made, Turkish also uses the present continuous: oluyorum.
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