Yemek Conjugation: All Turkish Tenses of 'to eat'
yemek means “to eat”. Its stem is ye-, so “I am eating” is yiyorum, “I ate” is yedim and “I will eat” is yiyeceğim. Below you'll find every form in 10 tenses and moods, with negatives, questions and English meanings.
Quick facts
- Stem
- ye-infinitive minus -mek
- Meaning
- to eat
- Vowel harmony
- front unrounded (e / i) — last stem vowel e
- Vowel raising
- ye- → yi-before y: yiyorum, yiyeceğim
- Level
- CEFR A1 · #26 of 247 by frequency
At a glance
One form per tense, split into its suffixes. Tap 🔊 to hear it.
- yiyorumyi·yor·umPresent Continuous · I am eating
- yedimye·di·mDefinite Past · I ate
- yemişimye·miş·imReported Past · I apparently ate
- yiyeceğimyi·yeceğ·imFuture · I will eat
- yerimye·r·imAorist (Simple Present) · I eat
- yemeliyimye·meli·yimNecessitative · I must eat
- yesemye·se·mConditional · if I ate
- yeyeImperative & Optative · Eat!
- yiyebilirimyi·yebil·ir·imAbility (can) · I can eat
- yiyordumyi·yor·du·mPast Continuous · I was eating
Example sentences with yemek
Common mistakes with yemek
- Incorrect: yeyorumyiyorum
The e of ye- turns into i before y: yiyorum, yiyeceğim, yiyemem. Elsewhere it stays e: yedim, yer.
- yer
Vowel stems simply add -r in the aorist: yer, yerim. Don't mix up yer (habit: "he/she eats") with yiyor (right now: "he/she is eating"). Learn the rule →
- Incorrect: yemezimyemem
The negative aorist drops its -z in the first person: yemem ("I do not eat"), yemeyiz — but yemez, yemezsin. Learn the rule →
Full conjugation of yemek
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 Zamanyiyor
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 | yiyorumI am eating | yemiyorumI am not eating | yiyor muyumAm I eating? | yemiyor muyumAm I not eating? |
| senyou | yiyorsunyou are eating | yemiyorsunyou are not eating | yiyor musunAre you eating? | yemiyor musunAre you not eating? |
| ohe/she | yiyorhe/she is eating | yemiyorhe/she is not eating | yiyor muIs he/she eating? | yemiyor muIs he/she not eating? |
| bizwe | yiyoruzwe are eating | yemiyoruzwe are not eating | yiyor muyuzAre we eating? | yemiyor muyuzAre we not eating? |
| sizyou (pl.) | yiyorsunuzyou (pl.) are eating | yemiyorsunuzyou (pl.) are not eating | yiyor musunuzAre you (pl.) eating? | yemiyor musunuzAre you (pl.) not eating? |
| onlarthey | yiyorlarthey are eating | yemiyorlarthey are not eating | yiyorlar mıAre they eating? | yemiyorlar mıAre they not eating? |
Definite PastGörülen Geçmiş Zamanyedi
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 | yedimI ate | yemedimI did not eat | yedim miDid I eat? | yemedim miDidn't I eat? |
| senyou | yedinyou ate | yemedinyou did not eat | yedin miDid you eat? | yemedin miDidn't you eat? |
| ohe/she | yedihe/she ate | yemedihe/she did not eat | yedi miDid he/she eat? | yemedi miDidn't he/she eat? |
| bizwe | yedikwe ate | yemedikwe did not eat | yedik miDid we eat? | yemedik miDidn't we eat? |
| sizyou (pl.) | yedinizyou (pl.) ate | yemedinizyou (pl.) did not eat | yediniz miDid you (pl.) eat? | yemediniz miDidn't you (pl.) eat? |
| onlarthey | yedilerthey ate | yemedilerthey did not eat | yediler miDid they eat? | yemediler miDidn't they eat? |
Reported PastÖğrenilen Geçmiş Zamanyemiş
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 | yemişimI apparently ate | yememişimI apparently did not eat | yemiş miyimDid I eat? (reportedly) | yememiş miyimDidn't I eat? (reportedly) |
| senyou | yemişsinyou apparently ate | yememişsinyou apparently did not eat | yemiş misinDid you eat? (reportedly) | yememiş misinDidn't you eat? (reportedly) |
| ohe/she | yemişhe/she apparently ate | yememişhe/she apparently did not eat | yemiş miDid he/she eat? (reportedly) | yememiş miDidn't he/she eat? (reportedly) |
| bizwe | yemişizwe apparently ate | yememişizwe apparently did not eat | yemiş miyizDid we eat? (reportedly) | yememiş miyizDidn't we eat? (reportedly) |
| sizyou (pl.) | yemişsinizyou (pl.) apparently ate | yememişsinizyou (pl.) apparently did not eat | yemiş misinizDid you (pl.) eat? (reportedly) | yememiş misinizDidn't you (pl.) eat? (reportedly) |
| onlarthey | yemişlerthey apparently ate | yememişlerthey apparently did not eat | yemişler miDid they eat? (reportedly) | yememişler miDidn't they eat? (reportedly) |
FutureGelecek Zamanyiyecek
Plans, predictions and decisions about the future. Marker: -(y)AcAk. Grammar guide · Open in the conjugator
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question | Negative question |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| benI | yiyeceğimI will eat | yemeyeceğimI will not eat | yiyecek miyimWill I eat? | yemeyecek miyimWon't I eat? |
| senyou | yiyeceksinyou will eat | yemeyeceksinyou will not eat | yiyecek misinWill you eat? | yemeyecek misinWon't you eat? |
| ohe/she | yiyecekhe/she will eat | yemeyecekhe/she will not eat | yiyecek miWill he/she eat? | yemeyecek miWon't he/she eat? |
| bizwe | yiyeceğizwe will eat | yemeyeceğizwe will not eat | yiyecek miyizWill we eat? | yemeyecek miyizWon't we eat? |
| sizyou (pl.) | yiyeceksinizyou (pl.) will eat | yemeyeceksinizyou (pl.) will not eat | yiyecek misinizWill you (pl.) eat? | yemeyecek misinizWon't you (pl.) eat? |
| onlarthey | yiyeceklerthey will eat | yemeyeceklerthey will not eat | yiyecekler miWill they eat? | yemeyecekler miWon't they eat? |
Aorist (Simple Present)Geniş Zamanyer
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 | yerimI eat | yememI do not eat | yer miyimDo I eat? | yemez miyimDon't I eat? |
| senyou | yersinyou eat | yemezsinyou do not eat | yer misinDo you eat? | yemez misinDon't you eat? |
| ohe/she | yerhe/she eats | yemezhe/she does not eat | yer miDoes he/she eat? | yemez miDoesn't he/she eat? |
| bizwe | yerizwe eat | yemeyizwe do not eat | yer miyizDo we eat? | yemez miyizDon't we eat? |
| sizyou (pl.) | yersinizyou (pl.) eat | yemezsinizyou (pl.) do not eat | yer misinizDo you (pl.) eat? | yemez misinizDon't you (pl.) eat? |
| onlarthey | yerlerthey eat | yemezlerthey do not eat | yerler miDo they eat? | yemezler miDon't they eat? |
NecessitativeGereklilik Kipiyemeli
Obligation and advice: must, should, ought to. Marker: -mAlI. Grammar guide · Open in the conjugator
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question | Negative question |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| benI | yemeliyimI must eat | yememeliyimI must not eat | yemeli miyimMust I eat? | yememeli miyimMustn't I eat? |
| senyou | yemelisinyou must eat | yememelisinyou must not eat | yemeli misinMust you eat? | yememeli misinMustn't you eat? |
| ohe/she | yemelihe/she must eat | yememelihe/she must not eat | yemeli miMust he/she eat? | yememeli miMustn't he/she eat? |
| bizwe | yemeliyizwe must eat | yememeliyizwe must not eat | yemeli miyizMust we eat? | yememeli miyizMustn't we eat? |
| sizyou (pl.) | yemelisinizyou (pl.) must eat | yememelisinizyou (pl.) must not eat | yemeli misinizMust you (pl.) eat? | yememeli misinizMustn't you (pl.) eat? |
| onlarthey | yemelilerthey must eat | yememelilerthey must not eat | yemeliler miMust they eat? | yememeliler miMustn't they eat? |
ConditionalDilek-Şart Kipiyese
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 | yesemif I ate | yemesemif I did not eat | yesem miShould I eat? | yemesem miShould I not eat? |
| senyou | yesenif you ate | yemesenif you did not eat | yesen miShould you eat? | yemesen miShould you not eat? |
| ohe/she | yeseif he/she ate | yemeseif he/she did not eat | yese miShould he/she eat? | yemese miShould he/she not eat? |
| bizwe | yesekif we ate | yemesekif we did not eat | yesek miShould we eat? | yemesek miShould we not eat? |
| sizyou (pl.) | yesenizif you (pl.) ate | yemesenizif you (pl.) did not eat | yeseniz miShould you (pl.) eat? | yemeseniz miShould you (pl.) not eat? |
| onlarthey | yeselerif they ate | yemeselerif they did not eat | yeseler miShould they eat? | yemeseler miShould they not eat? |
Imperative & OptativeEmir ve İstek Kipiye
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 | yiyeyimlet me eat | yemeyeyimlet me not eat | yiyeyim miShall I eat? | yemeyeyim miShall I not eat? |
| senyou | yeEat! | yemeDon't eat! | — | — |
| ohe/she | yesinlet him/her eat | yemesinlet him/her not eat | yesin miShall he/she eat? | yemesin miShall he/she not eat? |
| bizwe | yiyelimlet's eat | yemeyelimlet's not eat | yiyelim miShall we eat? | yemeyelim miShall we not eat? |
| sizyou (pl.) | yiyinEat! (pl./polite) | yemeyinDon't eat! (pl./polite) | — | — |
| onlarthey | yesinlerlet them eat | yemesinlerlet them not eat | yesinler miShall they eat? | yemesinler miShall they not eat? |
Ability (can)Yeterlilikyiyebilir
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 | yiyebilirimI can eat | yiyememI cannot eat | yiyebilir miyimCan I eat? | yiyemez miyimCan't I eat? |
| senyou | yiyebilirsinyou can eat | yiyemezsinyou cannot eat | yiyebilir misinCan you eat? | yiyemez misinCan't you eat? |
| ohe/she | yiyebilirhe/she can eat | yiyemezhe/she cannot eat | yiyebilir miCan he/she eat? | yiyemez miCan't he/she eat? |
| bizwe | yiyebilirizwe can eat | yiyemeyizwe cannot eat | yiyebilir miyizCan we eat? | yiyemez miyizCan't we eat? |
| sizyou (pl.) | yiyebilirsinizyou (pl.) can eat | yiyemezsinizyou (pl.) cannot eat | yiyebilir misinizCan you (pl.) eat? | yiyemez misinizCan't you (pl.) eat? |
| onlarthey | yiyebilirlerthey can eat | yiyemezlerthey cannot eat | yiyebilirler miCan they eat? | yiyemezler miCan't they eat? |
Past ContinuousŞimdiki Zamanın Hikâyesiyiyordu
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 | yiyordumI was eating | yemiyordumI was not eating | yiyor muydumWas I eating? | yemiyor muydumWas I not eating? |
| senyou | yiyordunyou were eating | yemiyordunyou were not eating | yiyor muydunWere you eating? | yemiyor muydunWere you not eating? |
| ohe/she | yiyorduhe/she was eating | yemiyorduhe/she was not eating | yiyor muyduWas he/she eating? | yemiyor muyduWas he/she not eating? |
| bizwe | yiyordukwe were eating | yemiyordukwe were not eating | yiyor muydukWere we eating? | yemiyor muydukWere we not eating? |
| sizyou (pl.) | yiyordunuzyou (pl.) were eating | yemiyordunuzyou (pl.) were not eating | yiyor muydunuzWere you (pl.) eating? | yemiyor muydunuzWere you (pl.) not eating? |
| onlarthey | yiyorlardıthey were eating | yemiyorlardıthey were not eating | yiyorlar mıydıWere they eating? | yemiyorlar mıydıWere they not eating? |
Related verbs
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Frequently asked questions
What is the past tense of yemek?
The definite past (-DI) of yemek is yedim (I ate), yedin, yedi, yedik, yediniz, yediler. The negative is yemedim (I did not eat), and the reported past is yemiş (he/she apparently ate).
Is yemek irregular?
Almost regular: the e of ye- turns into i before y (yiyorum, yiyeceğim) but stays e elsewhere (yedim, yer). Only yemek and demek do this.
How do you say "I will eat" in Turkish?
"I will eat" is yiyeceğim. "I won't eat" is yemeyeceğim, and "Will you eat?" is yiyecek misin? For plans you have already made, Turkish also uses the present continuous: yiyorum.
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