Dert Declension: Turkish Cases of 'trouble'
dert means “trouble, worry”. Its last vowel is e, so 2-way suffixes use e (dertler) and 4-way suffixes use i (derdin). Its final t softens to d before a vowel (derdi, derde) but stays hard before a consonant (dertte).
Quick facts
- Plural
- dertler
- troubles
- Harmony
- Front unrounded
- suffix vowels e / i
- Ends in
- a consonant
- suffixes attach directly
- Object form
- derdi
- accusative, “the trouble”
Rules this noun follows
- Consonant softening — A final p, ç, t, k softens to b, c, d, ğ before a vowel.derdi, derde, derdim
- Consonant hardening — After f, s, t, k, ç, ş, h, p a suffix-initial d becomes t (and c becomes ç).dertte, dertten
- Linking vowel — A harmonised vowel is inserted after a consonant (kitab-ı-m).derdim, derdin
- Pronominal n — After a 3rd-person possessive, case suffixes take n (arabası-n-ı, evi-n-de).derdini, derdinde
Dert in all seven cases
The added suffix is highlighted. Plural forms put -ler before the case ending.
| Case | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| NominativeYalın hâl · no ending | derttrouble | dertlertroubles |
| AccusativeBelirtme hâli · -(y)I | derdithe trouble (object) | dertlerithe troubles (object) |
| DativeYönelme hâli · -(y)A | derdeto the trouble | dertlereto the troubles |
| LocativeBulunma hâli · -DA | derttein / at the trouble | dertlerdein / at the troubles |
| AblativeAyrılma hâli · -DAn | derttenfrom the trouble | dertlerdenfrom the troubles |
| Genitiveİlgi hâli · -(n)In | derdinthe trouble's / of the trouble | dertlerinthe troubles's / of the troubles |
| InstrumentalVasıta hâli · -(y)lA | dertlewith the trouble | dertlerlewith the troubles |
Possessive forms: “my trouble”, “your trouble”…
The possessive suffix comes first, then the case. After the 3rd-person forms a case ending takes an extra n (derdinde). See possessive suffixes.
| Owner | Nominative | Accusative | Dative | Locative | Ablative |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| benimmy | derdimmy trouble | derdimimy trouble (object) | derdimeto my trouble | derdimdein / at my trouble | derdimdenfrom my trouble |
| seninyour | derdinyour trouble | derdiniyour trouble (object) | derdineto your trouble | derdindein / at your trouble | derdindenfrom your trouble |
| onunhis/her/its | derdihis/her trouble | derdinihis/her trouble (object) | derdineto his/her trouble | derdindein / at his/her trouble | derdindenfrom his/her trouble |
| bizimour | derdimizour trouble | derdimiziour trouble (object) | derdimizeto our trouble | derdimizdein / at our trouble | derdimizdenfrom our trouble |
| sizinyour (pl.) | derdinizyour (pl.) trouble | derdiniziyour (pl.) trouble (object) | derdinizeto your (pl.) trouble | derdinizdein / at your (pl.) trouble | derdinizdenfrom your (pl.) trouble |
| onlarıntheir | dertleritheir troubles | dertlerinitheir troubles (object) | dertlerineto their troubles | dertlerindein / at their troubles | dertlerindenfrom their troubles |
Plural + possessive: dertlerim (my troubles) · dertlerin (your troubles) · dertleri (his/her troubles) · dertlerimiz (our troubles) · dertleriniz (your (pl.) troubles) · dertleri (their troubles)
Dert in example sentences
Watch out with dert
- A one-syllable word that softens. Final t softens before a vowel: derdi, derde, derdim (not
*derti). Before a consonant it stays hard: dertte, dertler. Most one-syllable words never soften (top → topu), so this one is worth memorising. Rule → - Locative with t, not d. After a voiceless consonant the locative and ablative start with t: dertte, dertten (not
*dertde). Rule → - Two meanings of derdin. derdin is both "of the trouble" (genitive) and "your trouble" (possessive). derdi is likewise both the object form and "his/her trouble". Rule →
Related nouns and resources
Related nouns: feelings & the mind
- akıl mind
- dikkat attention
- düşünce thought
- hayal dream
- his feeling
- keyif pleasure
- merak curiosity
- mutluluk happiness
- sabır patience
- sevgi love
Other nouns that soften
Questions about dert
What is the plural of dert?
The plural of dert ("trouble") is dertler. The plural suffix follows 2-way vowel harmony: the last vowel of dert is e, a front vowel, so it takes -ler. The plural then takes case endings: dertleri, dertlerde, dertlerden.
How do you say "to the trouble" in Turkish?
"To the trouble" is derde, the dative case (-e). Similarly, "in / at the trouble" is dertte (locative) and "from the trouble" is dertten (ablative).
Why does dert become derdi?
Final p, ç, t and k soften to b, c, d and ğ (g after n) when a vowel follows. Dert follows this rule, so the accusative is derdi and "my trouble" is derdim. Before a consonant the hard letter stays: dertte, dertler.
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