İsim Declension: Turkish Cases of 'name'
isim means “name”. Its last vowel is i, so 2-way suffixes use e (isimler) and 4-way suffixes use i (ismin). Its last vowel drops before a vowel suffix (ismi, isme) but stays before a consonant (isimde).
Quick facts
- Plural
- isimler
- names
- Harmony
- Front unrounded
- suffix vowels e / i
- Ends in
- a consonant
- suffixes attach directly
- Object form
- ismi
- accusative, “the name”
Rules this noun follows
- Vowel drop — The last vowel of the root drops before a vowel-initial suffix.ismi, isme, ismim
- Linking vowel — A harmonised vowel is inserted after a consonant (kitab-ı-m).ismim, ismin
- Pronominal n — After a 3rd-person possessive, case suffixes take n (arabası-n-ı, evi-n-de).ismini, isminde
İsim in all seven cases
The added suffix is highlighted. Plural forms put -ler before the case ending.
| Case | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| NominativeYalın hâl · no ending | isimname | isimlernames |
| AccusativeBelirtme hâli · -(y)I | ismithe name (object) | isimlerithe names (object) |
| DativeYönelme hâli · -(y)A | ismeto the name | isimlereto the names |
| LocativeBulunma hâli · -DA | isimdein / at the name | isimlerdein / at the names |
| AblativeAyrılma hâli · -DAn | isimdenfrom the name | isimlerdenfrom the names |
| Genitiveİlgi hâli · -(n)In | isminthe name's / of the name | isimlerinthe names's / of the names |
| InstrumentalVasıta hâli · -(y)lA | isimlewith the name | isimlerlewith the names |
Possessive forms: “my name”, “your name”…
The possessive suffix comes first, then the case. After the 3rd-person forms a case ending takes an extra n (isminde). See possessive suffixes.
| Owner | Nominative | Accusative | Dative | Locative | Ablative |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| benimmy | ismimmy name | ismimimy name (object) | ismimeto my name | ismimdein / at my name | ismimdenfrom my name |
| seninyour | isminyour name | isminiyour name (object) | ismineto your name | ismindein / at your name | ismindenfrom your name |
| onunhis/her/its | ismihis/her name | isminihis/her name (object) | ismineto his/her name | ismindein / at his/her name | ismindenfrom his/her name |
| bizimour | ismimizour name | ismimiziour name (object) | ismimizeto our name | ismimizdein / at our name | ismimizdenfrom our name |
| sizinyour (pl.) | isminizyour (pl.) name | isminiziyour (pl.) name (object) | isminizeto your (pl.) name | isminizdein / at your (pl.) name | isminizdenfrom your (pl.) name |
| onlarıntheir | isimleritheir names | isimlerinitheir names (object) | isimlerineto their names | isimlerindein / at their names | isimlerindenfrom their names |
Plural + possessive: isimlerim (my names) · isimlerin (your names) · isimleri (his/her names) · isimlerimiz (our names) · isimleriniz (your (pl.) names) · isimleri (their names)
İsim in example sentences
Watch out with isim
- The last vowel drops. Before a vowel suffix the second vowel disappears: ismi, isme, ismim (not
*isimi,*isime). Consonant suffixes keep it: isimde, isimler. Rule → - Two meanings of ismin. ismin is both "of the name" (genitive) and "your name" (possessive). ismi is likewise both the object form and "his/her name". Rule →
Related nouns and resources
Related nouns: family & people
- abla older sister
- adam man
- ağabey older brother
- aile family
- amca uncle
- anne mother
- arkadaş friend
- baba father
- bebek baby
- çocuk child
Other nouns that drop a vowel
Questions about isim
What is the plural of isim?
The plural of isim ("name") is isimler. The plural suffix follows 2-way vowel harmony: the last vowel of isim is i, a front vowel, so it takes -ler. The plural then takes case endings: isimleri, isimlerde, isimlerden.
How do you say "to the name" in Turkish?
"To the name" is isme, the dative case (-e). Similarly, "in / at the name" is isimde (locative) and "from the name" is isimden (ablative).
Why is it ismi and not isimi?
İsim belongs to a group of two-syllable nouns (mostly Arabic loans and body parts) whose second vowel drops when a vowel-initial suffix follows: ismi, isme, ismim. With consonant-initial suffixes the vowel stays: isimde, isimler.
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