Kâğıt Declension: Turkish Cases of 'paper'
kâğıt means “paper”. Its last vowel is ı, so 2-way suffixes use a (kâğıtlar) and 4-way suffixes use ı (kâğıdın). Its final t softens to d before a vowel (kâğıdı, kâğıda) but stays hard before a consonant (kâğıtta).
Quick facts
- Plural
- kâğıtlar
- papers
- Harmony
- Back unrounded
- suffix vowels a / ı
- Ends in
- a consonant
- suffixes attach directly
- Object form
- kâğıdı
- accusative, “the paper”
Rules this noun follows
- Consonant softening — A final p, ç, t, k softens to b, c, d, ğ before a vowel.kâğıdı, kâğıda, kâğıdım
- Consonant hardening — After f, s, t, k, ç, ş, h, p a suffix-initial d becomes t (and c becomes ç).kâğıtta, kâğıttan
- Linking vowel — A harmonised vowel is inserted after a consonant (kitab-ı-m).kâğıdım, kâğıdın
- Pronominal n — After a 3rd-person possessive, case suffixes take n (arabası-n-ı, evi-n-de).kâğıdını, kâğıdında
Kâğıt in all seven cases
The added suffix is highlighted. Plural forms put -lar before the case ending.
| Case | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| NominativeYalın hâl · no ending | kâğıtpaper | kâğıtlarpapers |
| AccusativeBelirtme hâli · -(y)I | kâğıdıthe paper (object) | kâğıtlarıthe papers (object) |
| DativeYönelme hâli · -(y)A | kâğıdato the paper | kâğıtlarato the papers |
| LocativeBulunma hâli · -DA | kâğıttain / at the paper | kâğıtlardain / at the papers |
| AblativeAyrılma hâli · -DAn | kâğıttanfrom the paper | kâğıtlardanfrom the papers |
| Genitiveİlgi hâli · -(n)In | kâğıdınthe paper's / of the paper | kâğıtlarınthe papers's / of the papers |
| InstrumentalVasıta hâli · -(y)lA | kâğıtlawith the paper | kâğıtlarlawith the papers |
Possessive forms: “my paper”, “your paper”…
The possessive suffix comes first, then the case. After the 3rd-person forms a case ending takes an extra n (kâğıdında). See possessive suffixes.
| Owner | Nominative | Accusative | Dative | Locative | Ablative |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| benimmy | kâğıdımmy paper | kâğıdımımy paper (object) | kâğıdımato my paper | kâğıdımdain / at my paper | kâğıdımdanfrom my paper |
| seninyour | kâğıdınyour paper | kâğıdınıyour paper (object) | kâğıdınato your paper | kâğıdındain / at your paper | kâğıdındanfrom your paper |
| onunhis/her/its | kâğıdıhis/her paper | kâğıdınıhis/her paper (object) | kâğıdınato his/her paper | kâğıdındain / at his/her paper | kâğıdındanfrom his/her paper |
| bizimour | kâğıdımızour paper | kâğıdımızıour paper (object) | kâğıdımızato our paper | kâğıdımızdain / at our paper | kâğıdımızdanfrom our paper |
| sizinyour (pl.) | kâğıdınızyour (pl.) paper | kâğıdınızıyour (pl.) paper (object) | kâğıdınızato your (pl.) paper | kâğıdınızdain / at your (pl.) paper | kâğıdınızdanfrom your (pl.) paper |
| onlarıntheir | kâğıtlarıtheir papers | kâğıtlarınıtheir papers (object) | kâğıtlarınato their papers | kâğıtlarındain / at their papers | kâğıtlarındanfrom their papers |
Plural + possessive: kâğıtlarım (my papers) · kâğıtların (your papers) · kâğıtları (his/her papers) · kâğıtlarımız (our papers) · kâğıtlarınız (your (pl.) papers) · kâğıtları (their papers)
Kâğıt in example sentences
Watch out with kâğıt
- Softening before vowels. Final t softens before a vowel: kâğıdı, kâğıda, kâğıdım (not
*kâğıtı). Before a consonant it stays hard: kâğıtta, kâğıtlar. Rule → - Locative with t, not d. After a voiceless consonant the locative and ablative start with t: kâğıtta, kâğıttan (not
*kâğıtda). Rule → - Two meanings of kâğıdın. kâğıdın is both "of the paper" (genitive) and "your paper" (possessive). kâğıdı is likewise both the object form and "his/her paper". Rule →
Related nouns and resources
Related nouns: everyday objects
- bilgisayar computer
- çanta bag
- defter notebook
- fotoğraf photo
- gazete newspaper
- hediye gift
- kalem pen
- kitap book
- para money
- resim picture
Other nouns that soften
Questions about kâğıt
What is the plural of kâğıt?
The plural of kâğıt ("paper") is kâğıtlar. The plural suffix follows 2-way vowel harmony: the last vowel of kâğıt is ı, a back vowel, so it takes -lar. The plural then takes case endings: kâğıtları, kâğıtlarda, kâğıtlardan.
How do you say "to the paper" in Turkish?
"To the paper" is kâğıda, the dative case (-a). Similarly, "in / at the paper" is kâğıtta (locative) and "from the paper" is kâğıttan (ablative).
Why does kâğıt become kâğıdı?
Final p, ç, t and k soften to b, c, d and ğ (g after n) when a vowel follows. Kâğıt follows this rule, so the accusative is kâğıdı and "my paper" is kâğıdım. Before a consonant the hard letter stays: kâğıtta, kâğıtlar.
Drill Turkish noun cases in the TurkLogic app
Turn forms like kâğıdı, kâğıda and kâğıdım into quick quizzes with audio and spaced repetition.
Free Download • In-App Purchases