Kalp Declension: Turkish Cases of 'heart'
kalp means “heart”. Although its last vowel is a, it is a loanword that takes front-vowel suffixes (e/i/ü), so the plural is kalpler. Its final p softens to b before a vowel (kalbi, kalbe) but stays hard before a consonant (kalpte).
Quick facts
- Plural
- kalpler
- hearts
- Harmony
- Front unrounded
- suffix vowels e / i (loanword)
- Ends in
- a consonant
- suffixes attach directly
- Object form
- kalbi
- accusative, “the heart”
Rules this noun follows
- Loanword exception — This loanword takes front (e/i/ü) suffixes even though its last vowel is back.kalpler, kalbi, kalbe
- Consonant softening — A final p, ç, t, k softens to b, c, d, ğ before a vowel.kalbi, kalbe, kalbim
- Consonant hardening — After f, s, t, k, ç, ş, h, p a suffix-initial d becomes t (and c becomes ç).kalpte, kalpten
- Linking vowel — A harmonised vowel is inserted after a consonant (kitab-ı-m).kalbim, kalbin
- Pronominal n — After a 3rd-person possessive, case suffixes take n (arabası-n-ı, evi-n-de).kalbini, kalbinde
Kalp in all seven cases
The added suffix is highlighted. Plural forms put -ler before the case ending.
| Case | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| NominativeYalın hâl · no ending | kalpheart | kalplerhearts |
| AccusativeBelirtme hâli · -(y)I | kalbithe heart (object) | kalplerithe hearts (object) |
| DativeYönelme hâli · -(y)A | kalbeto the heart | kalplereto the hearts |
| LocativeBulunma hâli · -DA | kalptein / at the heart | kalplerdein / at the hearts |
| AblativeAyrılma hâli · -DAn | kalptenfrom the heart | kalplerdenfrom the hearts |
| Genitiveİlgi hâli · -(n)In | kalbinthe heart's / of the heart | kalplerinthe hearts's / of the hearts |
| InstrumentalVasıta hâli · -(y)lA | kalplewith the heart | kalplerlewith the hearts |
Possessive forms: “my heart”, “your heart”…
The possessive suffix comes first, then the case. After the 3rd-person forms a case ending takes an extra n (kalbinde). See possessive suffixes.
| Owner | Nominative | Accusative | Dative | Locative | Ablative |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| benimmy | kalbimmy heart | kalbimimy heart (object) | kalbimeto my heart | kalbimdein / at my heart | kalbimdenfrom my heart |
| seninyour | kalbinyour heart | kalbiniyour heart (object) | kalbineto your heart | kalbindein / at your heart | kalbindenfrom your heart |
| onunhis/her/its | kalbihis/her heart | kalbinihis/her heart (object) | kalbineto his/her heart | kalbindein / at his/her heart | kalbindenfrom his/her heart |
| bizimour | kalbimizour heart | kalbimiziour heart (object) | kalbimizeto our heart | kalbimizdein / at our heart | kalbimizdenfrom our heart |
| sizinyour (pl.) | kalbinizyour (pl.) heart | kalbiniziyour (pl.) heart (object) | kalbinizeto your (pl.) heart | kalbinizdein / at your (pl.) heart | kalbinizdenfrom your (pl.) heart |
| onlarıntheir | kalpleritheir hearts | kalplerinitheir hearts (object) | kalplerineto their hearts | kalplerindein / at their hearts | kalplerindenfrom their hearts |
Plural + possessive: kalplerim (my hearts) · kalplerin (your hearts) · kalpleri (his/her hearts) · kalplerimiz (our hearts) · kalpleriniz (your (pl.) hearts) · kalpleri (their hearts)
Kalp in example sentences
Watch out with kalp
- Front suffixes after a back vowel. This loanword takes front-vowel suffixes: kalpler, kalbi, kalpte — not
*kalplar,*kalbı. Rule → - A one-syllable word that softens. Final p softens before a vowel: kalbi, kalbe, kalbim (not
*kalpi). Before a consonant it stays hard: kalpte, kalpler. 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: kalpte, kalpten (not
*kalpde). Rule → - Two meanings of kalbin. kalbin is both "of the heart" (genitive) and "your heart" (possessive). kalbi is likewise both the object form and "his/her heart". Rule →
Related nouns and resources
Related nouns: body
- boyun neck
- kan blood
- karın belly
- omuz shoulder
- sırt back
- ağız mouth
- alın forehead
- ayak foot
- bacak leg
- baş head
Other loanwords with front harmony
Questions about kalp
What is the plural of kalp?
The plural of kalp ("heart") is kalpler. Kalp is a loanword that takes front-vowel suffixes despite its last vowel a, so it is kalpler, not kalplar. The plural then takes case endings: kalpleri, kalplerde, kalplerden.
How do you say "to the heart" in Turkish?
"To the heart" is kalbe, the dative case (-e). Similarly, "in / at the heart" is kalpte (locative) and "from the heart" is kalpten (ablative).
Why does kalp become kalbi?
Final p, ç, t and k soften to b, c, d and ğ (g after n) when a vowel follows. Kalp follows this rule, so the accusative is kalbi and "my heart" is kalbim. Before a consonant the hard letter stays: kalpte, kalpler.
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