Kebap Declension: Turkish Cases of 'kebab'
kebap means “kebab”. Its last vowel is a, so 2-way suffixes use a (kebaplar) and 4-way suffixes use ı (kebabın). Its final p softens to b before a vowel (kebabı, kebaba) but stays hard before a consonant (kebapta).
Quick facts
- Plural
- kebaplar
- kebabs
- Harmony
- Back unrounded
- suffix vowels a / ı
- Ends in
- a consonant
- suffixes attach directly
- Object form
- kebabı
- accusative, “the kebab”
Rules this noun follows
- Consonant softening — A final p, ç, t, k softens to b, c, d, ğ before a vowel.kebabı, kebaba, kebabım
- Consonant hardening — After f, s, t, k, ç, ş, h, p a suffix-initial d becomes t (and c becomes ç).kebapta, kebaptan
- Linking vowel — A harmonised vowel is inserted after a consonant (kitab-ı-m).kebabım, kebabın
- Pronominal n — After a 3rd-person possessive, case suffixes take n (arabası-n-ı, evi-n-de).kebabını, kebabında
Kebap in all seven cases
The added suffix is highlighted. Plural forms put -lar before the case ending.
| Case | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| NominativeYalın hâl · no ending | kebapkebab | kebaplarkebabs |
| AccusativeBelirtme hâli · -(y)I | kebabıthe kebab (object) | kebaplarıthe kebabs (object) |
| DativeYönelme hâli · -(y)A | kebabato the kebab | kebaplarato the kebabs |
| LocativeBulunma hâli · -DA | kebaptain / at the kebab | kebaplardain / at the kebabs |
| AblativeAyrılma hâli · -DAn | kebaptanfrom the kebab | kebaplardanfrom the kebabs |
| Genitiveİlgi hâli · -(n)In | kebabınthe kebab's / of the kebab | kebaplarınthe kebabs's / of the kebabs |
| InstrumentalVasıta hâli · -(y)lA | kebaplawith the kebab | kebaplarlawith the kebabs |
Possessive forms: “my kebab”, “your kebab”…
The possessive suffix comes first, then the case. After the 3rd-person forms a case ending takes an extra n (kebabında). See possessive suffixes.
| Owner | Nominative | Accusative | Dative | Locative | Ablative |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| benimmy | kebabımmy kebab | kebabımımy kebab (object) | kebabımato my kebab | kebabımdain / at my kebab | kebabımdanfrom my kebab |
| seninyour | kebabınyour kebab | kebabınıyour kebab (object) | kebabınato your kebab | kebabındain / at your kebab | kebabındanfrom your kebab |
| onunhis/her/its | kebabıhis/her kebab | kebabınıhis/her kebab (object) | kebabınato his/her kebab | kebabındain / at his/her kebab | kebabındanfrom his/her kebab |
| bizimour | kebabımızour kebab | kebabımızıour kebab (object) | kebabımızato our kebab | kebabımızdain / at our kebab | kebabımızdanfrom our kebab |
| sizinyour (pl.) | kebabınızyour (pl.) kebab | kebabınızıyour (pl.) kebab (object) | kebabınızato your (pl.) kebab | kebabınızdain / at your (pl.) kebab | kebabınızdanfrom your (pl.) kebab |
| onlarıntheir | kebaplarıtheir kebabs | kebaplarınıtheir kebabs (object) | kebaplarınato their kebabs | kebaplarındain / at their kebabs | kebaplarındanfrom their kebabs |
Plural + possessive: kebaplarım (my kebabs) · kebapların (your kebabs) · kebapları (his/her kebabs) · kebaplarımız (our kebabs) · kebaplarınız (your (pl.) kebabs) · kebapları (their kebabs)
Kebap in example sentences
Watch out with kebap
- Softening before vowels. Final p softens before a vowel: kebabı, kebaba, kebabım (not
*kebapı). Before a consonant it stays hard: kebapta, kebaplar. Rule → - Locative with t, not d. After a voiceless consonant the locative and ablative start with t: kebapta, kebaptan (not
*kebapda). Rule → - Two meanings of kebabın. kebabın is both "of the kebab" (genitive) and "your kebab" (possessive). kebabı is likewise both the object form and "his/her kebab". Rule →
Related nouns and resources
Related nouns: food & drink
- bal honey
- balık fish
- çay tea
- çorba soup
- domates tomato
- ekmek bread
- elma apple
- et meat
- kahvaltı breakfast
- kahve coffee
Other nouns that soften
Questions about kebap
What is the plural of kebap?
The plural of kebap ("kebab") is kebaplar. The plural suffix follows 2-way vowel harmony: the last vowel of kebap is a, a back vowel, so it takes -lar. The plural then takes case endings: kebapları, kebaplarda, kebaplardan.
How do you say "to the kebab" in Turkish?
"To the kebab" is kebaba, the dative case (-a). Similarly, "in / at the kebab" is kebapta (locative) and "from the kebab" is kebaptan (ablative).
Why does kebap become kebabı?
Final p, ç, t and k soften to b, c, d and ğ (g after n) when a vowel follows. Kebap follows this rule, so the accusative is kebabı and "my kebab" is kebabım. Before a consonant the hard letter stays: kebapta, kebaplar.
Drill Turkish noun cases in the TurkLogic app
Turn forms like kebabı, kebaba and kebabım into quick quizzes with audio and spaced repetition.
Free Download • In-App Purchases