Parmak Declension: Turkish Cases of 'finger'
parmak means “finger”. Its last vowel is a, so 2-way suffixes use a (parmaklar) and 4-way suffixes use ı (parmağın). Its final k softens to ğ before a vowel (parmağı, parmağa) but stays hard before a consonant (parmakta).
Quick facts
- Plural
- parmaklar
- fingers
- Harmony
- Back unrounded
- suffix vowels a / ı
- Ends in
- a consonant
- suffixes attach directly
- Object form
- parmağı
- accusative, “the finger”
Rules this noun follows
- Consonant softening — A final p, ç, t, k softens to b, c, d, ğ before a vowel.parmağı, parmağa, parmağım
- Consonant hardening — After f, s, t, k, ç, ş, h, p a suffix-initial d becomes t (and c becomes ç).parmakta, parmaktan
- Linking vowel — A harmonised vowel is inserted after a consonant (kitab-ı-m).parmağım, parmağın
- Pronominal n — After a 3rd-person possessive, case suffixes take n (arabası-n-ı, evi-n-de).parmağını, parmağında
Parmak in all seven cases
The added suffix is highlighted. Plural forms put -lar before the case ending.
| Case | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| NominativeYalın hâl · no ending | parmakfinger | parmaklarfingers |
| AccusativeBelirtme hâli · -(y)I | parmağıthe finger (object) | parmaklarıthe fingers (object) |
| DativeYönelme hâli · -(y)A | parmağato the finger | parmaklarato the fingers |
| LocativeBulunma hâli · -DA | parmaktain / at the finger | parmaklardain / at the fingers |
| AblativeAyrılma hâli · -DAn | parmaktanfrom the finger | parmaklardanfrom the fingers |
| Genitiveİlgi hâli · -(n)In | parmağınthe finger's / of the finger | parmaklarınthe fingers's / of the fingers |
| InstrumentalVasıta hâli · -(y)lA | parmaklawith the finger | parmaklarlawith the fingers |
Possessive forms: “my finger”, “your finger”…
The possessive suffix comes first, then the case. After the 3rd-person forms a case ending takes an extra n (parmağında). See possessive suffixes.
| Owner | Nominative | Accusative | Dative | Locative | Ablative |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| benimmy | parmağımmy finger | parmağımımy finger (object) | parmağımato my finger | parmağımdain / at my finger | parmağımdanfrom my finger |
| seninyour | parmağınyour finger | parmağınıyour finger (object) | parmağınato your finger | parmağındain / at your finger | parmağındanfrom your finger |
| onunhis/her/its | parmağıhis/her finger | parmağınıhis/her finger (object) | parmağınato his/her finger | parmağındain / at his/her finger | parmağındanfrom his/her finger |
| bizimour | parmağımızour finger | parmağımızıour finger (object) | parmağımızato our finger | parmağımızdain / at our finger | parmağımızdanfrom our finger |
| sizinyour (pl.) | parmağınızyour (pl.) finger | parmağınızıyour (pl.) finger (object) | parmağınızato your (pl.) finger | parmağınızdain / at your (pl.) finger | parmağınızdanfrom your (pl.) finger |
| onlarıntheir | parmaklarıtheir fingers | parmaklarınıtheir fingers (object) | parmaklarınato their fingers | parmaklarındain / at their fingers | parmaklarındanfrom their fingers |
Plural + possessive: parmaklarım (my fingers) · parmakların (your fingers) · parmakları (his/her fingers) · parmaklarımız (our fingers) · parmaklarınız (your (pl.) fingers) · parmakları (their fingers)
Parmak in example sentences
Watch out with parmak
- Softening before vowels. Final k softens before a vowel: parmağı, parmağa, parmağım (not
*parmakı). Before a consonant it stays hard: parmakta, parmaklar. Rule → - Locative with t, not d. After a voiceless consonant the locative and ablative start with t: parmakta, parmaktan (not
*parmakda). Rule → - Two meanings of parmağın. parmağın is both "of the finger" (genitive) and "your finger" (possessive). parmağı is likewise both the object form and "his/her finger". Rule →
Related nouns and resources
Related nouns: body
Other nouns that soften
Questions about parmak
What is the plural of parmak?
The plural of parmak ("finger") is parmaklar. The plural suffix follows 2-way vowel harmony: the last vowel of parmak is a, a back vowel, so it takes -lar. The plural then takes case endings: parmakları, parmaklarda, parmaklardan.
How do you say "to the finger" in Turkish?
"To the finger" is parmağa, the dative case (-a). Similarly, "in / at the finger" is parmakta (locative) and "from the finger" is parmaktan (ablative).
Why does parmak become parmağı?
Final p, ç, t and k soften to b, c, d and ğ (g after n) when a vowel follows. Parmak follows this rule, so the accusative is parmağı and "my finger" is parmağım. Before a consonant the hard letter stays: parmakta, parmaklar.
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