Tabak Declension: Turkish Cases of 'plate'
tabak means “plate”. Its last vowel is a, so 2-way suffixes use a (tabaklar) and 4-way suffixes use ı (tabağın). Its final k softens to ğ before a vowel (tabağı, tabağa) but stays hard before a consonant (tabakta).
Quick facts
- Plural
- tabaklar
- plates
- Harmony
- Back unrounded
- suffix vowels a / ı
- Ends in
- a consonant
- suffixes attach directly
- Object form
- tabağı
- accusative, “the plate”
Rules this noun follows
- Consonant softening — A final p, ç, t, k softens to b, c, d, ğ before a vowel.tabağı, tabağa, tabağım
- Consonant hardening — After f, s, t, k, ç, ş, h, p a suffix-initial d becomes t (and c becomes ç).tabakta, tabaktan
- Linking vowel — A harmonised vowel is inserted after a consonant (kitab-ı-m).tabağım, tabağın
- Pronominal n — After a 3rd-person possessive, case suffixes take n (arabası-n-ı, evi-n-de).tabağını, tabağında
Tabak in all seven cases
The added suffix is highlighted. Plural forms put -lar before the case ending.
| Case | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| NominativeYalın hâl · no ending | tabakplate | tabaklarplates |
| AccusativeBelirtme hâli · -(y)I | tabağıthe plate (object) | tabaklarıthe plates (object) |
| DativeYönelme hâli · -(y)A | tabağato the plate | tabaklarato the plates |
| LocativeBulunma hâli · -DA | tabaktain / at the plate | tabaklardain / at the plates |
| AblativeAyrılma hâli · -DAn | tabaktanfrom the plate | tabaklardanfrom the plates |
| Genitiveİlgi hâli · -(n)In | tabağınthe plate's / of the plate | tabaklarınthe plates's / of the plates |
| InstrumentalVasıta hâli · -(y)lA | tabaklawith the plate | tabaklarlawith the plates |
Possessive forms: “my plate”, “your plate”…
The possessive suffix comes first, then the case. After the 3rd-person forms a case ending takes an extra n (tabağında). See possessive suffixes.
| Owner | Nominative | Accusative | Dative | Locative | Ablative |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| benimmy | tabağımmy plate | tabağımımy plate (object) | tabağımato my plate | tabağımdain / at my plate | tabağımdanfrom my plate |
| seninyour | tabağınyour plate | tabağınıyour plate (object) | tabağınato your plate | tabağındain / at your plate | tabağındanfrom your plate |
| onunhis/her/its | tabağıhis/her plate | tabağınıhis/her plate (object) | tabağınato his/her plate | tabağındain / at his/her plate | tabağındanfrom his/her plate |
| bizimour | tabağımızour plate | tabağımızıour plate (object) | tabağımızato our plate | tabağımızdain / at our plate | tabağımızdanfrom our plate |
| sizinyour (pl.) | tabağınızyour (pl.) plate | tabağınızıyour (pl.) plate (object) | tabağınızato your (pl.) plate | tabağınızdain / at your (pl.) plate | tabağınızdanfrom your (pl.) plate |
| onlarıntheir | tabaklarıtheir plates | tabaklarınıtheir plates (object) | tabaklarınato their plates | tabaklarındain / at their plates | tabaklarındanfrom their plates |
Plural + possessive: tabaklarım (my plates) · tabakların (your plates) · tabakları (his/her plates) · tabaklarımız (our plates) · tabaklarınız (your (pl.) plates) · tabakları (their plates)
Tabak in example sentences
Watch out with tabak
- Softening before vowels. Final k softens before a vowel: tabağı, tabağa, tabağım (not
*tabakı). Before a consonant it stays hard: tabakta, tabaklar. Rule → - Locative with t, not d. After a voiceless consonant the locative and ablative start with t: tabakta, tabaktan (not
*tabakda). Rule → - Two meanings of tabağın. tabağın is both "of the plate" (genitive) and "your plate" (possessive). tabağı is likewise both the object form and "his/her plate". Rule →
Related nouns and resources
Related nouns: kitchen & tableware
Other nouns that soften
Questions about tabak
What is the plural of tabak?
The plural of tabak ("plate") is tabaklar. The plural suffix follows 2-way vowel harmony: the last vowel of tabak is a, a back vowel, so it takes -lar. The plural then takes case endings: tabakları, tabaklarda, tabaklardan.
How do you say "to the plate" in Turkish?
"To the plate" is tabağa, the dative case (-a). Similarly, "in / at the plate" is tabakta (locative) and "from the plate" is tabaktan (ablative).
Why does tabak become tabağı?
Final p, ç, t and k soften to b, c, d and ğ (g after n) when a vowel follows. Tabak follows this rule, so the accusative is tabağı and "my plate" is tabağım. Before a consonant the hard letter stays: tabakta, tabaklar.
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