Tavuk Declension: Turkish Cases of 'chicken'
tavuk means “chicken”. Its last vowel is u, so 2-way suffixes use a (tavuklar) and 4-way suffixes use u (tavuğun). Its final k softens to ğ before a vowel (tavuğu, tavuğa) but stays hard before a consonant (tavukta).
Quick facts
- Plural
- tavuklar
- chickens
- Harmony
- Back rounded
- suffix vowels a / u
- Ends in
- a consonant
- suffixes attach directly
- Object form
- tavuğu
- accusative, “the chicken”
Rules this noun follows
- Consonant softening — A final p, ç, t, k softens to b, c, d, ğ before a vowel.tavuğu, tavuğa, tavuğum
- Consonant hardening — After f, s, t, k, ç, ş, h, p a suffix-initial d becomes t (and c becomes ç).tavukta, tavuktan
- Linking vowel — A harmonised vowel is inserted after a consonant (kitab-ı-m).tavuğum, tavuğun
- Pronominal n — After a 3rd-person possessive, case suffixes take n (arabası-n-ı, evi-n-de).tavuğunu, tavuğunda
Tavuk in all seven cases
The added suffix is highlighted. Plural forms put -lar before the case ending.
| Case | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| NominativeYalın hâl · no ending | tavukchicken | tavuklarchickens |
| AccusativeBelirtme hâli · -(y)I | tavuğuthe chicken (object) | tavuklarıthe chickens (object) |
| DativeYönelme hâli · -(y)A | tavuğato the chicken | tavuklarato the chickens |
| LocativeBulunma hâli · -DA | tavuktain / at the chicken | tavuklardain / at the chickens |
| AblativeAyrılma hâli · -DAn | tavuktanfrom the chicken | tavuklardanfrom the chickens |
| Genitiveİlgi hâli · -(n)In | tavuğunthe chicken's / of the chicken | tavuklarınthe chickens's / of the chickens |
| InstrumentalVasıta hâli · -(y)lA | tavuklawith the chicken | tavuklarlawith the chickens |
Possessive forms: “my chicken”, “your chicken”…
The possessive suffix comes first, then the case. After the 3rd-person forms a case ending takes an extra n (tavuğunda). See possessive suffixes.
| Owner | Nominative | Accusative | Dative | Locative | Ablative |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| benimmy | tavuğummy chicken | tavuğumumy chicken (object) | tavuğumato my chicken | tavuğumdain / at my chicken | tavuğumdanfrom my chicken |
| seninyour | tavuğunyour chicken | tavuğunuyour chicken (object) | tavuğunato your chicken | tavuğundain / at your chicken | tavuğundanfrom your chicken |
| onunhis/her/its | tavuğuhis/her chicken | tavuğunuhis/her chicken (object) | tavuğunato his/her chicken | tavuğundain / at his/her chicken | tavuğundanfrom his/her chicken |
| bizimour | tavuğumuzour chicken | tavuğumuzuour chicken (object) | tavuğumuzato our chicken | tavuğumuzdain / at our chicken | tavuğumuzdanfrom our chicken |
| sizinyour (pl.) | tavuğunuzyour (pl.) chicken | tavuğunuzuyour (pl.) chicken (object) | tavuğunuzato your (pl.) chicken | tavuğunuzdain / at your (pl.) chicken | tavuğunuzdanfrom your (pl.) chicken |
| onlarıntheir | tavuklarıtheir chickens | tavuklarınıtheir chickens (object) | tavuklarınato their chickens | tavuklarındain / at their chickens | tavuklarındanfrom their chickens |
Plural + possessive: tavuklarım (my chickens) · tavukların (your chickens) · tavukları (his/her chickens) · tavuklarımız (our chickens) · tavuklarınız (your (pl.) chickens) · tavukları (their chickens)
Tavuk in example sentences
Watch out with tavuk
- Softening before vowels. Final k softens before a vowel: tavuğu, tavuğa, tavuğum (not
*tavuku). Before a consonant it stays hard: tavukta, tavuklar. Rule → - Locative with t, not d. After a voiceless consonant the locative and ablative start with t: tavukta, tavuktan (not
*tavukda). Rule → - Two meanings of tavuğun. tavuğun is both "of the chicken" (genitive) and "your chicken" (possessive). tavuğu is likewise both the object form and "his/her chicken". 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 tavuk
What is the plural of tavuk?
The plural of tavuk ("chicken") is tavuklar. The plural suffix follows 2-way vowel harmony: the last vowel of tavuk is u, a back vowel, so it takes -lar. The plural then takes case endings: tavukları, tavuklarda, tavuklardan.
How do you say "to the chicken" in Turkish?
"To the chicken" is tavuğa, the dative case (-a). Similarly, "in / at the chicken" is tavukta (locative) and "from the chicken" is tavuktan (ablative).
Why does tavuk become tavuğu?
Final p, ç, t and k soften to b, c, d and ğ (g after n) when a vowel follows. Tavuk follows this rule, so the accusative is tavuğu and "my chicken" is tavuğum. Before a consonant the hard letter stays: tavukta, tavuklar.
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