Ways to say it
| Turkish | IPA |
|---|---|
| -ebilmek | /ebilmec/ (from spelling rules) |
| -abilmek | /ɑ.bilˈ.mec/ |
Turkish has no separate word for can. Ability is a suffix attached to the verb stem. It covers both physical or mental ability, knowing how to do something and possibility, when something is possible.
What does it mean word for word?
-ebilmek combines the ability suffix -ebil with the verb bilmek, to know, so the idea is to know how to do something.
Which one should you use?
-ebilmek and -abilmek mean the same thing. Which one you use depends on vowel harmony with the verb stem.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
Use -abilmek when the last vowel of the verb stem is a back vowel, a, ı, o or u. Use -ebilmek after front vowels. Personal endings then follow the suffix, as in edebilirim, I can do or I can help.
How do you pronounce it?
The suffix is pronounced /ebilmec/. The i sounds like the ee in creek, and the final sound is a k made further forward in the mouth, close to the k in skew.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not look for a standalone verb for can in Turkish. Attach the suffix to the verb itself, matching its vowels.
When do people say it?
When asking for something, Turkish speakers soften the request with Lütfen, please or Mümkünse, if possible.
Did you know?
- In Turkish, the ability suffix -ebilmek can be used to turn a command into a polite request. This transforms a direct order into a suggestion of whether the person is capable of doing it.
- The ability suffix is an inheritance from Ottoman Turkish ـهبیلمك, which combined the root for knowing with a connecting vowel.
- Using the simple negative form of a verb instead of the negative ability suffix can imply that someone is not allowed to do something. This creates a distinction between lacking the skill and lacking permission.
Examples in context
- "İstersen yardım edebilirim""I can help you if you want".edebilirim is the verb for help with the ability suffix and the ending for I, so it means I can help.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “can” translations and entries -abilmek, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Turkish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries -abilmek, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
