yemek istiyorum
/jemec istijoɾum/from spelling rules
In Turkish, yemek istiyorum is the way to say "I want food".
yemek istiyorum is a direct way to express a desire to eat or a need for a meal. Because the word yemek can function as both a noun and a verb, the phrase can be translated as either "I want food" or "I want to eat".
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of yemek (meaning food or to eat) and istiyorum (meaning I want).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
yemek istiyorum is an informal phrase. Because it is so direct, it can sound blunt or even demanding if used with strangers or elders without adding polite particles.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb istiyorum is in the present continuous form, which is used in Turkish to express current desires or wants.
How do you pronounce it?
The /j/ sounds like [y]es, the /m/ sounds like [m]uch, the /c/ sounds like s[k]ew, the /i/ sounds like cr[ee]k, the /s/ sounds like [s]end, the /ɾ/ sounds like AmE a[t]om and the /u/ sounds like c[oo]l.
Did you know?
- The word yemek can mean 'to eat' or 'to destroy'. This duality allows the word to be used in contexts involving the consumption of resources or the wearing away of materials.
- While yemek istiyorum is direct, a common social gesture when offering food is to say afiyet olsun, which is a wish for the meal to be 'beneficial' to the health of the eater.
Examples in context
- Yemek istiyorum, lütfenI want food, please.
- Hemen yemek istiyorum.I want food immediately.
- Şu an sadece yemek istiyorum.Right now, I just want food.
Example conversation
Emre and Elif are walking home from school.
- EmreElif, çok acıktım, yemek istiyorum.Elif, I'm very hungry, I want food.
- ElifBen de acıktım Emre.I'm hungry too, Emre.
- EmreHadi hemen eve gidelim.Let's go home immediately.
- ElifTamam, gidelim.Okay, let's go.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Turkish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries yemek, CC BY-SA 4.0.
