bana bak
/bana bak/from spelling rules
The Turkish phrase for "look at me" is bana bak.
This phrase is a command used to tell someone to direct their eyes toward the speaker.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the dative form of the first-person pronoun bana (to me) and the imperative form of the verb bak (look).
How does it change in a sentence?
Adding the suffix -ın to the verb, as seen in bana bakın, makes the command polite or allows you to address a group of people.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /bana bak/. The b sound is like the [b] in "about", the n sound is like the [n] in "not" and the k sound is like the [c] in "core".
Did you know?
- In many Turkish social contexts, telling someone bana bak can sound quite aggressive or confrontational, much like barking a command in English. It is often used by parents to demand immediate attention or by people in an argument.
- The verb bakmak can also mean 'to take care of' or 'to look after' someone, such as a child or an elderly parent.
- While it translates literally to 'look at me', using bana bak can also function as a discourse marker similar to 'listen to me' or 'look, the thing is…'. It is used to signal that an important point is being made.
Examples in context
- Ona bakma. Bana bak.Don't look at him. Look at me.This sentence is useful for practicing the contrast between looking at someone else and looking at the speaker using bana bak.Tatoeba #5035720 by duran, translation #3919731 by CH
- O bana bakmazdı bile.He wouldn't even look at me.This sentence shows a past habit or refusal using bana bak.Tatoeba #5705905 by duran, translation #2263332 by Hybrid
- Meg bana bakmadı bile.Meg didn't even look at me.Tatoeba #858320 by soliloquist, translation #31805 by CN
- Bana bak, sana çok komik bir şey anlatacağım!Look at me, I'm going to tell you something very funny!
- 50 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A father is trying to get his daughter's attention to explain something important.
- MehmetSelin, lütfen bana bak.Selin, please look at me.
- SelinTamam baba, bakıyorum.Okay dad, I am looking.
- MehmetSana önemli bir şey söyleyeceğim.I am going to tell you something important.
- SelinDinliyorum seni.I am listening to you.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Turkish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
