bu nedir?
The English phrase "what is it?" is translated into Turkish as bu nedir?
bu nedir? is a question used to ask for the identity or the name of an object.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of bu, meaning "this" and nedir, which is a combination of ne (what) and the suffix -dir (is).
Which one should you use?
bu nedir? is the more formal or grammatically complete way to ask the question. In contrast, the colloquial version bu ne? is used in casual speech.
How does it change in a sentence?
In casual spoken Turkish, the formal suffix -dir is often dropped, resulting in the shorter form bu ne?
When do people say it?
A common way to answer the question bu nedir? is to use the form şudur (it is that/this) or simply state the name of the object followed by the suffix -dir.
Did you know?
- In highly casual settings, if you see something strange, you might skip bu nedir? entirely and just say Neymiş? to express a sense of 'What on earth is this?'
- Using the formal suffix -dir in your answer, such as Kitaptır, can make you sound like a narrator in a nature documentary.
- The pronoun bu is so fundamental that it has remained almost entirely unchanged from its Proto-Turkic roots, surviving through Old Anatolian and Ottoman Turkish into the modern language.
Examples in context
- Merhaba, bu nedir?Hello, what is this?
- Bu nedir?What is it?
- Masadaki bu nedir?What is this on the table?
- Çantanın içindeki bu nedir?What is this inside the bag?
Example conversation
Selin and Can are looking at a strange gift in the living room.
- SelinCan, bu nedir?Can, what is it?
- CanBu bir hediye.It is a gift.
- SelinSenin için mi?Is it for you?
- CanEvet, benim için.Yes, it is for me.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bu, CC BY-SA 4.0.
