kimsin?
To say "who are you?" in Turkish, you use kimsin?
The phrase is a question used to ask for the identity of a person. Depending on your tone, asking kimsin? directly can sometimes sound blunt or even confrontational, much like the English expression "Who are you?"
What does it mean word for word?
The form kimsin? is composed of kim (who) and the second-person singular suffix -sin (you are).
Which one should you use?
kimsin? is the singular, informal form. In contrast, kimsiniz? is the formal or plural form.
How does it change in a sentence?
To be polite or to address more than one person, use the form kimsiniz? instead of kimsin?
Did you know?
- If you were to ask 'Who are you?' in a very high-status or respectful way, you might use the term Efendim? (My master/sir?), which functions as a way to seek clarification.
- In Turkish, if you ask kimsin? to a stranger on the street, it might be interpreted as 'Who do you think you are?' rather than a simple identity inquiry.
- While kimsin? asks for identity, adding the word kim to other phrases can create expressions of disbelief, like kim bilir? which means 'who knows?' or 'it is unlikely'.
Examples in context
- Merhaba, siz kimsiniz?Hello, who are you?
- Selam, sen kimsin?Hi, who are you?
- Sen kimsin?Who are you?
- Bir dakika, sen kimsin?Wait a minute, who are you?
Example conversation
Burak answers a sudden phone call from an unknown number.
- BurakAlo, sen kimsin?Hello, who are you?
- SelinBen Selin, senin arkadaşınım.I am Selin, your friend.
- BurakAh, Selin! Seni tanıyamadım.Ah, Selin! I didn't recognize you.
- SelinNumaramı kaydetmemişsin.You haven't saved my number.
