A1 Questions & Negation 5 min read Leicht

Questioning Existence with 'Var mı?'

To ask if something exists or is available, place the noun first followed by the phrase 'var mı?'.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Use 'var' for existence and 'yok' for non-existence, adding the question particle 'mı' to ask if something exists.

  • Use 'var' to say something exists: 'Kitap var' (There is a book).
  • Use 'yok' to say something is missing: 'Su yok' (There is no water).
  • Add 'mı' to 'var' to ask: 'Para var mı?' (Is there money?).
[Object] + var/yok + (mı?)

Overview

Welcome to one of the most useful phrases in Turkish. If you want to survive in Turkey, you need Var mı?. It simply means Is there? or Are there?.
Turkish does not use the word to have like English does. Instead, it talks about things existing or not existing. Imagine you are at a cafe.
You want to know if they have tea. You just say Çay var mı?. It is that simple.
This pattern is your best friend for shopping and eating. It works for one thing or many things. You do not need to change it for plurals.
It is the ultimate Swiss Army knife of Turkish grammar. Let us dive into how to build it.

How This Grammar Works

Turkish grammar is very logical and predictable. Think of it like building with Lego bricks. You take a noun, add the word for existence, and then add a question particle.
The word var means there is or exists. The word mı is a special particle that turns statements into questions. In English, we swap words around to make questions.
In Turkish, we just add mı at the very end. Because var always has the vowel 'a', the question particle will always be mı. This is due to Turkish vowel harmony rules.
You do not have to worry about mi, mu, or mü here. It is always var mı. It is like a fixed phrase that never changes its shape.
This makes it very easy for beginners to master quickly.

Formation Pattern

1
Building this sentence takes exactly three steps. Follow these and you will never get it wrong.
2
Pick the object you are asking about (e.g., Süt - milk).
3
Add the word var (exists).
4
Add the question particle mı (?).
5
Example: Süt + var + mı = Süt var mı? (Is there milk?).
6
If you want to be specific about a place, put the place first. Add the locative suffix (-de/-da) to the place.
7
Example: Dolapta (In the fridge) + süt + var + mı? = Dolapta süt var mı? (Is there milk in the fridge?).
8
Remember to keep a small space between var and mı. They are separate words. Think of mı as a floating question mark that you speak aloud.

When To Use It

You will use Var mı? dozens of times every day. Use it when you are hungry at a restaurant. Ask Menü var mı? to get the menu.
Use it when you are shopping for clothes. Ask Mavi tişört var mı? to find a blue shirt. It is perfect for checking if someone is home.
You can ask Ahmet var mı? meaning Is Ahmet there?. Use it at work to ask for supplies. Kalem var mı? works perfectly for
Is there a pen?
.
You can even use it for abstract things. Want to know if there is hope? Umut var mı?.
Want to know if there is a problem? Sorun var mı?. It covers every scenario where something might exist or be present.
It is the most polite way to ask if a shop stocks something.

When Not To Use It

Do not use Var mı? for actions or verbs. If you want to ask Are you coming?, this is the wrong tool. That requires verb conjugations, not existence words.
Also, do not use it when you are asking Who or What. If you ask Kim var? (Who is there?), you do not need mı. The word Kim already makes it a question.
Adding mı would be like saying
Who is there is there?
. It sounds a bit silly. Finally, avoid using it for permanent qualities.
To ask
Is the water cold?
, you use a different pattern. Var mı? is specifically for presence and availability. It is for things you can find, hold, or encounter.

Common Mistakes

Even native speakers might slip up, but you can be perfect. The biggest mistake is forgetting the space. Never write varmı as one word. It looks messy to a Turkish eye. Another mistake is using the wrong vowel harmony. Some learners try to say var mi. Remember, 'a' and 'ı' are best friends in Turkish. Always use mı after var. Don't forget the word order. In English, we say Is there...?. In Turkish, the Is there part comes last. If you put var mı at the start, people will be very confused. It is like wearing your shoes on your hands. Lastly, do not use it with the word değil. Değil is for is not. Var mı is for existence. They don't mix well together.

Contrast With Similar Patterns

You might hear Yok mu? and wonder what the difference is. Var mı? is a standard Is there? question. Yok mu? means Is there not?.
Use Yok mu? when you are surprised. If you expect milk in the fridge but see none, ask Süt yok mu?. It is like saying "Wait, isn't there any milk?".
Another similar pattern is just using mı after a noun. Süt mü? means Is it milk?. This is asking about the identity of the thing, not its existence.
Use Süt var mı? to find milk. Use Süt mü? to confirm the white liquid in your cup is milk. One looks for it, the other identifies it.

Quick FAQ

Q

Can I use this for Do you have?

Yes! Turkish uses

Is there... at you?
for possession.

Q

Does it work for plural things?

Absolutely. You can say Kitaplar var mı? for Are there books?.

Q

Is it formal or informal?

It is both! It is perfectly polite for all situations.

Q

How do I answer this question?

Just say Evet, var (Yes, there is) or Hayır, yok (No, there isn't).

Q

Is the 'ı' in mı pronounced like 'ee'?

No, it is like the 'u' in butter or the 'a' in alone.

Var/Yok Formation

Type Structure Example
Affirmative
Object + var
Para var
Negative
Object + yok
Para yok
Question
Object + var mı?
Para var mı?
Negative Question
Object + yok mu?
Para yok mu?

Meanings

These words function as existential predicates to indicate the presence or absence of an object or person.

1

Physical presence

Indicating an object exists in a specific location.

“Çantamda kalem var.”

“Evde kimse yok.”

2

Possession

Indicating that someone possesses something.

“Benim arabam var.”

“Onun zamanı yok.”

Reference Table

Reference table for Questioning Existence with 'Var mı?'
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Noun + var
Su var
Negative
Noun + yok
Su yok
Question
Noun + var mı?
Su var mı?
Neg. Question
Noun + yok mu?
Su yok mu?
Possessive
Noun + (possessive) + var
Arabam var
Past Tense
Noun + vardı/yoktu
Zamanım vardı

Formalitätsspektrum

Formell
Bir sorun var mı?

Bir sorun var mı? (Conflict)

Neutral
Sorun var mı?

Sorun var mı? (Conflict)

Informell
Sorun mu var?

Sorun mu var? (Conflict)

Umgangssprache
Sıkıntı mı var?

Sıkıntı mı var? (Conflict)

Existential Map

Existence

Presence

  • var exists

Absence

  • yok does not exist

Beispiele nach Niveau

1

Süt var.

There is milk.

2

Ekmek yok mu?

Isn't there bread?

1

Bugün vaktin var mı?

Do you have time today?

2

Bu otelde havuz yok.

There is no pool in this hotel.

1

Maalesef, istediğiniz ürün stokta yok.

Unfortunately, the product you want is not in stock.

2

Sence bu konuda bir çözüm var mı?

Do you think there is a solution to this issue?

1

Toplantıya katılım konusunda herhangi bir engel var mı?

Is there any obstacle regarding participation in the meeting?

2

Onun bu işte hiçbir parmağı yok.

He has no hand in this business.

1

Sistemde herhangi bir açık var mı diye kontrol ettim.

I checked if there is any vulnerability in the system.

2

Bu durumun başka bir izahı yok.

There is no other explanation for this situation.

1

Mevcut veriler ışığında, başka bir seçenek yok gibi görünüyor.

In light of the current data, it seems there is no other option.

Leicht verwechselbar

Questioning Existence with 'Var mı?' vs. Var vs. Bulunmak

Learners use 'bulunmak' too early.

Häufige Fehler

✗

Var kalem

✓

Kalem var

Object must come first.
✗

Kalem var mı?

✓

Kalem var mı?

Correct, but don't say 'Var mı kalem'.
✗

Kalemdir var

✓

Kalem var

Do not add 'dir'.
✗

Benim kalemim var mı?

✓

Kalemim var mı?

Keep it simple.
✗

Orada var kalem

✓

Orada kalem var

Location first.
✗

Var mı su?

✓

Su var mı?

Subject first.
✗

Onda var para

✓

Onun parası var

Use possessive suffixes.
✗

Sınıfta öğrenci bulunuyor

✓

Sınıfta öğrenci var

Use var for simple existence.
✗

Var mıydı su?

✓

Su var mıydı?

Word order.
✗

Bu durumun bir izahı bulunmamaktadır

✓

Bu durumun bir izahı yok

Too formal for speech.
✗

Onda bir sorun var mı?

✓

Onun bir sorunu var mı?

Use possessive.
✗

Var mı başka seçenek?

✓

Başka seçenek var mı?

Word order.

Satzmuster

___ var mı?

___ yok.

Benim ___ var.

Real World Usage

Shopping very common

Bu gömleğin mavisi var mı?

Dining very common

Vegan menü var mı?

Texting constant

Plan var mı?

💡

Keep it simple

Don't look for a verb. Just use var/yok.
⚠️

Word order

Always put the object first.
🎯

Questions

Add 'mı' to 'var' to make it a question.

Smart Tips

Always put the item you are looking for at the start of the sentence.

Var mı menü? → Menü var mı?

Use the possessive suffix on the noun.

Benim kalem var. → Benim kalemim var.

Repeat the word 'var' or 'yok' for a natural response.

Evet. → Evet, var.

Aussprache

var mı (var-muh)

Vowel Harmony

Var and yok do not change, but the question particle 'mı' follows the last vowel of the preceding word.

Rising

Kalem var mı? ↑

Yes/No question intonation

Einprägen

Eselsbrücke

Var rhymes with 'car'—if you have a car, you have 'var'.

Visuelle Assoziation

Imagine a box. If you see an apple inside, say 'Elma var!'. If the box is empty, say 'Elma yok!'.

Rhyme

If it's there, say var, if it's gone, say yok, don't go far!

Story

Ali looks in his bag. 'Kitap var' (He sees a book). He looks for his keys. 'Anahtar yok' (He doesn't see them). He asks his friend: 'Anahtar var mı?' (Is there a key?).

Word Web

varyokvar mıyok muvardıyoktu

Herausforderung

Look around your room and list 5 things that are there (var) and 3 things that are missing (yok).

Kulturelle Hinweise

Asking 'var mı?' is the standard way to check for anything, from a seat on a bus to a specific item in a store.

Var is an ancient Turkic word for existence.

Gesprächseinstiege

“

Bugün vaktin var mı?

“

Sınıfta kalem var mı?

“

Evde yemek var mı?

Tagebuch-Impulse

List 5 things in your room using 'var'.
What is missing in your fridge? Use 'yok'.
Ask 3 questions to your friend about their day using 'var mı?'.

Häufige Fehler

Incorrect

Richtig

Incorrect

Richtig

Incorrect

Richtig

Incorrect

Richtig

Test Yourself

Fill in the blank.

Süt ___?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: var mı
It's a question.
Choose the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Kalem var
Object first.
Reorder the words. Sentence Reorder

Arrange the words in the correct order:

All words placed

Click words above to build the sentence

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Su var mı
Object + var + mı.
Translate to Turkish. Übersetzung

There is no money.

Answer starts with: Par...

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Para yok
Yok means no.

Score: /4

Ubungsaufgaben

4 exercises
Fill in the blank.

Süt ___?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: var mı
It's a question.
Choose the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Kalem var
Object first.
Reorder the words. Sentence Reorder

var / mı / su

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Su var mı
Object + var + mı.
Translate to Turkish. Übersetzung

There is no money.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Para yok
Yok means no.

Score: /4

FAQ (6)

Yes, 'Ali var' means Ali is here.

No, it stays 'var' for both singular and plural.

Use possessive + var. 'Benim arabam var'.

No, it's neutral and used everywhere.

Because 'var' has a back vowel 'a', so 'mı' is used.

Yes, it's a common way to say 'no' or 'none'.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

In Other Languages

Spanish high

Hay

Turkish puts the object before the word.

French moderate

Il y a

Turkish is more concise.

German moderate

Es gibt

Turkish lacks a verb.

Japanese partial

Aru/Iru

Turkish is gender/animacy neutral.

Arabic low

Yujad

Turkish is simpler.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Connected Grammar

Possessive Suffixes

Builds On

Needed for 'I have' structures.

Question Particle

Similar

Explains how 'mı' works generally.

Previous
Present Continuous Tense Affirmative (-iyor)
Next
Possessive Suffix: 3rd Person Plural (-leri)
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