A1 Expression Informell

Sence?

What do you think?

Phrase in 30 Seconds

The fastest way to ask 'What do you think?' in Turkish using just one word.

Means: 'In your opinion?' or 'According to you?'
Used in: Shopping, choosing food, or asking for advice.
Don't confuse: Use 'Sizce?' for formal situations or groups.

You + 💭 + ? = Sence?

Explanation at your level:

At the A1 level, 'Sence' is a magic word. You don't need to know complex grammar to use it. Just say 'Sence?' after any statement to ask a question. It helps you talk to people even if your Turkish is very basic. It means 'What do you think?' and is used with friends.

At the A2 level, you learn that 'Sence' comes from 'Sen' (you) and the suffix '-ce'. You start using it inside sentences, like 'Sence bu çay güzel mi?'. You also learn the formal version 'Sizce' to use with teachers or people you don't know well.

At the B1 level, you use 'Sence' to navigate social situations. You understand the nuance of 'Sence de...', which is used to seek agreement. You can use it to talk about more abstract things, like 'Sence bu film ne anlatıyor?' (What do you think this movie is telling us?).

At the B2 level, you recognize 'Sence' as part of the Equative Case. You understand how it functions as an adverbial modifier. You can use it sarcastically or rhetorically in debates to point out an obvious truth or to challenge someone's logic during a discussion.

At the C1 level, you analyze 'Sence' within the framework of Turkish pragmatics. You understand how its placement in a sentence (initial, medial, or final) shifts the focus of the inquiry. You can distinguish between its use as a genuine request for information versus a conversational filler.

At the C2 level, you master the sociolinguistic implications of 'Sence'. You understand how it reflects the collective identity in Turkish discourse. You can use it to manipulate the 'power distance' in a conversation, intentionally using it to create a sense of 'samimiyet' (sincerity) or 'laubalilik' (over-familiarity).

Bedeutung

Asking for an opinion.

🌍

Kultureller Hintergrund

When you are a guest, your host might ask 'Sence?' about the food or the comfort of the room. It's polite to answer with 'Bence her şey harika!' (In my opinion, everything is great!). In markets, sellers might use 'Sizce' to show respect to customers, while friends shopping together will constantly use 'Sence' to evaluate goods. Characters often use 'Sence?' to create dramatic tension or to show a deep emotional connection between lovers. Turkish influencers use 'Sence?' in almost every story to increase engagement with their followers.

🎯

The 'De' Trick

Add 'de' (Sence de...) if you want to sound like you're looking for a partner in crime or agreement. It makes you sound very native.

⚠️

The Boss Rule

Never use 'Sence' with your boss unless they have explicitly asked you to be informal. Stick to 'Sizce'.

Bedeutung

Asking for an opinion.

🎯

The 'De' Trick

Add 'de' (Sence de...) if you want to sound like you're looking for a partner in crime or agreement. It makes you sound very native.

⚠️

The Boss Rule

Never use 'Sence' with your boss unless they have explicitly asked you to be informal. Stick to 'Sizce'.

💬

Don't just ask, listen!

In Turkey, asking 'Sence?' is an opening. Be prepared for a long answer; Turks love to explain their reasoning!

Teste dich selbst

Choose the correct word to ask your best friend for their opinion.

Bu ayakkabılar çok güzel, ______?

✓ Richtig! ✗ Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: Sence

Since you are talking to a best friend (informal), 'Sence' is the correct choice.

Fill in the blank with the formal version of 'Sence'.

Affedersiniz efendim, ______ bu saat doğru mu?

✓ Richtig! ✗ Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: Sizce

When addressing someone as 'efendim' (sir/madam), you must use the formal 'Sizce'.

Complete the dialogue.

A: Akşam yemeğinde ne yiyelim? B: Pizza yiyelim. A: ______?

✓ Richtig! ✗ Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: Sence

Speaker A is asking for Speaker B's opinion on the suggestion.

Match the phrase to the situation.

You are asking your boss about a new project.

✓ Richtig! ✗ Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: Sizce?

A boss requires the formal 'Sizce'.

🎉 Ergebnis: /4

Visuelle Lernhilfen

Sence vs. Sizce

Sence

Friends

Family

Children

Sizce

Boss

Teacher

Strangers

Häufig gestellte Fragen

10 Fragen

Yes! It's very common. E.g., 'Bu araba çok hızlı, sence?'

Only if used with someone you should be formal with (elders, bosses). With friends, it's perfect.

'Sence' is singular/informal. 'Sizce' is plural or formal/singular.

Usually with 'Bence...' (In my opinion...) followed by your thought.

Yes, but it's much longer and sounds a bit more formal/serious.

No, 'Sence' is independent. It only changes if the pronoun changes (e.g., Bizce).

Constantly! It's often used alone as a reply to a photo or a link.

No, for physical location or 'compared to you', use 'Sana göre'.

Not really a different word, but 'Sence kanka?' is the slangy way to say it.

It means 'Do you ALSO think...'. It's used when the speaker already has an opinion.

Wo du es verwendest

🛍️

Shopping for clothes

Ayşe: Bu kırmızı kazak nasıl?

Mehmet: Güzel ama biraz pahalı.

Ayşe: Sence almalı mıyım?

informal

🍲

Ordering at a restaurant

Can: Lahmacun mu yesem, pide mi?

Elif: Pide çok taze görünüyor.

Can: Sence hangisi daha doyurucu?

informal

🎬

Watching a movie

Selin: Film çok sıkıcıydı.

Murat: Bence aksiyon sahneleri iyiydi.

Selin: Sence de sonu saçma değil miydi?

informal

💻

At the office (with a colleague)

Deniz: Sunum hazır mı?

Eren: Evet, ama grafikler biraz karışık.

Deniz: Sence müdür beğenecek mi?

neutral

🗺️

Asking for directions (Formal)

Turist: Affedersiniz, Taksim'e bu otobüs mü gider?

Yerli: Evet, bu otobüs gider.

Turist: Sizce ne kadar sürer?

formal

🗣️

Gossip/Social Commentary

Fatma: Ali ve Merve ayrılmış.

Zeynep: Hadi canım! Neden?

Fatma: Bilmem, sence neden?

informal

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of the English word 'Sense'. Ask yourself: 'Does this make SENSE to you?' -> Sence?

Visual Association

Imagine two people sitting on a park bench. One points to a cloud shaped like a cat and looks at the other with a raised eyebrow, saying 'Sence?'.

Rhyme

Sence, bence, her gece. (In your opinion, in my opinion, every night.)

Story

You are at a Turkish bazaar. You see a bright blue evil eye bead. You aren't sure if it's too big. You turn to your Turkish friend, point at the bead, and say 'Sence?'. They nod and say 'Bence harika!' (In my opinion, it's great!).

Word Web

SenSizceBenceGörüşFikirDüşünceKarar

Herausforderung

Today, every time you have to make a choice (what to eat, what to wear), ask a friend or even yourself: 'Sence?'

In Other Languages

Spanish high

¿Qué te parece?

Spanish requires a verb, Turkish is just a pronoun with a case suffix.

French high

À ton avis?

French uses a noun (avis), Turkish uses a suffix on the pronoun.

German moderate

Was meinst du?

German is a full sentence with a verb; Turkish is a single modified word.

Japanese moderate

どう思う？ (Dou omou?)

Japanese focuses on the verb 'think', Turkish focuses on the person 'you'.

Arabic high

ما رأيك؟ (Ma ra'yuk?)

Arabic uses a possessive structure, Turkish uses an equative case.

Chinese moderate

你觉得呢？ (Nǐ juéde ne?)

Chinese requires the verb 'to feel'.

Korean moderate

어때? (Eottae?)

Korean is an adjective-based question, Turkish is pronoun-based.

Portuguese moderate

O que você acha?

Portuguese uses a full subject-verb-object question structure.

Easily Confused

Sence? vs. Sana göre

Both mean 'according to you'.

'Sence' is for opinions. 'Sana göre' is often for relative comparisons (e.g., 'This is too big for you').

Sence? vs. Seninle

Learners mix up the suffixes '-ce' and '-le'.

'-le' means 'with'. 'Sence' is 'opinion'.

FAQ (10)