Meaning
Asking about someone's profession.
Cultural Background
Asking about work is a sign of interest, not prying. It helps people understand your daily rhythm and social circle. Titles are very important. If someone has a prestigious job, they might prefer you use their title (e.g., 'Müdür Bey') rather than just answering the question. In villages, 'iş' often refers to physical labor or farming. If you ask a farmer 'İşin ne?', they might describe their current crop. The 'Freelance' culture is growing. Many young people answer 'İşin ne?' with 'Freelance çalışıyorum' (I work freelance).
Add 'Peki'
Start with 'Peki' (So/Well) to make the question sound more natural: 'Peki, senin işin ne?'
Tone Matters
Say it with a smile. A flat tone can make it sound like an interrogation.
Meaning
Asking about someone's profession.
Add 'Peki'
Start with 'Peki' (So/Well) to make the question sound more natural: 'Peki, senin işin ne?'
Tone Matters
Say it with a smile. A flat tone can make it sound like an interrogation.
The 'Ne iş yapıyorsun?' Alternative
If you want to sound 100% natural, use 'Ne iş yapıyorsun?' instead. It's the most common version.
Test Yourself
Fill in the correct possessive suffix for 'you' (informal).
Senin iş___ ne?
The suffix '-in' corresponds to 'senin' (your).
Which phrase is the most formal way to ask about a job?
Hangi cümle en resmidir?
'Mesleğiniz nedir?' uses the formal 'Siz' and the specific word for profession.
Complete the dialogue naturally.
A: Merhaba, ben Ahmet. B: Memnun oldum Ahmet, ben de Elif. A: _________? B: Ben avukatım.
Since the response is 'I am a lawyer', the question must be about a job.
Match the phrase to the situation: 'Senin burada işin ne?'
Hangi durumda bu cümleyi kullanırsınız?
In this context, it means 'What are you doing here?' and expresses surprise or suspicion.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Formality Levels
Practice Bank
4 exercisesSenin iş___ ne?
The suffix '-in' corresponds to 'senin' (your).
Hangi cümle en resmidir?
'Mesleğiniz nedir?' uses the formal 'Siz' and the specific word for profession.
A: Merhaba, ben Ahmet. B: Memnun oldum Ahmet, ben de Elif. A: _________? B: Ben avukatım.
Since the response is 'I am a lawyer', the question must be about a job.
Hangi durumda bu cümleyi kullanırsınız?
In this context, it means 'What are you doing here?' and expresses surprise or suspicion.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsNot among friends or peers, but it can be too direct for strangers or elders.
'İş' is the job you are doing now. 'Meslek' is your career or what you studied for.
No, it's too informal. Use 'Bu pozisyonun sorumlulukları nelerdir?' instead.
You can say '[Profession]-ım/im'. For example: 'Öğretmenim' or 'Mühendisim'.
In this specific phrase, yes. 'Ne işin var?' is different.
You can say 'Şu an çalışmıyorum' (I'm not working right now) or 'İş arıyorum' (I'm looking for a job).
Both are correct. 'Nedir' is more formal and rarely used in speech.
Yes, but 'Mesleğin ne?' is more grammatically correct.
That's slang for 'What's up?' or 'What's the catch?'.
No, it's strictly for spoken language or informal texting.
Related Phrases
İşler nasıl?
similarHow is work going?
İşine bak!
contrastMind your own business!
İş başa düştü
idiomIt's up to me now.
İşten güçten
collocationFrom work and chores
İşsiz güçsüz
antonymUnemployed and idle
