When you live in Turkey, one of the most important relationships you will have is with your komşu, or neighbor. Turkish people are very social and often know their neighbors well, sometimes even better than their own relatives! Your neighbors will be the first people to help you when you move, when you have a baby, or when you are sick. If you’re ever in trouble, your komşu will be there to help you.
When talking about people who live next to you, you'll use the word komşu. This is a common noun and means 'neighbor'.
You can use it to refer to a male or female neighbor, as Turkish nouns don't have grammatical gender. For example, 'Benim komşum çok iyi' means 'My neighbor is very good.'
It's a useful word to know for everyday conversations about your living situation or the people around you.
When talking about someone who lives next door or very close to you, the word you'll use in Turkish is komşu. It's a straightforward noun, and you can use it to refer to a male or female neighbor, as Turkish doesn't have grammatical gender for this word. You might hear people say "Yeni komşumuz çok iyi," meaning "Our new neighbor is very kind." It’s a common word for describing the people in your immediate community.
Alright, let's talk about how to actually use the word komşu (neighbor) in Turkish sentences. It's a pretty straightforward word, but there are a few things to keep in mind regarding grammar and prepositions.
§ Basic Usage of 'komşu'
Like many nouns in Turkish, komşu can be used directly as the subject or object of a sentence. No special tricks here.
Komşu geldi. (The neighbor came.)
Benim komşum çok iyi. (My neighbor is very good.)
§ Using 'komşu' with the Locative Case (-DA/-DE/-TA/-TE)
When you want to say something is 'at the neighbor's' or 'with the neighbor,' you'll use the locative case. This suffix is -da/-de or -ta/-te, depending on vowel harmony and consonant assimilation.
- Grammar Point
- The locative suffix -da/-de means 'at', 'in', or 'on'. If the word ends in a voiceless consonant (f, h, k, p, s, ş, t, ç), it becomes -ta/-te.
Komşumda kahve içtik. (We drank coffee at my neighbor's.)
Komşularda parti var. (There's a party at the neighbors'.)
§ Using 'komşu' with the Dative Case (-A/-E)
If you're going 'to the neighbor' or giving something 'to the neighbor', you'll use the dative case suffix -a/-e. If the word ends in a vowel, a buffer consonant 'y' is added before the suffix.
- Grammar Point
- The dative suffix -a/-e means 'to' or 'towards'. Because 'komşu' ends in a vowel, you add 'y' as a buffer consonant before the suffix.
Komşuya gittik. (We went to the neighbor.)
Komşulara hediye aldım. (I bought a gift for the neighbors.)
§ Using 'komşu' with the Ablative Case (-DAN/-DEN/-TAN/-TEN)
When you're coming 'from the neighbor' or getting something 'from the neighbor', you'll use the ablative case. This suffix is -dan/-den or -tan/-ten.
- Grammar Point
- The ablative suffix -dan/-den means 'from'. Similar to the locative, if the word ends in a voiceless consonant, it becomes -tan/-ten.
Komşudan geliyorum. (I am coming from the neighbor.)
Komşudan yardım istedim. (I asked for help from the neighbor.)
§ Possessive Structures with 'komşu'
You'll often talk about 'the neighbor's car' or 'the neighbor's house'. This involves possessive structures.
- Grammar Point
- To form a possessive, the first noun (the possessor) takes the genitive suffix (-ın/-in/-un/-ün) and the second noun (the possessed item) takes a possessive suffix (-ı/-i/-u/-ü or -sı/-si/-su/-sü if the noun ends in a vowel).
Komşunun arabası yeni. (The neighbor's car is new.)
Komşunun evine gittik. (We went to the neighbor's house.)
As you can see, using komşu involves understanding the basic Turkish case suffixes. Practice these examples, and you'll get the hang of it quickly!
§ What 'Komşu' Means
- DEFINITION
- neighbor
§ Examples of 'Komşu' in Sentences
Benim komşu çok yardımsever.
Yarın komşuları ziyaret edeceğiz.
Bir fincan şeker için komşuya gittim.
Yeni komşularımız çok sessiz.
§ Related Words and Phrases
Komşuluk: This means 'neighborliness' or 'neighborhood relations'. It refers to the state of being neighbors and the relationship between them. Kapı komşu: Literally 'door neighbor', this specifically refers to the neighbor who lives right next door, sharing a wall or a very close proximity. It emphasizes the immediate closeness.
Kapı komşumuzla her zaman iyi anlaştık.
§ When to Use 'Komşu' vs. Other Words
İyi komşu: Good neighbor Kötü komşu: Bad neighbor Yaşlı komşu: Elderly neighbor Yeni komşu: New neighbor
Mahalle: This means 'neighborhood' or 'district'. It refers to the larger area where many komşular live. Semt: Also 'district' or 'quarter', often referring to a slightly larger area than a mahalle but still a distinct part of a city where people reside and have neighbors.
Bizim mahallede herkes birbirini tanır.
Gramática que debes saber
Nouns take suffixes based on their function in a sentence. For 'komşu' (neighbor), if you're saying 'my neighbor', you add the possessive suffix -m: 'komşu-m'.
Benim komşum çok iyi bir insan. (My neighbor is a very good person.)
When referring to 'to the neighbor', the dative case suffix -ya/-ye (depending on vowel harmony) is used. For 'komşu', it's -ya: 'komşu-ya'.
Bugün komşuya gideceğim. (I will go to the neighbor's today.)
If you want to say 'from the neighbor', you use the ablative case suffix -dan/-den. For 'komşu', it's -dan: 'komşu-dan'.
Komşudan bir bardak şeker aldım. (I got a cup of sugar from the neighbor.)
To indicate 'at the neighbor's' or 'with the neighbor', the locative case suffix -da/-de is used. For 'komşu', it's -da: 'komşu-da'.
Anahtarımı komşuda unuttum. (I forgot my key at the neighbor's.)
Pluralizing 'komşu' is done by adding the -lar/-ler suffix. For 'komşu', it's -lar: 'komşular'.
Bizim komşularımız çok gürültülü. (Our neighbors are very noisy.)
Ejemplos por nivel
Yeni komşularımız çok iyi insanlar.
Our new neighbors are very good people.
Komşum her zaman bana yardım eder.
My neighbor always helps me.
Sabahları komşularımla kahve içeriz.
We drink coffee with my neighbors in the mornings.
Komşularımızla iyi ilişkilerimiz var.
We have good relationships with our neighbors.
Yan komşu, dün gece gürültü yapıyordu.
The next-door neighbor was making noise last night.
Mahallede herkes komşularını tanır.
Everyone in the neighborhood knows their neighbors.
Komşumun köpeği çok sevimli.
My neighbor's dog is very cute.
Eski komşularımı özlüyorum.
I miss my old neighbors.
Komşumuzun bahçesi her zaman çiçeklerle doludur, bu yüzden oradan geçerken içim açılır.
Our neighbor's garden is always full of flowers, so my heart opens when I pass by there.
Possessive suffix -ımız added to komşu (our neighbor). The phrase 'içim açılır' means 'it brightens my day' or 'it lifts my spirits'.
Yeni taşındığımızda, komşularımız bize hemen sıcak bir karşılama yemeği getirdi ve çok yardımcı oldular.
When we moved in, our neighbors immediately brought us a warm welcome meal and were very helpful.
Taşındığımızda: when we moved (verb 'taşınmak' - to move, with '-dığında' - when/upon doing something). Karşılama yemeği: welcome meal.
Uzun yıllardır aynı apartmanda yaşadığımız için komşularımızla aile gibi olduk.
Since we have lived in the same apartment for many years, we have become like family with our neighbors.
Yaşadığımız için: because we have lived (verb 'yaşamak' - to live, with '-dığı için' - because of doing something). Aile gibi olduk: we became like family.
Bir gün, komşumuzun kedisi kaçtı ve bütün mahalle onu aramak için seferber oldu.
One day, our neighbor's cat escaped and the whole neighborhood mobilized to search for it.
Kaçtı: escaped (verb 'kaçmak' - to escape). Seferber oldu: mobilized (verb 'seferber olmak' - to mobilize).
Komşularımızla sık sık kahve içip sohbet ederiz, bu da apartman hayatını daha keyifli hale getiriyor.
We often drink coffee and chat with our neighbors, which makes apartment life more enjoyable.
Sık sık: often. Sohbet ederiz: we chat (verb 'sohbet etmek' - to chat). Keyifli hale getiriyor: makes it enjoyable.
Çocuklarımızın güvenliği için komşularımızla iyi ilişkiler kurmak bizim için çok önemli.
Building good relationships with our neighbors is very important for the safety of our children.
Güvenliği için: for the safety of. İlişkiler kurmak: to build relationships.
Eski komşumun her pazar yaptığı enfes böreklerin kokusu hala burnumda tütüyor.
The smell of the delicious pastries my old neighbor made every Sunday still lingers in my nose (literally: smokes in my nose).
Enfes börekler: delicious pastries. Burnumda tütüyor: an idiom meaning 'I miss it dearly' or 'it lingers in my memory/nose'.
Komşuluk ilişkileri, özellikle büyük şehirlerde, insanların birbirine destek olması açısından hayati bir role sahip.
Neighborly relations have a vital role, especially in big cities, in terms of people supporting each other.
Komşuluk ilişkileri: neighborly relations. Birbirine destek olması açısından: in terms of supporting each other.
Patrones gramaticales
Modismos y expresiones
"kapı komşu"
next-door neighbor, immediate neighbor
Kapı komşumuzu yemeğe davet ettik. (We invited our next-door neighbor to dinner.)
neutral"komşu kapısı"
a neighbor's house (implies a close relationship where one can easily visit)
Bir şeye ihtiyacın olursa, komşu kapısı. (If you need anything, just come to the neighbor's house.)
neutral"komşu komşunun külüne muhtaçtır"
neighbors need each other (literally: a neighbor is in need of another neighbor's ashes, implying even small things)
Unum bitince komşu komşunun külüne muhtaçtır deyip Ayşe teyzeden istedim. (When I ran out of flour, I said 'neighbors need each other' and asked Aunt Ayşe.)
formal"komşu hakkı"
neighbor's right (the idea that one should treat neighbors well and help them)
Komşu hakkı önemlidir, zor zamanlarında yanında olmalıyız. (Neighbor's right is important, we should be by their side in their difficult times.)
neutral"komşu çocuğu"
neighbor's child (often used when comparing one's own child to a well-behaved/successful neighbor's child)
Ahmet, keşke sen de komşu çocuğu gibi düzenli olsan. (Ahmet, I wish you were as tidy as the neighbor's child.)
informal"komşuda pişer, bize de düşer"
what's cooked at the neighbor's will also fall to us (implies hoping for a share or a bit of luck from a neighbor's good fortune)
Onlar yeni araba almış, komşuda pişer, bize de düşer belki. (They bought a new car, maybe some good luck will come our way too, from their fortune.)
informal"komşunun tavuğu komşuya kaz görünür"
the neighbor's chicken looks like a goose to the neighbor (implies that others' possessions always seem better than one's own)
Benim telefonum yeni ama komşununki daha iyi gibi geliyor. Komşunun tavuğu komşuya kaz görünür misali. (My phone is new, but the neighbor's seems better. It's like the neighbor's chicken looking like a goose to the neighbor.)
neutral"komşu kızı"
neighbor's daughter (can sometimes imply a potential romantic interest or a generally well-regarded young woman)
Mahallenin komşu kızı çok akıllı ve başarılı. (The neighbor's daughter in the neighborhood is very smart and successful.)
neutral"yakın komşu uzak akrabadan iyidir"
a close neighbor is better than a distant relative
Yardıma ihtiyacın olduğunda ilk yetişen komşundur, yakın komşu uzak akrabadan iyidir. (When you need help, your neighbor is the first to arrive; a close neighbor is better than a distant relative.)
formal"komşu gürültüsü"
neighbor's noise
Bu sabah yine komşu gürültüsüyle uyandım. (This morning I woke up again to the neighbor's noise.)
neutralPatrones de oraciones
Bu benim {Turkish Word}.
Bu benim komşum. (This is my neighbor.)
{Turkish Word} nerede?
Komşu nerede? (Where is the neighbor?)
{Turkish Word} çok iyi/güzel/yardımsever.
Komşum çok yardımsever. (My neighbor is very helpful.)
{Turkish Word} ile konuşuyorum.
Komşu ile konuşuyorum. (I am talking with the neighbor.)
{Turkish Word} benim arkadaşım oldu.
Komşum benim arkadaşım oldu. (My neighbor became my friend.)
{Turkish Word} kahve içmeye geldi.
Komşularım kahve içmeye geldi. (My neighbors came to drink coffee.)
{Turkish Word} geçen gün bana yardım etti.
Komşum geçen gün bana yardım etti. (My neighbor helped me the other day.)
{Turkish Word} ile iyi ilişkilerim var.
Komşularımla iyi ilişkilerim var. (I have good relationships with my neighbors.)
Cómo usarlo
Komşu is a common noun meaning 'neighbor.' It can refer to a person living next door or in the vicinity. It can also be used more broadly to describe a neighboring country or area, though less commonly than for people. When referring to people, it's used in the singular for one neighbor, and komşular for multiple neighbors.
A common mistake for English speakers is to directly translate 'my neighbor' as *'benim komşu'*. In Turkish, possessive suffixes are frequently used. So, 'my neighbor' would be komşum. For 'our neighbor,' it's komşumuz.
Consejos
Pronunciation Practice for Komşu
Say 'kom-shoo' out loud a few times. The 'o' is like in 'go', and the 'u' is like in 'flute'. The 'ş' is a soft 'sh' sound.
Gender-Neutral Term
In Turkish, 'komşu' is gender-neutral. It can refer to a male neighbor or a female neighbor, so you don't need different words.
Using Komşu in Sentences
A common phrase is 'Benim komşum...' (My neighbor...). For example, 'Benim komşum çok iyi.' (My neighbor is very good.)
Plural Form
To make 'komşu' plural, you add '-lar' or '-ler'. Since 'u' is a back vowel, it becomes 'komşular' (neighbors).
Importance of Neighbors in Turkish Culture
In Turkish culture, neighbors often have a close relationship. It's common to share food or help each other out.
Asking About a Neighbor
You can ask, 'Komşun nasıl?' (How is your neighbor?). 'Komşunuz nasıl?' (How is your neighbor? - formal/plural).
Adjectives with Komşu
You can use various adjectives. For example, 'Yeni komşu' (new neighbor), 'Yaşlı komşu' (old neighbor).
Possessive Endings with Komşu
'Komşum' (my neighbor), 'Komşun' (your neighbor), 'Komşusu' (his/her/its neighbor).
Don't Confuse with 'Arkadaş'
While neighbors can be friends, 'komşu' specifically refers to someone living next door or nearby, whereas 'arkadaş' means friend.
Derived Word: Komşuluk
The word 'komşuluk' means 'neighborliness' or 'neighborhood'. It describes the relationship or community of neighbors.
Memorízalo
Mnemotecnia
Imagine your **com**fy **shoe**s are next to your **neighbor**'s door. *Komşu* sounds a bit like 'comfy shoe'.
Asociación visual
Picture two houses side-by-side, with a smiling person waving from one to the other. Maybe a friendly dog is wagging its tail between the houses. This visually represents the idea of a neighbor.
Word Web
Desafío
Think about your own neighbors. Can you describe one of them using Turkish words you already know? For example, 'Benim komşum yaşlı.' (My neighbor is old.) or 'Komşum çok iyi.' (My neighbor is very kind.)
Preguntas frecuentes
10 preguntasTo say 'my neighbor,' you add the possessive suffix '-m' to 'komşu,' making it 'komşum.'
The plural of 'komşu' is 'komşular.' You add the plural suffix '-lar' (because the last vowel in 'komşu' is 'u', which is a back vowel).
You can ask 'Komşunuz kim?' (formal/plural 'your') or 'Komşun kim?' (informal/singular 'your'). 'Kim' means 'who.'
Yes, 'komşu' is gender-neutral and can refer to both a male or a female neighbor.
There isn't a direct single word for 'next-door neighbor' like in English. You would usually say 'yan komşu' (literally 'side neighbor') or specify their apartment number, for example, 'üst kat komşu' (upstairs neighbor) or 'alt kat komşu' (downstairs neighbor).
For 'good neighbor,' you can say 'iyi komşu.' For 'neighborly,' you might describe someone as having 'komşu gibi' (like a neighbor) qualities, or simply say they are 'iyi bir insan' (a good person) in a neighborly context.
To say 'our neighbor,' you would use the possessive suffix '-umuz,' making it 'komşumuz.'
A common saying is 'Komşu komşunun külüne muhtaçtır,' which means 'A neighbor needs a neighbor's ashes' (or 'A neighbor needs even a neighbor's trifles'), emphasizing the importance of neighborly support.
You can use standard greetings like 'Merhaba' (Hello) or 'Günaydın' (Good morning) and then perhaps ask 'Nasılsınız?' (How are you? - formal/plural) or 'Nasılsın?' (How are you? - informal/singular).
It generally refers to people living in the same building, on the same street, or in very close proximity. It implies a degree of regular interaction due to their closeness.
Ponte a prueba 12 preguntas
Write a short sentence about your neighbor using 'komşu'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Benim iyi bir komşum var. (I have a good neighbor.)
Imagine you are introducing your neighbor. Write a sentence saying 'This is my neighbor, Ayşe.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Bu benim komşum, Ayşe. (This is my neighbor, Ayşe.)
Write a sentence in Turkish to ask someone 'Do you know my neighbor?'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Benim komşumu tanıyor musun? (Do you know my neighbor?)
Can'ın evinin yanında ne var?
Read this passage:
Merhaba! Benim adım Can. Bu benim evim. Evimin yanında bir başka ev var. Orada iyi bir komşu yaşıyor.
Can'ın evinin yanında ne var?
Passage says 'Orada iyi bir komşu yaşıyor.' (A good neighbor lives there.)
Passage says 'Orada iyi bir komşu yaşıyor.' (A good neighbor lives there.)
Zeynep nasıl bir komşu?
Read this passage:
Benim bir komşum var. Onun adı Zeynep. Zeynep çok yardımsever bir komşu. Her zaman bana yardım eder.
Zeynep nasıl bir komşu?
The passage states 'Zeynep çok yardımsever bir komşu.' (Zeynep is a very helpful neighbor.)
The passage states 'Zeynep çok yardımsever bir komşu.' (Zeynep is a very helpful neighbor.)
Ahmet Bey neyi özlüyor?
Read this passage:
Ahmet Bey, yeni bir eve taşındı. Eski komşularını çok özlüyor. Yeni komşuları da iyi ama eski komşuları özeldi.
Ahmet Bey neyi özlüyor?
The passage says 'Eski komşularını çok özlüyor.' (He misses his old neighbors very much.)
The passage says 'Eski komşularını çok özlüyor.' (He misses his old neighbors very much.)
What does our neighbor have in their garden?
How does our new neighbor seem?
Who did we invite for dinner?
Read this aloud:
Komşularla iyi ilişkiler sürdürmek önemlidir.
Focus: Kom-şu-lar-la i-yi i-liş-ki-ler sür-dür-mek ö-nem-li-dir.
Dijiste:
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Read this aloud:
Sizce iyi bir komşu nasıl olmalıdır?
Focus: Siz-ce i-yi bir kom-şu na-sıl ol-ma-lı-dır?
Dijiste:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Komşum bana çok lezzetli bir pasta getirdi.
Focus: Kom-şum ba-na çok lez-zet-li bir pas-ta ge-tir-di.
Dijiste:
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/ 12 correct
Perfect score!
Pronunciation Practice for Komşu
Say 'kom-shoo' out loud a few times. The 'o' is like in 'go', and the 'u' is like in 'flute'. The 'ş' is a soft 'sh' sound.
Gender-Neutral Term
In Turkish, 'komşu' is gender-neutral. It can refer to a male neighbor or a female neighbor, so you don't need different words.
Using Komşu in Sentences
A common phrase is 'Benim komşum...' (My neighbor...). For example, 'Benim komşum çok iyi.' (My neighbor is very good.)
Plural Form
To make 'komşu' plural, you add '-lar' or '-ler'. Since 'u' is a back vowel, it becomes 'komşular' (neighbors).
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