Turkish grammar: sesli ve sessiz harfler

What this grammar point covers

In Turkish, the alphabet has two types of letters: vowels (sesli harfler) and consonants (sessiz harfler). Knowing the difference is important for correct pronunciation and grammar.

When to use it

You need to know vowels and consonants when reading, writing, and speaking Turkish. They are also important for grammar rules like vowel harmony and suffixes.

Key forms

• Sesli harfler: a, e, ı, i, o, ö, u, ü
• Sessiz harfler: b, c, ç, d, f, g, ğ, h, j, k, l, m, n, p, r, s, ş, t, v, y, z

Examples

Tips

• Remember: Turkish has 8 vowels and 21 consonants.
• Pay attention to vowel harmony rules, which depend on the vowels in the word.
• Some Turkish words never start with certain consonants, like 'ğ'.

Exceptions and edge cases

• The letter 'ğ' is a consonant but it is not pronounced as a strong sound. It usually lengthens the vowel before it.