"Bir elma ve su"

Translation: An apple and water

[AhmedAhdmm]

Is there a problem with speaking or they speak like that ?

[A1fie]

This recording has poor quality

[LehontiRamos]

Since Turkish isn't related to Indoeuropean languages maybe some phrases could be given with explanations if needed, to avoid ambiguities.

When I read this phrase, I try to think as simply as possible, to get rid of the Indoeuropean framework.

To me this sentence it looks like an apple and some water (I don't know anything else yet). Is this what this means?

[Andro0]

Bir is literally "one".. and "ve" = and. So, this sentence translates word for word "An(one) apple and water".

[l0stc0ntr0l]

You are right a bit in my humble opinion,
In Turkish, "some" is more specific than English, i may say it defines the quantity as in "some" and "a lot".
So if a person does not want to stress on the quantity of water (as in this sentence), s/he doesn't use the word "some".

Also, i may say that there is no indefinite article as "a" or "an", so if there is "bir" in front of any word, you may easily say that it is "one". However, to translate better and more correctly, as you don't say "one apple and water", you may decide to say "an apple and water".

[NoNameNoFace]

Considering "ve" is "and" while "veya" is "or" does "ya" have a meaning? Im wondering if its a combination of words.

[burak.duolingo]

Native speaker here. According to The Contemporary Turkish Dictionary offered by the TDK (Turkish Language Institute), "veya" entered Turkish via the Arabic "ve" and the Farsi "ya". So it is indeed a compound word.

[linguistkris]

Strictest diet ever. :p
Comparing this to the French course which starts out with croissants and pizza in lesson 1, this is a very spartan introduction to Turkish cuisine!

[MarcelinoNolose]

Hahaha. Good point! However while Turkey has the highest obesity rates in Europe, France is one of the healthiest countries.

[linguistkris]

Really? How interesting! I would never have guessed. (About the obesity rates in Turkey, that is -- the French level of healthiness is legendary. :))

I know Turkish sweets are drenched in sugar, and eating out there probably is too much focus on large slabs of meat, but when I think of my friends' home cooking, it's all salads and veggies and pulses and generally very healthy indeed. If I had to find issues with it, all I could come up with was quite a lot of white carbs.
And then I am sure both cultures' emphasis on social eating must be super healthy. So do you think this is to do with industrialization and social change through working mums and such?

[MarcelinoNolose]

I guess it's more to do with easier access to food with high fat content combined with a lack of regular exercise; both facts common to countries with a "muslim" background. I'm only guessing though, since I'll visit Turkey for the first time in a couple of days. :)

[chucklepie]

If there are no articles in Turkish (as start page) what is Bir if not an article?

[AlexinNotTurkey]

it is the number 1. :) You do have to use it sometimes, but it is decidedly not an article in the Western European sense.

[hala643558]

مرحبا بكم مين غيري عم يدرس تركي

[edagk3442]

Oyun çok güzel

[Ali303019]

Hello

[ph.uCqY9g]

I fastly learn spanish
My favourite language

[jorgeOver9000]

sounds like daily prison food ration ;)

[chucklepie]

Sorry, I can't find a 'reply' button.

Regarding the answer 'it is the number 1. :) You do have to use it sometimes, but it is decidedly not an article in the Western European sense.'

When you hover over the word 'Bir' in the questions it says 'a/an/one', which is why I questioned it, slightly confusing?

[Zeldstarro]

I decided to do something different for this answer and say "water and an apple," which for English is the exact same as "an apple and water." Why wasn't it allowed?

[AlexinNotTurkey]

Because that is not the word order of what is present above. Stick to word order and all will be ok. :)