In Turkish, when you want to express that something needs to be done, or that something is necessary, the two most common words used are gerek and lazım. These are typically placed after a verb (either in its infinitive form or conjugated with a possessive suffix), depending on whether the statement refers to a general necessity or a personal one.
In this post, we’ll explore:
- The difference between gerek and lazım
- How to construct sentences for general vs. personal necessity
Hadi öğrenelim!
General Necessity
Verb (infinitive) + gerek / lazım
This form is used when you are speaking in general terms. The subject is not specific – it’s about general truths, advice, or rules.
Examples:
| Turkish Sentence | English Translation |
|---|---|
| Sağlıklı olmak için dengeli beslenmek gerek. | To be healthy, it’s necessary to have a balanced diet. |
| Spor yapmadan önce iyi ısınmak gerek. | You need to warm up well before exercising. |
| Makyajı çıkarmadan yatmamak lazım. | You shouldn’t go to bed without removing your makeup. |
| Güneş kremi sürmeden dışarı çıkmamak gerek. | You shouldn’t go outside without putting on sunscreen. |
Note: Gerek and lazım are often interchangeable in general necessity. However, lazım may sound slightly more conversational, while gerek is a bit more formal or neutral.
Personalized Necessity
Verb root + personal possessive suffix + gerek / lazım
To express who needs to do something, you must personalize the verb by adding the correct possessive suffix. This makes the sentence specific and directed at a person.
The vowel in the suffix and whether you use -m or -ma depends on Turkish vowel harmony and consonant rules.
Here are the possessive suffixes used to express necessity:
| Person | Possessive Suffix | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Ben (I) | -mem / -mam | gitmem gerek → I need to go |
| Sen (You) | -men / -man | gelmen lazım → You need to come |
| O (He/She/It) | -mesi / -ması | yapması gerek → He/She needs to do |
| Biz (We) | -memiz / -mamız | almamız lazım → We need to buy |
| Siz (You – pl/formal) | -meniz / -manız | çıkmanız lazım → You (all) need to leave |
| Onlar (They) | -meleri / -maları | görmeleri gerek → They need to see |
Examples:
| Turkish Sentence | English Translation |
|---|---|
| Hemen buraya gelmen lazım. | You need to come here right away. |
| Parti için daha fazla içki almamız lazım. | We need to buy more drinks for the party. |
| Kendini sana affettirmek için daha ne yapması gerek? | What more does he/she need to do to make you forgive him/her? |
| Netflix’teki yeni Türk filmini görmen lazım! | You have to see the new Turkish movie on Netflix! |
| Ay sonunu görebilmek için dışarıda yemek yememem gerek. | If I want to make it to the end of the month, I need to stop eating out. |
You can now express necessity in Turkish using the words gerek and lazım—a handy structure for everyday conversations! In addition to expressing necessity, learn how to express obligation in Turkish with the suffix -malı / -meli.