When learning Turkish, understanding demonstrative location words is essential. The terms burada/burası, şurada/şurası, and orada/orası all indicate location but differ subtly in meaning and usage. Let’s clarify these distinctions below.
Table of Contents
Burada, Şurada, Orada – Indicating Location (“Where?”)
Burada, şurada, and orada are used specifically to answer the question “Nerede?” (Where?). They indicate the position or existence of something or someone at a certain place.
| Turkish | English Translation |
|---|---|
| Burada | Here |
| Şurada | There (nearby) |
| Orada | Over there (farther away) |
Examples:
- Burada bir kafe var. (There is a café here.)
- Kitap şurada. (The book is there [nearby].)
- Araban orada mı? (Is your car over there?)
Burası, Şurası, Orası – Referring to a Specific Place (“This place/That place”)
Burası, şurası, and orası differ from the previous set because they specifically refer to or identify a particular place itself, rather than just indicating general location. They answer the implied question “Burası neresi?” (What is this place?).
| Turkish | English Translation |
| Burası | This place (right here) |
| Şurası | That place (close by, in view but a bit farther) |
| Orası | That place over there (farther away) |
Examples:
- Burası çok büyük. (This place is very big.)
- Burası alışveriş merkezi. (This place is a shopping mall.)
- Şurası Galata Kulesi. (That place is Galata Tower.)
- Şurası hastane. (That place is a hospital.)
- Orası park. (That place over there is the park.)
- Orası çok kalabalık. (That place over there is very crowded.)
Conclusion
The following table provides a clear comparison to better illustrate usage of “Burada/Burası,” “Şurada/Şurası,” and “Orada/Orası”:
| Distance | Location Words (Answer “Nerede?”) | Place Identification (Answer “Burası neresi?”) |
| Close proximity | Burada (here) | Burası (this place here) |
| Short distance | Şurada (there, close by) | Şurası (that place nearby) |
| Long distance | Orada (over there, far away) | Orası (that place over there) |
To continue improving your Turkish, explore the difference between “Bu/Bunlar,” “Şu/Şunlar,” and “O/Onlar” in Turkish.
This grammar topic is taught in the second lesson of the TurkishFluent online course. Try TurkishFluent now >