tabi tabii tabii ki

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‘Tabi,’ ‘tabii,’ and ‘tabii ki’: Learn the Difference and Avoid Mistakes

One typical mistake for Turkish learners (and even natives!) is distinguishing between the words tabi, tabii, and the phrase tabii ki (often mistakenly written tabiki). You can here these terms everyday in the street in Istanbul. But be careful, they have distinct meanings and usages. This blog post will guide you through their differences and help you avoid making mistakes using them.

Tabi: Obedience and Dependence

The word tabi or tâbi is derived from Arabic and is used to express the idea of obedience, subordination, or being subject to something. It is often used in formal or semi-formal contexts and can appear in expressions about hierarchy or dependence.

Rules for “Tabi”:

  1. Meaning: “Subject to,” “dependent on,” or “following.”
  2. Usage: Used in phrases to indicate dependency or subordination.
  3. Grammar: Often followed by the dative case (*-e/*-a*).

Examples:

  • Bu kural herkese tabi. (This rule applies to everyone)
  • Onun kararlarına tabiyiz. (We are subject to his/her decisions.)
  • Öğrenciler okul yönetmeliğine tabi olmalıdır. (Students must comply with the school regulations.)

Tabii: Natural or Of Course

The word tabii comes from the same root as “tabi,” but it has a completely different function and meaning. It is used to mean “natural” (adjective) or “of course” (adverb), and it is common in both formal and informal speech.

Rules for “Tabii”:

  1. Meaning:
    • “Natural” in a literal sense.
    • “Of course” to indicate agreement or emphasis.
  2. Usage: It can be an adjective or an adverb, depending on the sentence structure.
  3. Pronunciation: Stressed on the second syllable: ta-BII.

Examples:

  • Bu olay çok tabii. (This situation is very natural.)
  • Tabii, size yardım ederim. (Of course, I will help you.)
  • Hayvanların bu şekilde davranması çok tabii. (It is very natural for animals to behave this way.)

Tabii Ki: Of Course (Emphatic)

The phrase tabii ki is used as an emphatic form of “of course.” It reinforces agreement or emphasizes a point. Here is another article on how to use the -ki suffix in Turkish.

Rules for “Tabii Ki”:

  1. Meaning: “Of course,” often with added emphasis.
  2. Correct Form: Always written as two words and with “tabii”: tabii ki.
  3. Common Mistake: Avoid writing it as tabiki or tabi ki, which are grammatically incorrect.

Examples:

  • Tabii ki seninle geleceğim. (Of course, I will come with you.)
  • Bu yarışmayı kazanmak istiyorum, tabii ki! (I want to win this competition, of course!)
  • Yardıma ihtiyacın varsa, tabii ki söyle. (If you need help, of course, let me know.)

Avoid Common Errors: “Tabi”, “Tabii”, “Tabii Ki,” and “Tabiki”

Mixing “Tabi” and “Tabii”

The primary mistake Turkish learners make is using tabi when they mean tabii, or vice versa. Remember the distinction:

  • Tabi relates to dependence or subordination.
  • Tabii means “natural” or more commonly “of course.”

Misspelling “Tabii Ki” as “Tabiki”

This is a typographical error rather than a grammatical one. To avoid this:

  • Always write tabii ki as two words.
  • Double-check spelling when typing informally.

Pronunciation Tip

To reinforce the correct usage, here is the difference in pronunciation between “tabi” and “tabii”:

  • Pronounce tabi with equal stress: TA-bi.
  • Pronounce tabii with stress on the second syllable: ta-BII.

Conclusion

Word/PhraseMeaningUsageExample
TabiSubject to, dependent onFormal contexts, followed by dative“Bu kural herkese tabi.”
TabiiNatural, of courseAdjective or adverb“Bu olay çok tabii.”
Tabii KiOf course (emphatic)Informal and formal“Tabii ki sana yardım ederim.”

By understanding the meanings, usages, and contexts of tabi, tabii, and tabii ki, you will avoid one of the most common mistake in Turkish. Practice using them in sentences, and pay close attention to context when you encounter them in conversations or written text. Don’t write them too fast!

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