Bilmek

Bilmek is a Turkish verb meaning to know, to be aware of, or to have information about something. It is formed by the infinitive suffix -mek/-mak and is used as a transitive verb that can take a noun phrase, a clause, or an infinitive as its complement. Examples include “Bunu biliyorum” (I know this), “Ne olduğunu bilmiyorum” (I don’t know what it is), and “Yüzmeyi bilmek” (to know how to swim).

Etymology and related terms: Bilmek derives from the Turkic verb root bil-, which appears across Turkic languages. Related words include bilgi (knowledge) and bilgili (knowledgeable). The infinitive bilmek serves as the base for many derived forms and expressions in Turkish.

Usage and nuances: Bilmek denotes factual knowledge, awareness, or familiarity with a subject. It can express knowing a fact, knowing how to do something, or knowing someone’s identity. The verb also appears in negation (bilmiyorum, I don’t know) and in cued phrases that convey certainty or uncertainty, such as “Biliyorum ki” (I know that) or “Kim bilir?” (Who knows?/Maybe?). Turkish often uses bilmek with subordinate clauses to specify “that” or to introduce a known proposition.

Conjugation and forms: Bilmek follows standard Turkish verb patterns. Present simple forms include biliyorum, biliyorsun, biliyor; past forms include bildim, bildin, bildi; future forms include bileceğim, bileceksin; conditional or hypothetical forms include bilseydim, bilseydi. In addition, bilmek can combine with other infinitives to express “to know how to” perform actions, as in yüzmeyi bilmek.

See also: bilgi, bilgili, bilgin.