Kendimizden

Kendimizden is a Turkish expression formed from kendimiz, the reflexive pronoun for “ourselves,” and the ablative suffix -den, meaning “from.” In usage, kendimizden denotes origin, provenance, or perspective that comes from the speaker’s group. It is commonly employed to indicate that something is sourced within a group or based on the group’s experiences.

Etymology and grammar: Kendimiz comes from kendi (self) with the inclusive plural suffix -miz. The ablative -den marks origin, so kendimizden literally means “from ourselves” or “out of ourselves.” It can modify nouns, as in kendimizden gelen veriler (data coming from ourselves), or be used with verbs in expressions such as kendimizden söz etmek (to speak of ourselves) or kendimizden örnek vermek (to give an example from our own experience).

Usage and nuance: Kendimizden emphasizes that the source, perspective, or authority lies within the group speaking. It contrasts with more neutral forms like bizden (from us) or externally sourced information. In discourse, kendimizden kullanılabilirliği is high in personal testimony, memoirs, and discussions that aim to establish authenticity or authority based on inward experience.

Related forms: Kendimiz (ourselves), kendinden (from himself/herself, from you-form or from third person depending on context), and kendi (self). These forms share the same root but convey different persons, reflexivity, or grammatical cases.

See also: Kendimiz, kendi, bizden.