Temellerine

Temellerine is a Turkish linguistic form derived from temeller (foundations). It represents the dative plural form of the word, meaning roughly “to their foundations” or, depending on the subject, “to its foundations.” In Turkish, the suffix -lerine marks a directional, plural reference, so temellerine signals motion toward or toward the foundations of a group or entity.

Meaning and usage. The phrase is primarily a grammatical construction, but it also appears in figurative language to express returning to fundamentals or reassessing core principles. It can be used with verbs that indicate movement or emphasis on basic principles, such as dönmek (to return) or inmek (to descend or come down to). For example, a sentence might convey that a project succeeds when steps are taken to its temellerine—i.e., when one refocuses on core foundations.

Context in Turkish. Temellerine is common in formal or literary Turkish and can appear in political, academic, or editorial writing to stress the importance of revisiting foundational concepts. It is not a standalone noun but a case form that attaches to temeller, and its exact translation depends on the antecedent’s number and person. Variants of the idea include temeline (to its foundation) for singular references or more broadly the notion of returning to basics.

See also. Temel, Turkish grammar, Turkish suffixes, Turkish idioms about basics.

Note. Temellerine is a standard Turkish grammatical form rather than a separate widely known term or title.