Yetkinler

Yetkinler is a Turkish term whose form can refer to a group of competent people or, less commonly, to a collection of individuals recognized as competent in a given context. The root yetkin means capable, qualified, or mature, while yetkinlik denotes competence or proficiency. The plural form yetkinler is most naturally used to describe people who possess the necessary qualifications, experience, or skills.

In contemporary Turkish, yetkinler is not a standardized technical term. More common for describing abilities is yetkinlik or yetkinlikler, which refer to competencies themselves. Yetkinler may appear in HR, management, or sociolinguistic discourse when emphasizing the existence of skilled professionals or a cohort of experts. It can also be used in literary or rhetorical contexts to highlight collective expertise.

Examples: "Şirket, yetkinler arasından bir yönetim ekibi kurdu." "Yetkinler olarak kabul edilen çalışanlar, projede kilit kararlar aldı." In practice, yetkinler stresses the people, while yetkinlikler focuses on the skills or capabilities.

Related terms include yetkinlik (competence), yetkinleşme (becoming competent), yetkinleştirmek (to empower or qualify), and yeterlilik (qualification or proficiency). The term’s usefulness depends on context, and in some cases daha yaygın ifadeler (more common expressions) may be preferred to avoid ambiguity.