anlamak

Anlamak is a Turkish verb meaning "to understand" or "to comprehend." It covers grasping information, meanings, or concepts, and can also express realization or interpretation. The verb is used with a direct object to indicate understanding of something, as in bir şeyi anlamak (to understand something). It also appears in phrases about understanding a text, a situation, or a concept.

Etymology and form: Anlamak is formed from a stem related to anlam (meaning, sense) with the infinitive suffix -mak. Turkish verbs in this family conjugate for tense and aspect, for example: anlıyorum (I understand), anlıyorsun (you understand), anlıyor (he/she understands); past arena includes anladım, anladın, anladı; future can be anlayacağım; imperative forms include anla (informal) and anlayın (plural or formal).

Usage notes: Anlamak generally refers to cognitive comprehension but can also denote interpreting or realizing something. It takes various constructions, such as "Bir şeyi anlamak" (to understand something), "ne anlamına geliyor?" (what does it mean?), or "anlamakta zorlanmak" (to have trouble understanding). Related verbs include kavramak (to grasp conceptually), fark etmek (to realize), and anlaşmak (to understand each other or to agree), the latter sometimes causing confusion due to its different senses.

Examples:

- Bu metnin ne anlattığını anlıyorum. (I understand what this text is saying.)

- O dersi anlamakta zorlanıyor. (He is having trouble understanding those lessons.)

- Ne anlama geliyor? (What does it mean?)

- Anlıyor musun? (Do you understand?)

See also: anlam (meaning), anlamlılık, anlamak (to understand), anlayış (understanding), anlaşmak (to understand each other or to agree).