bize

Bize is a Turkish clitic that marks the indirect object in a sentence, functioning as the dative form of the first-person plural pronoun biz (we). It expresses the meaning “to us” or “for us” and is formed by adding the dative suffix -e to biz, with vowel harmony shaping the final form. In Turkish, case forms of pronouns are used with different verbs and particles to indicate role in the action.

In use, bize typically denotes the recipient or beneficiary of an action. It can appear with verbs that require an indirect object, or in phrases that establish a relationship of giving, telling, or offering to the speaker and others. Examples: “Bize yardım et” (Help us), “Bize söyle” (Tell us), and “Bize ulaşın” (Contact us). It also appears in set expressions such as “bize göre,” meaning “in our opinion,” and “bize karşı,” meaning “against us, toward us.” The form is generally treated as a fixed pronoun in Turkish syntax and often accompanies imperative or declarative clauses.

Pronunciation is commonly given as [ˈbizɛ], with stress on the first syllable. While “bize” behaves as a normal pronoun form, its meaning hinges on the verb or preposition it accompanies, so its precise sense—“to us” or “for us”—is determined by the larger clause. Dative forms like bize contrast with other case forms such as bizi (accusative, us), bizden (from us), and bizde (in us), illustrating Turkish’s rich case system for pronouns.