dilinde

Dilinde is a Turkish locative construction meaning "in your language" or more broadly "in one’s language." It is formed from the word dil, meaning language or tongue, combined with suffixes that mark possession and location. The phrase is commonly used to refer to expressing or understanding something in the listener’s language.

Grammatical notes: In Turkish, nouns can take possessive endings to indicate ownership and then attach case endings to express location. The combination that yields dilinde reflects this pattern: the base dil (language) receives the possessive and then the locative suffix, producing a form that literally conveys "in your language." The most frequent usage pairs dilinde with kendi (your own) to emphasize personal language, as in kendi dilinde. While dilinde by itself can appear when the possessor is understood from context, the form is often found in phrases that compare or switch to the listener’s language.

Usage: In everyday Turkish, dilinde is used in questions and statements about speaking, understanding, or translating in the listener’s language. It commonly appears in contexts about communication preferences or accessibility, such as translation, education, or media. Examples include "Kendi dilinde açıklayabilir misin?" (Can you explain it in your own language?) and "Bu kavramı kendi dilinde anlatabilir misin?" (Can you explain this concept in your language?)

See also: Turkish grammar, Turkish possessive constructions, Turkish locative case, language and translation in Turkish.