mektedirler

Mektedirler is a suffixal form in Turkish that marks third-person plural subjects in the present continuous aspect in a formal or literary style. It combines the verb stem with the progressive suffix and the plural suffix, yielding a verb form that corresponds to “they are …” in a present, ongoing sense.

The form is built from the verb stem plus -mektedir and the plural suffix -ler (or -lar, chosen by vowel harmony). For example, gelmektedirler means “they are coming,” and yapmaktadırlar means “they are doing/are in the process of doing.” This construction is most common in written Turkish, such as news reports, official statements, and academic prose, where a formal register is desired.

Compared with everyday speech, which often uses the simpler -iyorlar or -mekteler, -mektedirler conveys a more formal, objective, or reportorial tone. The singular counterpart is -maktadır (he/she/it is…); -mektedirler specifically marks the plural subject. The form can be used with most finite verbs and in various sentence positions, including subordinate clauses and narrative passages.

In usage, -ektedirler signals ongoing action or state described by the subject and often appears in contexts where a neutral, impersonal tone is appropriate. It is one of several Turkish present continuous constructions and serves to elevate the style of the sentence without changing the fundamental meaning of the verb.