nedir

Nedir is a Turkish word formed from ne, meaning “what,” and the copula suffix dir, which marks assertion or definition. It is used to form questions that seek identification, explanation, or a definition, and appears in both spoken and written Turkish. The most common construction is with a demonstrative or noun, as in bu nedir? “What is this?”

Etymology and grammar: The suffix dir functions as a copula in Turkish, providing a sense of “is” or “it is” in definitional or identifying statements. Turkish does not have a dedicated present tense of the verb to be, so the copular suffix plays a key role in linking a subject to its predicate. When combined with ne, it yields nedir, a compact, fixed interrogative form. The form follows the language’s vowel harmony and generally appears in the standard spelling nedir.

Usage notes: Nedir can stand alone in a concise definition or be embedded in longer questions. Examples include Bu nedir? (“What is this?”), Bu mekan nedir? (“What is this place?”), and Nedir bu haber? (“What is this news?”). It can also appear in dictionary or encyclopedic entries to introduce a definition, for instance, “kelimenin nediri” (the definition of the word). The construction is widely used across formal and informal registers.

See also: Turkish grammar, copula in Turkish, ne (Turkish interrogative pronoun), Turkish question forms.