saymak

Saymak is a Turkish verb with the core meanings of counting or tallying numbers, and of reckoning or estimating quantities. It can also be used in broader senses related to considering or deeming something, though the exact nuances depend on context.

Etymology and grammar: Saymak is derived from the noun sayı (number) with the infinitive suffix -mak, making it a regular -mak verb in Turkish. It forms standard conjugations for present, past, and future tenses (for example: sayarım, sayarsın, sayar; saydım, saydın, saydı; sayacağım, sayacaksın, sayacak). The verb can take direct objects, as in saymak “to count X,” and it also appears in nouns related to counting, such as sayım (counting, census) and sayıcı (counter).

Primary uses: The primary sense is to count or enumerate objects or items. Examples include counting fruits, people, or votes: “On iki elma saydı” (He counted twelve apples). It is also used in the sense of tallying totals or estimates: “Masrafları sayıyoruz” (We are tallying the expenses) and “sayılması gereken bir şey” (something that needs to be counted). A related use is the act of estimation or reckoning, where one calculates approximate quantities or values.

Usage notes: Turkish uses saymak in concrete counting, as well as in more abstract reckoning or assessing quantities. The noun form sayım is common in contexts such as census or inventory. An idiomatic expression, saymakla bitmez, conveys that something is so abundant or numerous it cannot be counted.

See also: Turkish grammar, counting and numerals, census and inventory terminology.