Demonstrative Pronouns in Turkish

Overview

Turkish has a three-way system of demonstrative pronouns based on distance, which is richer than the two-way system in English (this/that). The three demonstratives are bu (this, near the speaker), şu (that, near the listener or recently mentioned), and o (that, far from both). This three-tier distinction allows for more precise pointing and referencing.

At the A1 level, demonstratives are among the first words you will use in Turkish. They help you identify objects, ask about things, and navigate basic conversations. "Bu ne?" (What is this?) and "Bu ne kadar?" (How much is this?) are phrases you will use from day one.

The word o does double duty as both a demonstrative ("that") and a personal pronoun ("he/she/it"). Context always makes the meaning clear.

How It Works

The Three Demonstratives

Turkish	English	Distance
bu	this	Near the speaker
şu	that	Near the listener, or something just pointed out / mentioned
o	that	Far from both speaker and listener

As Adjectives (Before a Noun)

Turkish	English
bu kitap	this book
şu araba	that car (over there, near you)
o bina	that building (far away)

As Pronouns (Standing Alone)

Turkish	English
Bu güzel.	This is beautiful.
Şu ne?	What is that?
O benim.	That is mine.

Plural Forms

Add -lar/-ler to form plurals:

Singular	Plural	English
bu	bunlar	these
şu	şunlar	those (near you)
o	onlar	those (far)

Case Declension

Demonstratives take case suffixes just like nouns:

Case	Bu	Şu	O
Nominative	bu	şu	o
Accusative	bunu	şunu	onu
Dative	buna	şuna	ona
Locative	bunda	şunda	onda
Ablative	bundan	şundan	ondan
Genitive	bunun	şunun	onun

Bu vs. Şu vs. O — When to Use Which

Situation	Use
Holding something or it is right next to you	bu
Pointing to something near the listener	şu
Introducing something new ("look at that!")	şu
Something far away from both people	o
Something already discussed / known	o

A helpful way to think about it: bu is "right here," şu is "right there" (with a pointing gesture), and o is "over there" or "the one we know about."

Examples in Context

Turkish	English	Note
Bu ne?	What is this?	Very common question
Bu çok güzel.	This is very beautiful.	Near the speaker
Şu adam kim?	Who is that man?	Pointing or just mentioned
Şuna bak!	Look at that!	Drawing attention to something
O bina çok yüksek.	That building is very tall.	Far away
Bunlar senin mi?	Are these yours?	Plural demonstrative
Şunları ver, lütfen.	Give me those, please.	Plural + accusative
Bu kaç lira?	How much is this?	Shopping
O ne? — O bir cami.	What is that? — That is a mosque.	Far object
Bunu istiyorum.	I want this one.	Accusative of bu

Common Mistakes

Using O When Şu Is More Natural

• Wrong: O adama bak! (pointing at someone nearby)
• Right: Şu adama bak!
• Why: When you are pointing something out or drawing attention to it, şu is the natural choice. O implies greater distance or something already known.

Forgetting the Plural Forms

• Wrong: Bu kitaplar benim. when meaning "these books" (acceptable but less precise)
• Right: Bunlar benim. (These are mine) when no noun follows
• Why: When the demonstrative stands alone as a pronoun, use the plural form bunlar/şunlar/onlar.

Confusing O (Demonstrative) with O (Personal Pronoun)

• Wrong: Getting confused when "o" means "he/she" vs. "that"
• Right: Use context — if followed by a noun, it is demonstrative; if used about a person already mentioned, it is a pronoun
• Why: Both uses are spelled and pronounced identically. Context is the only differentiator.

Practice Tips

• Use the three-way distinction actively. When pointing at objects in your environment, consciously choose between bu, şu, and o based on distance. This builds the three-way reflex that English does not require.

• Practice with "Bu ne?" conversations. Point at objects and ask "Bu ne?" or "Şu ne?" and answer with "Bu bir ____" or "O bir ____." This is a great drill for beginners.

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