In Turkish, the preposition for "from" is expressed by the suffix -DAN. It is used whenever you are moving away from a location, receiving something from someone, or identifying the source of an action. This suffix is always attached to the end of the word.
💡 The Phonetic Rule: Choosing the Correct Suffix
Just like the preposition "-DA," this suffix has four forms: dan, den, tan, ten. The choice depends on the vowels and the final consonant of the word.
1. Choosing the Vowel (a / e):
If the last vowel is Heavy (a, ı, o, u) → Use -a (-dan or -tan).
If the last vowel is Light (e, i, ö, ü) → Use -e (-den or -ten).
2. Choosing the Consonant (d / t):
Default: Usually, the suffix starts with d.
The "Fıstıkçı Şahap" Rule: If the word ends with one of the hard consonants (ç, f, h, k, p, s, ş, t), the d transforms into a t.
The Four Forms of the Preposition:
Condition | Suffix | Example | Meaning |
Last vowel heavy + soft ending | -dan | Okuldan | From the school |
Last vowel light + soft ending | -den | Evden | From the house |
Last vowel heavy + hard ending | -tan | Duraktan | From the (bus) stop |
Last vowel light + hard ending | -ten | İşten | From work |
Asking "From Where?" and "From Whom?"
When asking a question about a source or origin, the answer must mirror the suffix used in the question:
Nereden? (From where?):
Nereden geliyorsun? (Where are you coming from?) → Marketten (From the market).
Kimden? (From whom?):
Kimden borç istiyorsun? (Who are you asking for a loan from?) → Ali'den (From Ali).
Practical Examples (Örnekler)
These examples show how the suffix is used with verbs of motion or emotion:
Otobüsten iniyorum: I am getting off from the bus.
Köpekten korkuyorum: I am afraid of the dog (In Turkish, you fear "from" something).
Esra marketten geliyor: Esra is coming from the market.
Mustafa, Ali’den borç istiyor: Mustafa is asking for a loan from Ali.
Important Note:
When attaching the suffix to Proper Nouns (people, cities, or countries), always use an apostrophe:
İstanbul'dan (From Istanbul)
Ahmet'ten (From Ahmet)
Mastering the -DAN suffix is essential for describing movement and sources in Turkish.