Turkish Suffix -ci

This is one of the most productive word-forming suffixes in Turkish, and it is often the first suffix that new learners encounter.

It follows vowel harmony and therefore has four forms: -ci, -cı, -cü, -cu. In addition, c changes to ç after the consonants k, t, ç, and p. (You can remember these four consonants with the mnemonic word ketçap.)

This suffix creates nouns from nouns that refer to:

1. A person who does something as a job or profession, or specializes in a particular field of science, art, etc.

Examples of -ci/-cı/-cü/-cu suffix in professions and other fields:

• işçi → worker

• şarkıcı → singer

• futbolcu → footballer

• gazeteci → journalist

• dişçi → dentist

• itfaiyeci → firefighter

• kimyacı → chemist

• iktisatçı → economist

• eğitimci → educationalist

• tamirci → repairman

• sütçü → milkman

• denizci → seaman, sailor

• tarihçi → historian

• kütüphaneci → librarian

As can be seen from the examples, -ci corresponds in English to the suffixes -er, -ist, -an/ian, and -man/woman.

In some cases, -ci can also refer both to the person and to the shop, place, or profession.

Examples:

• kitapçı → bookseller; bookshop

• çiçekçi → florist; florist’s

• fotoğrafçı → photographer; photography studio

• emlakçı → real estate agent; real estate office

• dondurmacı → ice cream seller; ice cream shop

  
  

2. A person who is engaged in, or associated with an activity.

Examples:

• ziyaretçi → visitor

• yolcu → passenger

• otostopçu → hitchhiker

• protestocu → protester

• tatilci → holidaymaker

• sözcü → spokesperson

• şikâyetçi → complainant

• konuşmacı → speaker

• yarışmacı → competitor

• yalancı → liar

• dedikoducu → gossip

  
  

3. A person who adheres to or advocates a doctrine, system, or code of behavior.

Examples:

• devrimci → revolutionary

• reformcu → reformist

• gelenekçi → traditionalist

• milliyetçi → nationalist

• cumhuriyetçi → republican

• sağcı → rightist

• solcu → leftist

• çevreci → environmentalist

• Atatürkçü → Ataturkist

Conclusion

The suffix -ci is one of the most common and useful suffixes in Turkish. It helps form hundreds of words for professions, activities, and ideologies. Sometimes, the same word can even refer both to a person and to a place (e.g., kitapçı → bookseller; bookshop).

Once you learn this suffix, try looking for it in newspapers, TV shows, or conversations. You’ll be surprised how many familiar and new words you can recognize just by spotting -ci / -cı / -cü / -cu at the end.

This lesson comes from my book Turkish Vocabulary Booster: Word Formation in Turkish. Discover more suffixes and expand your vocabulary by exploring the book, and you can also try the word formation quizzes.