sert: hard surfaces and harsh voices

The idea

Taş sert describes a hard stone; sert ses can describe a harsh voice. The surrounding words distinguish texture from tone.

Examples

• Bu taş sert.This stone is hard.
• Sert bir ekmek aldım.I bought hard bread.
• Yastık yumuşak değil, sert.The pillow is not soft; it is hard.
• Sert sandalyeler burada.The hard chairs are here.
• Sert bir ses duyuyorum.I hear a harsh voice.
• Bu tahta çok sert.This wood is very hard.

Watch out

English “hard” can also mean difficult. For difficulty Turkish often uses zor, while sert here describes firmness.

Try it yourself

1. Choose the option that completes the Turkish sentence. Bu taş yumuşak değil; ___. (sert / yumuşak)

   Show answer or example answer

   sert

   Sert describes the stone as hard, not soft.

2. Choose the option that completes the Turkish sentence. Yastık kolayca şekil değiştirmiyor: yastık ___. (sert / yumuşak)

   Show answer or example answer

   sert

   Sert fits a pillow that does not easily change shape.

3. Choose the option that completes the Turkish sentence. Bu tahta sert ___; yumuşak. (değil / mi)

   Show answer or example answer

   değil

   Değil negates sert: the wood is soft.

Use it today

Describe a hard object and a voice that sounds harsh.