Hi,

This is my first post but I have been using this site for a while to help my Turkish - thanks

I was wondering if anyone can explain the differnece between the verbs "donmak" and "dondurmak"? When should I use either or are they totally interchangable?

Many thanks,

Mark.

Hi Mark,

From my dictionary both can mean ´to freeze´, but there seems to be some differences in usage as well as overlaps.

Dondurmak is used

1 for deep freezing food (yiyecek dondurmak)

2 for letting a mixture set (by freezing)

3 when talking about freezing prices, accounts, wages, staff levels

Donmak is used

1 to freeze 

2 to freeze to death (soğuktan donmak)

3 to feel very cold (Kıçım dondu = My butt is frozen)

4 to remain motionless (to be frozen stiff with fear = korkudan donmak)

5 to set, harden, solidify (for jelly, chocolate, cement)

Hope this helps as a start. 

Hi. No the ´dur´ is causative, meaning to make someone do something. See here:

http://www.turkishclass.com/turkish_lesson_335

or here:

http://www.turkishlanguage.co.uk/causative.htm

Donmak is to freeze (itself);

Dondurmak is to freeze (something)/ to make freeze.

Other example:

bilmek = to know;

bildirmek = to make know.