Ways to say it
| Turkish | IPA |
|---|---|
| aynen | /ˈaj.nɛn/ |
| tam | /tam/ |
| tam olarak | /tam olaɾak/ (from spelling rules) |
| tam anlamda | /tam anlamda/ (from spelling rules) |
Turkish offers different ways to express 'exactly' depending on whether you are emphasizing precision, agreeing with someone or speaking figuratively. aynen is often used to signal agreement or to say something is identical. tam olarak is used when emphasizing precision or a specific amount. If you want to say something is 'exactly' true in a qualitative or figurative way, you can use tam anlamda, which means 'in the full sense of the word'.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase tam anlamda literally translates to 'in the full sense'.
Which one should you use?
While aynen can mean 'exactly', it is frequently used as a slangy or informal way to say 'exactly!' or 'I agree!' in conversation. For an emphatic way to confirm a statement is exactly correct, you can use aynen öyle, which means 'exactly so'.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of aynen is /ˈaj.nɛn/. It has 2 syllables, and the stress is on the 1 of 2. The sound /j/ is like the [y] in 'yes' and the sound /n/ is like the [n] in 'not'.
When do people say it?
In modern Turkish casual speech and texting, aynen is frequently used as a one-word response to signal agreement.
Did you know?
- The common agreement particle aynen has a biological root: it comes from the Arabic word for 'eye'.
- While aynen signals agreement, using it too frequently in a single conversation can be perceived as dismissive or as if the speaker is not really listening.
- The word tam is used in the phrase tamam, which is the most common way to say 'okay' or 'finished' in Turkish.
Examples in context
- Sorun tam da bu.That's exactly what the problem is.This sentence shows how to use tam to identify a problem.Tatoeba #8773138 by soliloquist, translation #2663137 by CK
- Mesele tam da bu.That's exactly what it's about.This sentence demonstrates the use of tam regarding a matter.Tatoeba #7816157 by soliloquist, translation #5132652 by CK
- O tam olarak nedir?What exactly is that?This sentence uses tam to ask for a precise definition.Tatoeba #2109413 by duran, translation #1886740 by CK
- Doğru adrese geldiğinize kesinlikle emin olabilirsiniz.You can be absolutely sure that you have come to the right address.
- Tam olarak ne demek istediğinizi anlayabiliyorum.I can understand exactly what you mean.
- Bu, tam da istediğim gibi bir sonuç.This is exactly the result I wanted.
- Tamamen haklısın.You're exactly right.
- Aynen, bunu yapabiliriz.Exactly, we can do that.
- Bu, harfi harfine söylediğim şey.This is exactly what I said.
- 1069 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing a specific movie plot.
- CanBunu aynen böyle mi anlatıyor?Is he telling it exactly like this?
- ElifAynen, kelimesi kelimesine söylüyor.Exactly, he says it word for word.
- CanGerçekten inanılmaz.That is truly incredible.
- ElifEvet, çok ilginç bir durum.Yes, it is a very interesting situation.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “exactly” translations and entries aynen, tam, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Turkish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries aynen, olarak, tam, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
