dakka dukka
/dakka dukka/from spelling rulessingular
The English phrase karma can be expressed in Turkish as dakka dukka or eden bulur.
Meaning: the total effect of a person’s actions and conduct during the successive phases of his existence (noun)
Ways to say it
| Turkish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| dakka dukka | /dakka dukka/ (from spelling rules) | singular |
| eden bulur | /eden buluɾ/ (from spelling rules) |
The idiomatic expression eden bulur is a common way to convey the concept of poetic justice or the idea that what goes around comes around.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase eden bulur literally translates to 'he who does, finds', implying that the one who performs an action will eventually find the consequence.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /dakka dukka/. The /k/ sound is like the [c] in the English word core, and the /u/ sound is like the [oo] in the English word cool.
When do people say it?
Turkish speakers may also use the term Hesaplaşma to refer to the process of facing the consequences of past actions or dealing with matters that require reconciliation.
Did you know?
- If you use the English word 'karma' in a Turkish conversation about everyday social justice, people might assume you are discussing Eastern philosophy or yoga rather than the local reality of 'what goes around comes around'.
- While the English word 'karma' has roots in Sanskrit, the Turkish expression eden bulur is entirely secular and functions as a common folk proverb rather than a religious doctrine.
- In Turkish culture, eden bulur is often used to provide a sense of comfort to someone who has been wronged, implying that justice is an inherent part of the natural order.
Example sentences for Turkish are not verified yet.
Example conversation
Zeynep and Emre are discussing a coworker who was rude to everyone.
- ZeynepOna çok kötü davrandılar, değil mi?They treated him very badly, didn't they?
- EmreEvet, ama o da herkese kaba davranmıştı.Yes, but he was rude to everyone too.
- ZeynepSanırım bu sadece dakka dukka.I guess this is just karma.
- EmreKesinlikle öyle, hak etti.Exactly, he deserved it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “karma” translations, 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.
