dakika
/da.ciːˈka/
The Turkish word for minutes is dakika.
The word dakika refers to the unit of time equal to sixty seconds.
Which one should you use?
While dakika is the standard form for counting time, the plural form dakikalar is used to emphasize duration or to refer to the minutes in a more abstract or poetic sense. You should not use dakikalar for simple counting.
How does it change in a sentence?
When used with numbers greater than one, the word dakika does not take a plural suffix.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has three syllables, with the stress on the third syllable. The /c/ sound is like the [sk] in skew, the /i/ sound is like the [ee] in creek and the /k/ sound is like the [c] in core.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly add the plural suffix -lar to dakika when counting, such as saying beş dakikalar instead of beş dakika.
Did you know?
- If you see the word dakik in a Turkish sentence, it does not refer to time, but describes a person who is 'punctual' or 'meticulous'.
- Because of its Arabic roots, dakika shares a distant linguistic ancestor with the English word 'minute', which also stems from the Latin 'minuta' meaning small.
- When Turkish speakers say dakikalarca, they are using a suffix that transforms 'minutes' into 'for minutes on end' to express a feeling of tediousness or long waiting.
Examples in context
- Bana on dakika ver.Give me ten minutes.This sentence shows how to request a specific amount of time using dakika.Tatoeba #2528666 by duran, translation #2250344 by hayastan
- Bana üç dakika ver.Give me three minutes.This sentence illustrates requesting three minutes with dakika.Tatoeba #4559649 by duran, translation #3151457 by CK
- Bana iki dakika ver.Give me two minutes.This sentence demonstrates requesting two minutes with dakika.Tatoeba #2056161 by duran, translation #1852274 by CK
- on dakikaTen minutes
- 1155 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Emre and Selin are waiting for a bus at a stop.
- EmreOtobüs ne zaman gelecek?When will the bus arrive?
- SelinBeş dakika içinde burada olur.It will be here in five minutes.
- EmreTamam, o zaman biraz bekleyelim.Okay, let's wait a bit then.
- SelinEvet, çok beklemeyeceğiz.Yes, we won't wait long.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry dakika, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
