asla
/ˈas.ɫaː/
The English word 'never' can be translated into Turkish using asla, hiç or hiçbir zaman.
Meaning: at no time (adv)
Ways to say it
| Turkish | IPA |
|---|---|
| asla | /ˈas.ɫaː/ |
| hiç | /ˈhit͡ʃ/ |
| hiçbir zaman | /hit͡ʃbiɾ zaman/ (from spelling rules) |
All these forms express that something happens at no time.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase hiçbir zaman is a compound phrase where hiçbir means 'none/no' and zaman means 'time'.
Which one should you use?
hiç is more commonly used in everyday spoken Turkish to mean 'never' or 'not at all' when paired with a negative verb.
How does it change in a sentence?
When using hiç to mean 'never', the verb in the sentence must be in the negative form.
How do you pronounce it?
The word asla is pronounced /ˈas.ɫaː/. It has 2 syllables, with the stress on the 1st syllable. The 's' sound is like the [s] in the English word 'send'.
Did you know?
- The word asla is a doublet of aslen. While asla evolved into 'never', aslen is still used in Turkish today to mean 'actually' or 'by origin'.
- The word hiç is central to the philosophy of Sufism. In this tradition, the concept of 'nothingness' is used to describe the ego being erased to reach a spiritual union with God.
- Because of its Arabic roots, asla is often perceived as a more formal or literary choice compared to the more colloquial hiç.
Examples in context
- O asla var olmadı.It never existed.This sentence demonstrates the use of asla.Tatoeba #2018706 by duran, translation #1523428 by CM
- O asla bana olmaz.That never happens to me.Tatoeba #5700283 by duran, translation #3129461 by CK
- O acı hiç gitmedi.That pain never went away.This sentence demonstrates the use of hiç.Tatoeba #6100565 by deyta, translation #6100262 by OsoHombre
- Hiçbir zaman geç kalmam.I never arrive late.
- Bu konudaki görüşlerimiz asla değişmeyecek.Our views on this matter will never change.
- Asla böyle bir hata yapmamalısınız.You should never make such a mistake.
- Hiç gitmedim.I never went.
- Hiç onunla konuşmam.I never talk to him/her.
- 8257 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Emre and Merve are discussing a difficult hiking trail.
- EmreOraya asla tek başına gitme.Never go there alone.
- MerveKorkmuyorum, çok cesurum.I am not afraid, I am very brave.
- EmreAma orası çok tehlikeli.But it is very dangerous there.
- MerveSöz veriyorum, asla yalnız kalmam.I promise, I will never be alone.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “never” translations and entries asla, hiç, 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 asla, hiç, hiçbir, zaman, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
