Ways to say it
| Turkish | IPA |
|---|---|
| gerçekten | /ɟæɾ.tʃecˈtæn/ |
| aslında | /ɑs.lɯnˈdɑ/ |
Depending on the context, you can use these words to mean "actually" or to emphasize the truth of a statement. You can also use specific phrases as interjections to express surprise or to confirm that something is indeed the case.
Which one should you use?
Use aslında when you want to correct a misconception or reveal the true state of affairs, similar to saying "actually, it's not like that." Use gerçekten to emphasize the truth or the intensity of a statement, such as saying "it is really hot." For expressing surprise or requesting confirmation of new information, the standard phrase is gerçekten mi? or öyle mi? To indicate agreement or affirmation, you can use cidden, gerçekten de or gerçekten.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Gerçekten and hakikaten are common formal ways to say really. For more informal situations, you can use cidden, which translates to really or seriously or the very informal valla. In extremely casual settings, the slang phrase harbiden mi? can be used to express surprise or disbelief, much like "For real?" in English.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
By adding the particle de to gerçekten, you create the form gerçekten de, which is used as an intensifier to emphasize that something is indeed the case, often in response to a previous statement.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of gerçekten is /ɟæɾ.tʃecˈtæn/. The syllables are stressed on the 3 of 3. The sounds are as follows: /ɟ/ is like the 'g' in ar[g]ue, /æ/ is like the 'a' in c[a]t, /ɾ/ is like the American English 't' in a[t]om, /tʃ/ is like the 'ch' in [ch]ange, /c/ is like the 'k' in s[k]ew and /n/ is like the 'n' in [n]ot.
When do people say it?
When someone provides you with new information that surprises you, the standard way to respond and ask for confirmation is gerçekten mi? or öyle mi?
Did you know?
- While gerçekten is the standard way to say 'really', the informal slang harbiden comes from the Arabic word harbi, which means 'war-like' or 'pertaining to war'.
- The word gerçekten uses the ablative case suffix -ten, which literally translates to 'from'.
- If you want to sound very sincere or even religious while saying 'really', you can use the word valla. This is a shortened version of the phrase 'Vallahi', which means 'by God'.
Examples in context
- Bu gerçekten o mu?Is that really it?This sentence uses gerçekten to ask if something is truly that specific thing.Tatoeba #7632453 by soliloquist, translation #5369340 by CK
- O gerçekten Tom mu?Is it really Tom?This sentence uses gerçekten to ask if someone is truly a specific person.Tatoeba #2509281 by duran, translation #2262061 by CK
- Olan şey aslında şu.Here's what really happened.This sentence uses aslında to reveal what really happened.Tatoeba #4886044 by dursun, translation #3129762 by CK
- Gerçekten böyle düşünüyorum.I really think so.
- Bu gerçekten muhteşem bir iş!This is really an amazing job!
- Hakikaten özür dilerim.I'm really sorry.
- Hakikaten, olay tam olarak böyle gelişti.Really, that's how the incident unfolded.
- Cidden mi?Really?/Seriously?
- Cidden bu kadar kolay mı?Is it really that easy?
- Valla çok yorgunum.I'm really tired, seriously.
- Valla, bu sefer gerçekten yapacağım.Seriously, this time I'll do it for real.
- 8504 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Can and Merve are discussing a new job opportunity.
- CanYeni bir iş teklifi aldım.I received a new job offer.
- MerveGerçekten mi? Bu harika!Really? That is wonderful!
- CanEvet, gerçekten çok heyecanlıyım.Yes, I am really excited.
- MerveSenin adına çok sevindim.I am very happy for you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “really” translations and entries gerçekten, aslında, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries aslında, gerçekten, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
