bir dakika
/biɾ dacika/from spelling rules
The Turkish phrase for "wait a minute" is bir dakika.
While bir dakika literally means "one minute", it is used as an interjection to mean "wait a minute" or "hold on" in the same way as in English.
Meaning: Translations (intj)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of bir (one) and dakika (minute).
How do you pronounce it?
The sound /b/ is like the [b] in "about", /i/ is like the [ee] in "creek", /ɾ/ is like the [t] in the American English pronunciation of "atom", /c/ is like the [sk] in "skew" and /k/ is like the [c] in "core".
Did you know?
- The word dakika shares a root with the Arabic word for 'precise' or 'fine' (*daqiq*), implying that a minute is a very precise, small division of time.
- In a heated argument, bir dakika! is often used as a command to stop the other person from speaking, functioning more as 'stop right there' than a request for time.
- Turkish speakers may accompany the phrase bir dakika with a hand gesture, such as raising a palm or a single finger, to visually signal the request for a pause.
Examples in context
- Bir dakika bekle, Tom!Wait a minute, Tom!Tatoeba #2052588 by duran, translation #1901772 by Spamster
- Şimdi bir dakika bekle.Now wait a minute.Tatoeba #3630537 by duran, translation #3531755 by CK
- Bir dakika bekler misin?Can you wait a minute?Tatoeba #1588032 by duran, translation #2991026 by CK
- 32 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Burak and Merve are leaving the house.
- BurakHadi gidelim, Merve.Let's go, Merve.
- MerveBir dakika, anahtarımı bulamadım.Wait a minute, I couldn't find my key.
- BurakÇantana baktın mı?Did you look in your bag?
- MerveEvet, işte burada!Yes, here it is!
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Turkish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
