Bedeutung
For a thought or memory to arise.
Kultureller Hintergrund
Turkish people often use 'aklıma gelmişken' (while it's on my mind) to interrupt a conversation politely to add a point they might otherwise forget. In poetry, 'aklına düşmek' is preferred over 'aklına gelmek' to express a more painful or heavy memory, like a stone falling into a well. Using 'aklıma gelmedi' is a standard, socially acceptable excuse for not calling someone or not doing a small favor, as it blames the 'mind' rather than the 'will'. There is a belief that if someone's name 'comes to your mind' out of nowhere, that person is currently talking about you.
The 'While I'm at it' Hack
Use 'Aklıma gelmişken...' to change the subject or add a forgotten detail. It makes you sound very fluent.
Vowel Drop Alert
Don't forget to drop the 'ı' in 'akıl'. It's 'aklıma', never 'akılıma'.
Bedeutung
For a thought or memory to arise.
The 'While I'm at it' Hack
Use 'Aklıma gelmişken...' to change the subject or add a forgotten detail. It makes you sound very fluent.
Vowel Drop Alert
Don't forget to drop the 'ı' in 'akıl'. It's 'aklıma', never 'akılıma'.
Softening the Blow
If you forgot a meeting, say 'Aklımdan tamamen çıkmış' (It completely left my mind) followed by 'Şimdi aklıma geldi' to show you care.
Negative Usage
Use 'Aklıma gelmiyor' when you are struggling to remember a word. It's better than just saying 'Bilmiyorum'.
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'aklına gelmek' (Pay attention to the person!).
Dün akşam senin doğum günün olduğu hiç ______ (my mind).
The speaker is talking about their own mind, so 'aklım' + '-a' (dative) is required.
Which sentence is the most natural way to say 'I just remembered'?
Bir şeyi unuttum ama...
Both 'Aklıma geldi' and 'Hatırladım' are used, but 'Aklıma geldi' sounds more spontaneous.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Bu projeyi nasıl yapacağımızı buldun mu? B: Evet, dün gece uyurken ______.
The speaker is talking about their own idea that occurred suddenly.
Match the phrase to the situation.
Situation: You are trying to remember a movie star's name but you can't.
The negative form 'gelmiyor' is used for things you are currently failing to recall.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenDün akşam senin doğum günün olduğu hiç ______ (my mind).
The speaker is talking about their own mind, so 'aklım' + '-a' (dative) is required.
Bir şeyi unuttum ama...
Both 'Aklıma geldi' and 'Hatırladım' are used, but 'Aklıma geldi' sounds more spontaneous.
A: Bu projeyi nasıl yapacağımızı buldun mu? B: Evet, dün gece uyurken ______.
The speaker is talking about their own idea that occurred suddenly.
Situation: You are trying to remember a movie star's name but you can't.
The negative form 'gelmiyor' is used for things you are currently failing to recall.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenMostly, yes. But 'aklıma geldi' implies it was sudden or triggered by something, while 'hatırladım' is more general.
Yes! 'Aklıma sen geldin' means 'I thought of you' or 'You came to my mind.'
Because thoughts 'move' to your mind. In Turkish, movement towards a destination requires the dative '-a'.
Yes, but that means 'The idea is (already) in my mind,' not that it just occurred to you.
Yes, it's neutral enough for business emails and reports.
'Aklından çıkmak' (to leave one's mind/to forget).
Use the negative aorist: 'Hiç aklıma gelmezdi.'
You can, but it sounds very formal or poetic. 'Aklıma geldi' is much more common.
Not necessarily. It can be a bad idea, a memory, or just a random thought.
Yes, 'kafama esti' is a common slangy way to say 'it just occurred to me to do something.'
Verwandte Redewendungen
aklına esmek
similarTo do something on a whim.
aklından geçmek
similarTo have a passing thought.
aklına yatmak
relatedTo find an idea sensible.
aklına koymak
contrastTo set one's mind on something.
aklına şaşmak
relatedTo be surprised by someone's logic.
