Bedeutung
Being honest about a situation.
Kultureller Hintergrund
The proverb 'Doğru söyleyeni dokuz köyden kovarlar' suggests that truth-tellers are often unwelcome, but it's used to praise the courage of someone who speaks an uncomfortable truth. In Turkish business culture, 'söz' (one's word) is extremely important. Saying 'doğruyu söylüyorum' is often accompanied by a hand on the heart to show sincerity. While honesty is valued, 'pembe yalan' (pink lies) are common to avoid hurting feelings, especially regarding food or appearance. In Turkish courts, witnesses take an oath to tell 'doğruyu, sadece doğruyu' (the truth, only the truth).
The 'Gerekirse' Trick
Use 'Doğruyu söylemek gerekirse' whenever you want to sound like a native speaker giving a sincere opinion.
Don't forget the -yu!
Saying 'Doğru söyle' sounds like you are telling someone to speak correctly (like a teacher to a student), not to be honest.
Bedeutung
Being honest about a situation.
The 'Gerekirse' Trick
Use 'Doğruyu söylemek gerekirse' whenever you want to sound like a native speaker giving a sincere opinion.
Don't forget the -yu!
Saying 'Doğru söyle' sounds like you are telling someone to speak correctly (like a teacher to a student), not to be honest.
The White Lie
In Turkey, it's often better to tell a 'pembe yalan' (pink lie) than to be brutally honest and hurt an elder's feelings.
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the blank with the correct form of the phrase.
Lütfen bana ____ söyle, vazoyu sen mi kırdın?
We need the accusative case '-yu' because 'the truth' is the specific object.
Which sentence means 'I told the truth to my teacher'?
Öğretmenime...
'Söyledim' is the past tense (I told).
Complete the dialogue.
A: Sence bu film güzel mi? B: ____ söylemek gerekirse, çok sıkıcıydı.
'Doğruyu söylemek gerekirse' is a fixed idiom meaning 'To tell the truth'.
Match the phrase to the situation.
When you want to promise someone you won't lie.
This is a future promise: 'I will tell the truth'.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenLütfen bana ____ söyle, vazoyu sen mi kırdın?
We need the accusative case '-yu' because 'the truth' is the specific object.
Öğretmenime...
'Söyledim' is the past tense (I told).
A: Sence bu film güzel mi? B: ____ söylemek gerekirse, çok sıkıcıydı.
'Doğruyu söylemek gerekirse' is a fixed idiom meaning 'To tell the truth'.
When you want to promise someone you won't lie.
This is a future promise: 'I will tell the truth'.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 Fragen'Doğru' is 'true/correct' (often moral), while 'gerçek' is 'real/fact' (often physical or scientific).
It's grammatically possible but means 'speak correctly'. For 'tell the truth', use 'doğruyu söyle'.
It is neutral and can be used in any context.
Use 'Doğruyu söylemek gerekirse...'
A 'pembe yalan' is a white lie told to avoid hurting someone.
Yes, 'doğruyu anlatmak' means to explain the truth in detail.
'Dürüst olmak' is 'to be honest' (character), 'doğruyu söylemek' is the act of telling the truth.
It is a buffer letter between the vowel 'u' in 'doğru' and the suffix '-u'.
It can sound suspicious. Use it carefully with friends.
'Yalan söylemek' (to tell a lie).
Verwandte Redewendungen
yalan söylemek
contrastTo tell a lie
dürüst olmak
similarTo be honest
gerçeği açıklamak
specialized formTo reveal the truth
içini dökmek
builds onTo pour one's heart out
açık yüreklilikle
similarWith an open heart
