Signification
Being so tired from walking that your feet hurt.
Contexte culturel
In Turkish culture, a host never sits while guests are standing or being served. A host might say this at the end of the night to show how much they worked for their guests' comfort. Shopping in Turkey is often a marathon. This phrase is the unofficial slogan of anyone visiting the Grand Bazaar or Mısır Çarşısı. Turkish men often use this phrase when describing their mandatory military service, specifically the long hours of 'nöbet' (guard duty). Due to the hilly nature of Istanbul and the reliance on public transport, walking is a huge part of daily life. This idiom is a common 'commuter complaint.'
Use it for empathy
If you see a friend who has been working hard, ask them 'Ayaklarına kara sular indi mi?' to show you recognize their effort.
Don't change the color
Even if your feet feel 'red' or 'purple' from pain, always use 'kara' (black). Idioms are fixed!
Signification
Being so tired from walking that your feet hurt.
Use it for empathy
If you see a friend who has been working hard, ask them 'Ayaklarına kara sular indi mi?' to show you recognize their effort.
Don't change the color
Even if your feet feel 'red' or 'purple' from pain, always use 'kara' (black). Idioms are fixed!
The 'Tea' Connection
In Turkey, the best cure for 'ayaklarına kara sular inmek' is a glass of hot tea and a footstool.
Teste-toi
Fill in the blank with the correct form of the idiom.
Bütün gün çarşıda gezmekten ______ ______ ______ ______.
The standard form for 'my feet are exhausted' is 'ayaklarıma kara sular indi'.
Which situation is most appropriate for this idiom?
Hangi durumda bu deyimi kullanırız?
This idiom specifically refers to fatigue from walking or standing.
Match the person to the correct grammatical form.
Biz çok yürüdük, ______ ______ ______ ______.
'Biz' (We) requires the possessive suffix '-ımız/imiz' on 'ayaklar'.
🎉 Score : /3
Aides visuelles
Banque d exercices
3 exercicesBütün gün çarşıda gezmekten ______ ______ ______ ______.
The standard form for 'my feet are exhausted' is 'ayaklarıma kara sular indi'.
Hangi durumda bu deyimi kullanırız?
This idiom specifically refers to fatigue from walking or standing.
Biz çok yürüdük, ______ ______ ______ ______.
'Biz' (We) requires the possessive suffix '-ımız/imiz' on 'ayaklar'.
🎉 Score : /3
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsYes, it is perfectly polite and very common in daily life.
No, it is only for physical fatigue from standing or walking.
No, it is a metaphor for the heavy feeling in the legs.
While understandable, 'Ayaklarıma' is the standard and much more common version.
Yes, it is a timeless idiom used by all generations.
There isn't a direct opposite idiom, but 'kuş gibi hafiflemek' (to feel light as a bird) is how you feel after resting.
Only if you have a very close, friendly relationship with the recipient. Otherwise, it's too informal.
Yes, 'kara su indi' sounds incomplete and non-idiomatic.
Yes, many folk and pop songs use it to describe the journey of a lover or a traveler.
Yes, you can use it humorously for pets too!
Expressions liées
canı çıkmak
similarTo be extremely exhausted (general)
pestili çıkmak
similarTo be crushed with tiredness
taban tepmek
builds onTo walk a very long way
istirahat etmek
contrastTo rest
