Signification
You know it but cannot recall it.
Contexte culturel
When a guest forgets a word, the host will often say 'Canın sağ olsun' (Health to your soul) to relieve the pressure of the memory lapse. In Turkish schools, students often use this phrase to signal to teachers that they have studied, even if they can't answer immediately. In 'Yeşilçam' (classic Turkish cinema), characters often use this phrase during dramatic confessions or when trying to remember a long-lost relative. Some believe that if you forget a word, you should bite your tongue slightly to 'wake up' the memory.
Use it to stall
If you need a few seconds to think during a Turkish conversation, say 'Bir saniye, dilimin ucunda...' to keep the floor.
Check the suffix
Make sure you don't say 'dilinin ucunda' if you mean your own tongue. That would mean 'it's on YOUR tongue!'
Signification
You know it but cannot recall it.
Use it to stall
If you need a few seconds to think during a Turkish conversation, say 'Bir saniye, dilimin ucunda...' to keep the floor.
Check the suffix
Make sure you don't say 'dilinin ucunda' if you mean your own tongue. That would mean 'it's on YOUR tongue!'
Combine with 'Neydi?'
The most natural way to use it is: 'Ya, neydi o... dilimin ucunda!'
Body language
Turkish people often tap their chin or forehead while saying this to show they are thinking hard.
Teste-toi
Fill in the correct possessive suffix for 'my tongue'.
Kelimeler dil___ ucunda ama söyleyemiyorum.
Since the sentence is 'I cannot say' (söyleyemiyorum), the tongue must be 'mine' (dilimin).
Which situation is appropriate for this idiom?
When would you say 'Dilimin ucunda'?
The idiom specifically refers to a temporary memory lapse of known information.
Complete the dialogue.
Ali: 'Bu filmin yönetmeni kim?' Veli: 'Ah, çok ünlü biri... ______.'
Veli says the person is famous, implying he knows them but is struggling to recall the name.
Match the phrase variation to its meaning.
Match 'Dilimin ucuna geldi' with its best description.
'Gelmek' (to come) implies the word reached the exit point but didn't leave.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Tongue Idioms
Common Things on the Tip of the Tongue
People
- • Names
- • Titles
- • Actors
Places
- • Cities
- • Restaurants
- • Streets
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesKelimeler dil___ ucunda ama söyleyemiyorum.
Since the sentence is 'I cannot say' (söyleyemiyorum), the tongue must be 'mine' (dilimin).
When would you say 'Dilimin ucunda'?
The idiom specifically refers to a temporary memory lapse of known information.
Ali: 'Bu filmin yönetmeni kim?' Veli: 'Ah, çok ünlü biri... ______.'
Veli says the person is famous, implying he knows them but is struggling to recall the name.
Match 'Dilimin ucuna geldi' with its best description.
'Gelmek' (to come) implies the word reached the exit point but didn't leave.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsYes, it is very common for names. 'Onun adı dilimin ucunda.'
No, it's perfectly polite. It shows you are trying to remember.
'Aklımda' means you know it and remember it. 'Dilimin ucunda' means you know it but can't recall it right now.
Use 'Dilimin ucundaydı.'
Not really a slang version, but 'Gitti kafa' (The head is gone) is a casual way to say you forgot.
Only if the object is literally on the tip of your tongue, like a crumb. Otherwise, it's always figurative.
Usually, it's for single words, names, or short titles.
Just point to your tongue and look frustrated—most Turks will guess what you mean!
Almost. 'Geldi' implies it just happened or you almost spoke. 'Ucunda' is the state of it being there.
It's a bit too informal for a standard business email. Better to say 'Hatırlayamadığım bir konu...' or similar.
Expressions liées
dil dökmek
similarTo try very hard to persuade someone
dili tutulmak
similarTo be tongue-tied (due to shock)
ağzından kaçırmak
contrastTo let a secret slip out
hatırlatmak
builds onTo remind
aklına gelmek
builds onTo come to mind
