Signification
To capture a moment or pause progress.
Contexte culturel
Ara Güler, the famous 'Eye of Istanbul', often spoke about his work as 'capturing the truth' and 'freezing the history' of the city. His work is the ultimate example of 'zamanı dondurmak'. In romantic scenes, directors often use slow-motion or freeze-frames to emphasize the 'zamanı dondurmak' feeling when the leads first meet. The concept of 'İbnü'l-vakt' (son of the moment) suggests living so fully in the present that the past and future disappear, effectively freezing time in a spiritual sense. Turkish influencers frequently use the phrase 'Zamanı burada donduralım' (Let's freeze time here) when posting from scenic locations like Cappadocia or Bodrum.
Use with 'Keşke'
Pairing this with 'Keşke' (I wish) makes you sound very natural and emotionally expressive.
Don't forget the Accusative
Saying 'Zaman dondurmak' sounds like a general scientific concept. 'Zamanı dondurmak' sounds like a specific desire or action.
Signification
To capture a moment or pause progress.
Use with 'Keşke'
Pairing this with 'Keşke' (I wish) makes you sound very natural and emotionally expressive.
Don't forget the Accusative
Saying 'Zaman dondurmak' sounds like a general scientific concept. 'Zamanı dondurmak' sounds like a specific desire or action.
Social Media Savvy
Use this as a caption for your best travel photos to get engagement from Turkish friends.
Photography Context
In a photo context, you can also say 'Anı dondurmak' which is slightly more common for single shots.
Teste-toi
Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'zamanı dondurmak'.
O kadar mutluyduk ki keşke o an ________.
The context of happiness and wishing a moment wouldn't end requires 'zamanı dondurmak' in the conditional mood.
Which situation is most appropriate for the phrase 'zamanı dondurmak'?
Aşağıdaki durumlardan hangisinde bu deyim kullanılır?
Photography is the primary literal/figurative application of 'freezing time'.
Complete the dialogue.
Ayşe: 'Çocukluk fotoğraflarına bakınca ne hissediyorsun?' Mehmet: 'Sanki o kareler ________.'
Mehmet is describing how photos preserve the past, which is 'zamanı dondurmak'.
Match the sentence to the context.
1. 'Şirket projeyi dondurdu.' 2. 'Zamanı donduran bir bakış.' 3. 'Anı dondurmak için gülümsedik.'
1 refers to pausing a process, 2 refers to an emotional impact, 3 refers to taking a photo.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesO kadar mutluyduk ki keşke o an ________.
The context of happiness and wishing a moment wouldn't end requires 'zamanı dondurmak' in the conditional mood.
Aşağıdaki durumlardan hangisinde bu deyim kullanılır?
Photography is the primary literal/figurative application of 'freezing time'.
Ayşe: 'Çocukluk fotoğraflarına bakınca ne hissediyorsun?' Mehmet: 'Sanki o kareler ________.'
Mehmet is describing how photos preserve the past, which is 'zamanı dondurmak'.
1. 'Şirket projeyi dondurdu.' 2. 'Zamanı donduran bir bakış.' 3. 'Anı dondurmak için gülümsedik.'
1 refers to pausing a process, 2 refers to an emotional impact, 3 refers to taking a photo.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsNo, that would be 'zaman geçmek bilmiyor'. 'Zamanı dondurmak' is for moments you want to keep.
It's neutral. You can use it in a poem, a business report about freezing a budget, or a text to a friend.
'Zaman' is time in general, 'An' is a specific moment. They are often interchangeable in photography.
No, although 'donmak' means to freeze, in this phrase it only refers to the stopping of time.
You say 'Zamanı dondurdum'.
Not really, but 'zamanın donup kalması' can describe a moment of shock or horror.
No, for food you just use 'dondurmak' (e.g., eti dondurmak). 'Zamanı' must be present for the idiom.
Extremely. Turkish pop and rock songs are full of references to stopping or freezing time.
Yes, it's a bit more old-fashioned but perfectly correct.
There isn't a single word, but 'zamanın akıp gitmesi' (time flowing away) is the conceptual opposite.
Expressions liées
anı yakalamak
similarTo seize the moment / Carpe Diem.
zamanın durması
similarTime stopping.
ölümsüzleştirmek
builds onTo immortalize.
zamanı geri almak
contrastTo turn back time.
vakit öldürmek
contrastTo kill time.
