Signification
Expressing that time is passing very quickly.
Contexte culturel
Water is considered sacred and a blessing. When someone leaves for a journey, Turks throw water behind them saying 'Su gibi git, su gibi gel' (Go like water, come back like water), meaning 'have a smooth and fast journey.' This idiom shares that positive, fluid association with water. In Divan poetry, time is often compared to a 'seyl' (flood or torrent). The modern idiom is a simplified, more accessible version of these grand poetic metaphors about the transience of life. In fast-paced cities like Istanbul, this phrase is used almost daily to complain about the 'hustle' and how the day disappears between traffic and work. It is a staple of 'altın günleri' (women's social gatherings) and family dinners, where the focus is often on how quickly children are growing or how long it's been since a relative passed away.
Use it for empathy
If someone is complaining about being busy, saying this shows you understand their stress.
Don't over-conjugate
Stick to 'geçiyor' (present) or 'geçti' (past). Other tenses are rare.
Signification
Expressing that time is passing very quickly.
Use it for empathy
If someone is complaining about being busy, saying this shows you understand their stress.
Don't over-conjugate
Stick to 'geçiyor' (present) or 'geçti' (past). Other tenses are rare.
The 'Valla' trick
Adding 'Valla' (By God/Honestly) at the end makes you sound like a native speaker: 'Zaman su gibi akıp geçiyor valla!'
Teste-toi
Fill in the missing words to complete the idiom.
İnanamıyorum, mezuniyetten beri on yıl ______ ______ ______ geçiyor.
The standard idiom is 'su gibi akıp geçiyor'.
Which situation best fits the use of this idiom?
Aşağıdaki durumlardan hangisinde bu deyimi kullanmak en uygundur?
The idiom is used when time has passed surprisingly fast, such as between meetings with old friends.
Complete the dialogue naturally.
Ayşe: 'Tatilin nasıl geçti?' Mehmet: 'Harikaydı ama maalesef ______ ______ ______ ______.'
'Akıp geçti' is the most natural completion for a finished event like a vacation.
Which of the following is a common variation of the phrase?
Hangisi bu deyimin yaygın bir varyasyonudur?
'Vakit' is a very common synonym for 'zaman' in this idiom.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesİnanamıyorum, mezuniyetten beri on yıl ______ ______ ______ geçiyor.
The standard idiom is 'su gibi akıp geçiyor'.
Aşağıdaki durumlardan hangisinde bu deyimi kullanmak en uygundur?
The idiom is used when time has passed surprisingly fast, such as between meetings with old friends.
Ayşe: 'Tatilin nasıl geçti?' Mehmet: 'Harikaydı ama maalesef ______ ______ ______ ______.'
'Akıp geçti' is the most natural completion for a finished event like a vacation.
Hangisi bu deyimin yaygın bir varyasyonudur?
'Vakit' is a very common synonym for 'zaman' in this idiom.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsYes, if the meeting was 1 hour but felt like 10 minutes, it's perfect.
It's better for spoken business contexts. In a very formal email, use 'zamanın hızla ilerlemesi'.
'Geçiyor' is more about the passage, 'gidiyor' emphasizes that it's gone and won't come back.
Turkish culture has a deep nomadic and agricultural connection to water flow.
No, that's a 'Turklish' mistake. Stick to 'akıyor' or 'geçiyor'.
Yes, similar versions exist in Azerbaijani and Uzbek.
Not inherently, but it's often used with a bit of sadness (nostalgia).
No, only for time or events.
'Zaman' is more modern; 'vakit' is slightly more traditional.
You can say 'Eğlenirken zaman su gibi akıp geçiyor.'
Expressions liées
göz açıp kapayıncaya kadar
synonymIn the blink of an eye
vakit nakittir
contrastTime is money
zaman her şeyin ilacıdır
similarTime is the healer of all things
gününü gün etmek
builds onTo make the most of the day
