Signification
Extreme thirst or fear causing dry mouth.
Contexte culturel
Water is considered 'aziz' (holy/precious). Offering water to a guest is the first rule of hospitality, specifically to prevent their 'mouth and tongue from drying'. In villages, 'ağzı dili kurumak' is often associated with the 'evil eye' or a curse if someone is denied water while working in the fields. The 'Sabil' culture was a philanthropic tradition of providing free water to passersby to ensure no one suffered from the state of 'ağzı dili kurumak'. In the fast-paced life of Istanbul, this phrase is frequently used to describe the stress of traffic or high-pressure corporate environments.
Master the Possessive
Always check who the subject is. If it's 'we', it's 'ağzımız dilimiz'. This is the hallmark of a C1 speaker.
Don't Overuse
It's a strong idiom. Using it for minor thirst makes you sound overly dramatic.
Signification
Extreme thirst or fear causing dry mouth.
Master the Possessive
Always check who the subject is. If it's 'we', it's 'ağzımız dilimiz'. This is the hallmark of a C1 speaker.
Don't Overuse
It's a strong idiom. Using it for minor thirst makes you sound overly dramatic.
Water is Life
In Turkey, if someone says this, offer them water immediately. It's a strong social cue.
Teste-toi
Fill in the blanks with the correct possessive forms of 'ağız' and 'dil'.
Dün sahnede konuşurken heyecandan ______ ______ kurudu.
Since the speaker says 'Dün sahnede konuşurken' (While I was speaking on stage yesterday), the first person singular possessive is required.
Which situation is most appropriate for the phrase 'ağzı dili kurumak'?
Hangi durumda bu deyimi kullanmak en uygundur?
The phrase is used for extreme thirst or fear.
Complete the dialogue.
Ayşe: 'Güneşin altında çok bekledik.' Mehmet: 'Evet, susuzluktan ______ ______ ______.'
Mehmet is speaking for both himself and Ayşe ('we'), so the first person plural is needed.
Match the cause with the result.
1. Uzun süre su içmemek -> ? 2. Aniden bir aslan görmek -> ?
Both extreme thirst and extreme fear result in 'ağzı dili kurumak'.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Thirst Levels in Turkish
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesDün sahnede konuşurken heyecandan ______ ______ kurudu.
Since the speaker says 'Dün sahnede konuşurken' (While I was speaking on stage yesterday), the first person singular possessive is required.
Hangi durumda bu deyimi kullanmak en uygundur?
The phrase is used for extreme thirst or fear.
Ayşe: 'Güneşin altında çok bekledik.' Mehmet: 'Evet, susuzluktan ______ ______ ______.'
Mehmet is speaking for both himself and Ayşe ('we'), so the first person plural is needed.
1. Uzun süre su içmemek -> ? 2. Aniden bir aslan görmek -> ?
Both extreme thirst and extreme fear result in 'ağzı dili kurumak'.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsYes, but it sounds more like a complaint about the side effect than a medical description. For a doctor, say 'ağız kuruluğu yapıyor'.
It is neutral. You can use it with friends or in a professional setting to describe a physical state.
It's for emphasis. Turkish loves paired words (ikilemeler) to make a description more vivid.
No, 'susadım' is 'I am thirsty'. 'Ağzım dilim kurudu' is 'I am parched/my mouth is bone dry'. It's much stronger.
Yes, you can say 'Köpeğin susuzluktan ağzı dili kurumuş'.
There isn't a direct idiomatic opposite, but you could say 'suya doymak' (to be satisfied with water).
No, it has nothing to do with lying. You might be thinking of 'dili tutulmak' (being unable to speak from guilt/shock).
Yes: 'Bu sıcakta yürürsen ağzın dilin kurur.' (If you walk in this heat, your mouth will dry up.)
Very often! It's a common trope in emotional or folk songs (Türkü).
Yes, it's a shorter version, but 'ağzım dilim' is more idiomatic and common.
Expressions liées
dili damağı kurumak
synonymOne's tongue and palate drying up.
dili tutulmak
similarTo be tongue-tied.
içi yanmak
similarTo have a burning thirst or deep sorrow.
ağzı açık kalmak
contrastTo be wide-eyed with surprise.
