Meaning
to be remembered
Cultural Background
If you tell a Turk 'Aklıma geldin' (You came to my mind), it is considered a very warm and polite gesture, often followed by an invitation for tea. The proverb 'Akla gelmeyen başa gelir' highlights the belief that life is unpredictable and one should be prepared for the unimaginable. The use of 'akıl' reflects the deep influence of Islamic philosophy where 'aql' is the bridge between the human and the divine. On Turkish Twitter, 'Aklıma gelen o an' is a popular meme format used to share relatable or embarrassing memories.
The 'ı' Drop
Always remember to drop the second 'ı' in 'akıl' when saying 'aklıma', 'aklın', etc. Saying 'akılıma' is a dead giveaway that you are a beginner.
Subject-Verb Agreement
The thing that comes to mind is the subject. So the verb is almost always 3rd person singular (geldi, geliyor), even if it's *your* mind.
Meaning
to be remembered
The 'ı' Drop
Always remember to drop the second 'ı' in 'akıl' when saying 'aklıma', 'aklın', etc. Saying 'akılıma' is a dead giveaway that you are a beginner.
Subject-Verb Agreement
The thing that comes to mind is the subject. So the verb is almost always 3rd person singular (geldi, geliyor), even if it's *your* mind.
Polite Remembering
Use 'Aklıma gelmişken...' (While it's on my mind...) to transition between topics in a conversation. It's very natural.
Negative Surprise
Use 'Akla hayale gelmez' for things that are truly mind-blowing or unexpected.
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'akla gelmek' (Pay attention to the person!).
Dün gece uyurken birden eski arkadaşım ______.
Since the speaker is talking about their own experience ('uyurken'), 'aklıma geldi' is correct.
Which sentence means 'This idea never occurred to us'?
Choose the best translation:
We use 'aklımıza' (to our mind) and the 3rd person singular verb because the 'idea' is the subject.
Complete the dialogue naturally.
Ayşe: 'Neden sustun?' Mehmet: 'Hiç, sadece ______.'
Mehmet is explaining why he went silent; something occurred to him.
Match the phrase to the situation.
Situation: You are surprised by a plot twist in a movie.
This phrase is used to express that something was totally unexpected.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Remembering in Turkish
Practice Bank
4 exercisesDün gece uyurken birden eski arkadaşım ______.
Since the speaker is talking about their own experience ('uyurken'), 'aklıma geldi' is correct.
Choose the best translation:
We use 'aklımıza' (to our mind) and the 3rd person singular verb because the 'idea' is the subject.
Ayşe: 'Neden sustun?' Mehmet: 'Hiç, sadece ______.'
Mehmet is explaining why he went silent; something occurred to him.
Situation: You are surprised by a plot twist in a movie.
This phrase is used to express that something was totally unexpected.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsIt's better to use 'Ekmek almayı hatırladım'. 'Aklıma geldi' implies it was a random thought, not necessarily a task you were supposed to do.
'Aklıma düştü' is more emotional and often implies you are missing someone or something. 'Aklıma geldi' is more neutral.
It is neutral. You can use it with your boss or your best friend.
Turkish has a rule called 'vowel dropping' for certain two-syllable words when they take a suffix starting with a vowel.
No, that sounds like a literal translation from English. Always use 'Aklıma geldi'.
You say 'Hiç aklıma gelmedi'.
You can say 'Aklıma esti' if you did something suddenly and impulsively.
Yes, 'Aklına gelecek' (It will come to your mind/You will remember later).
It means 'plausible' or 'reasonable' (literally: leaning toward the mind).
Yes, very often! It's a staple of romantic Turkish pop and folk music.
Related Phrases
aklına düşmek
similarTo suddenly remember someone with longing
aklına esmek
specialized formTo do something on a whim
aklına koymak
contrastTo set one's mind on something
akla hayale gelmemek
builds onTo be unimaginable
hatırlamak
synonymTo remember
