Meaning
Happening quickly.
Cultural Background
The phrase is a staple of 'teselli' (consolation) culture. Turks use it to provide hope during illness or financial hardship. Using 'En kısa zamanda' (ASAP) is a way to show respect to a client's time, even if the exact deadline is unknown. When guests are leaving, the host says 'Kısa zamanda yine bekleriz' to show that the visit was enjoyed and should be repeated soon. In the fast-paced life of Istanbul, this phrase is often used to complain about how quickly life or money disappears.
The 'Bir' Trick
Add 'bir' (Kısa bir zamanda) to sound more emphatic or poetic, especially in writing.
Don't say 'Hızlı zamanda'
Even though 'hızlı' means fast, it's never used with 'zaman' in this way. Stick to 'kısa'.
Meaning
Happening quickly.
The 'Bir' Trick
Add 'bir' (Kısa bir zamanda) to sound more emphatic or poetic, especially in writing.
Don't say 'Hızlı zamanda'
Even though 'hızlı' means fast, it's never used with 'zaman' in this way. Stick to 'kısa'.
Business Emails
Always use 'En kısa zamanda' when replying to customers. It's the gold standard for politeness.
Health Wishes
If you forget the specific 'Geçmiş olsun' phrases, just saying 'Kısa zamanda iyileş' is always appreciated.
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'Kısa zamanda'.
Doktor, babamın ________ iyileşeceğini söyledi.
We need the locative case '-da' to mean 'in' a short time.
Which sentence uses 'Kısa zamanda' correctly to mean 'ASAP'?
Choose the best option for a professional email.
'En kısa zamanda' is the standard superlative for 'as soon as possible'.
Complete the dialogue.
Ayşe: 'Yeni dil öğrenmek çok zor.' Mehmet: 'Haklısın ama çok çalışırsan ________ öğrenebilirsin.'
Mehmet is encouraging Ayşe by saying she can learn 'in a short time'.
Match the phrase to the situation.
You want to tell your boss you will finish the report by tomorrow morning.
This expresses a professional commitment to a near-term deadline.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Time Phrases Comparison
Practice Bank
4 exercisesDoktor, babamın ________ iyileşeceğini söyledi.
We need the locative case '-da' to mean 'in' a short time.
Choose the best option for a professional email.
'En kısa zamanda' is the standard superlative for 'as soon as possible'.
Ayşe: 'Yeni dil öğrenmek çok zor.' Mehmet: 'Haklısın ama çok çalışırsan ________ öğrenebilirsin.'
Mehmet is encouraging Ayşe by saying she can learn 'in a short time'.
You want to tell your boss you will finish the report by tomorrow morning.
This expresses a professional commitment to a near-term deadline.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
12 questionsIt is neutral. It's perfectly fine for both a CEO and a close friend.
'Sürede' refers to a specific duration (like a project), while 'zamanda' is more general. They are 95% interchangeable.
Yes! 'İşi kısa zamanda bitirdik' means 'We finished the work in a short time'.
Yes, when used with future tense verbs, it is the best way to say 'soon'.
Yes, adding 'çok' (very) is very common to emphasize extreme speed.
Slang terms like 'şipşak' or 'kaşla göz arasında' are used for things happening very fast.
Because of vowel harmony. 'Zaman' ends in a back vowel 'a', so it takes the back vowel suffix '-da'.
No, you can't say 'O kısa zamanda bir adam'. It only describes the timing of actions.
Use 'En kısa zamanda'.
Yes, many Turkish pop songs use it to talk about falling in love or forgetting someone quickly.
Yes, 'Kısa zamanda oradayım' (I'll be there in a short time).
The opposite is 'Uzun zamanda' (In a long time).
Related Phrases
Kısa sürede
synonymIn a short duration
En kısa zamanda
specialized formAs soon as possible
Yakında
similarSoon
Tez vakitte
similarIn a quick time
Çabucak
similarQuickly
Göz açıp kapayıncaya kadar
idiomIn the blink of an eye
