Meaning
To arrive somewhere voluntarily without being forced.
Cultural Background
In Turkish law, 'etkin pişmanlık' (effective repentance) is a concept where if a criminal comes 'kendi ayağıyla' to confess before being caught, their sentence is significantly reduced. In many folk tales, the antagonist often 'comes with their own feet' to the hero's trap, symbolizing that evil eventually defeats itself through arrogance. Small business owners in Turkey often believe in 'bereket' (abundance). A customer coming 'kendi ayağıyla' is seen as a sign that the shop has good energy. If you have a falling out with someone, Turkish culture suggests you should wait for them to come 'kendi ayağıyla' to apologize if they were the one in the wrong.
Use it for 'Surprise' visits
If someone you haven't seen in years shows up, this is the perfect idiom to express your surprise at their initiative.
Watch the Suffixes
Don't forget to change 'ayağı' to 'ayağım' if you are talking about yourself. 'Kendi ayağımla geldim' is correct for 'I came.'
Meaning
To arrive somewhere voluntarily without being forced.
Use it for 'Surprise' visits
If someone you haven't seen in years shows up, this is the perfect idiom to express your surprise at their initiative.
Watch the Suffixes
Don't forget to change 'ayağı' to 'ayağım' if you are talking about yourself. 'Kendi ayağımla geldim' is correct for 'I came.'
The 'Tıpış Tıpış' Combo
If you want to sound like a native and add a bit of 'I told you so' attitude, use 'Tıpış tıpış kendi ayağıyla gelecek.'
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct form of the idiom.
Hırsız kaçmaktan yorulunca karakola kendi ________ geldi.
The instrumental case '-la/-le' is required for this idiom.
Which situation best fits the idiom 'kendi ayağıyla gelmek'?
Aşağıdaki durumlardan hangisi bu deyim için uygundur?
The idiom implies a voluntary, unforced arrival.
Complete the dialogue.
Ayşe: 'Mehmet'i bulabildiniz mi?' Fatma: 'Aramamıza gerek kalmadı, o dün akşam ________.'
This fits the context of someone appearing without being searched for.
Match the sentence to the correct meaning.
'Böyle bir iş teklifi insanın ayağına kendi ayağıyla gelmez.'
It refers to a lucky, voluntary opportunity.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Ayağıyla vs Ayağına
Practice Bank
4 exercisesHırsız kaçmaktan yorulunca karakola kendi ________ geldi.
The instrumental case '-la/-le' is required for this idiom.
Aşağıdaki durumlardan hangisi bu deyim için uygundur?
The idiom implies a voluntary, unforced arrival.
Ayşe: 'Mehmet'i bulabildiniz mi?' Fatma: 'Aramamıza gerek kalmadı, o dün akşam ________.'
This fits the context of someone appearing without being searched for.
'Böyle bir iş teklifi insanın ayağına kendi ayağıyla gelmez.'
It refers to a lucky, voluntary opportunity.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
12 questionsYes, it is very common for pets that were lost and returned home. 'Kedi kendi ayağıyla geldi.'
Not inherently, but it can be sarcastic. If you say it about a guest who was invited, it sounds like you didn't expect them to have the will to come.
'Kendiliğinden' means 'automatically' or 'by itself' (like a door closing). 'Kendi ayağıyla' is specifically for living beings moving to a location.
Yes, if you are explaining how you found a client or how a solution appeared. It sounds professional yet idiomatic.
No, even if they came by car or plane, you still say 'kendi ayağıyla' to mean they came by their own choice.
Yes, 'Kendi ayağıyla gelmedi' means they were forced or brought there.
Rarely. For objects, 'ayağına gelmek' is much more common.
Absolutely. You will often hear it in crime news: 'Zanlı kendi ayağıyla teslim oldu.'
Kendi ayağımla geldim.
There isn't a direct opposite idiom, but 'yaka paça getirilmek' (to be brought by the collar and sleeve) means being forced to come.
Yes, many pop songs about ex-lovers returning use this phrase.
Sometimes. Context determines if it's a good arrival (opportunity) or a bad one (walking into a trap).
Related Phrases
ayağına gelmek
similarTo have something delivered or provided to you without effort.
tıpış tıpış gelmek
builds onTo come back submissively or inevitably.
kuzu kuzu gelmek
similarTo come submissively like a lamb.
ayağı alışmak
specialized formTo get into the habit of visiting a place.
ayağını kaydırmak
contrastTo sabotage someone.
