Meaning
Getting information about something indirectly.
Cultural Background
In small villages, 'kulağına gitmek' was the primary way news traveled. There were no newspapers, so the 'ear' was the only source of information. In the Ottoman palace, information was power. Spies and servants ensured that every whisper 'went to the ear' of the Sultan or the Valide Sultan. Turkish offices are often social. 'Kulağına gitmek' is a warning used to navigate office politics and avoid 'dedikodu' (gossip). In immigrant communities, news about families back home or within the community travels fast via WhatsApp groups, often described as 'kulağımıza geldi/gitti'.
Use the '-miş' tense
Since you usually hear about news reaching someone from someone else, the 'reported past tense' (-miş) is the most natural partner for this idiom.
Possessive Agreement
Make sure the possessive suffix on 'kulak' matches the person who heard the news (e.g., 'annemin kulağına', not 'annemin kulağım').
Meaning
Getting information about something indirectly.
Use the '-miş' tense
Since you usually hear about news reaching someone from someone else, the 'reported past tense' (-miş) is the most natural partner for this idiom.
Possessive Agreement
Make sure the possessive suffix on 'kulak' matches the person who heard the news (e.g., 'annemin kulağına', not 'annemin kulağım').
Softening the Blow
Use 'kulağıma çalındı' if you want to sound less certain or less like you were gossiping.
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'kulağına gitmek'.
Dün akşamki kavga maalesef müdürün _________.
We use 'gitmiş' because the speaker is reporting news they learned indirectly.
Complete the dialogue naturally.
A: Sürpriz partiyi Ayşe biliyor mu? B: Evet, birisi söylemiş, haber _________.
'Kulağına gitmiş' means she heard the news indirectly.
Which situation best fits the idiom 'kulağına gitmek'?
Situation: You told a secret to your best friend, and now your teacher knows it too.
This is the classic definition of information traveling through a third party.
Choose the correct possessive form.
Benim sırlarım onun _________ gitmiş.
We need the 3rd person possessive (onun kulağı) + dative case (-na).
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesDün akşamki kavga maalesef müdürün _________.
We use 'gitmiş' because the speaker is reporting news they learned indirectly.
A: Sürpriz partiyi Ayşe biliyor mu? B: Evet, birisi söylemiş, haber _________.
'Kulağına gitmiş' means she heard the news indirectly.
Situation: You told a secret to your best friend, and now your teacher knows it too.
This is the classic definition of information traveling through a third party.
Benim sırlarım onun _________ gitmiş.
We need the 3rd person possessive (onun kulağı) + dative case (-na).
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
5 questionsYes! For example, 'Başarın müdürün kulağına gitmiş' (Your success reached the manager's ear) is very positive.
Not inherently, but it implies that information was shared behind someone's back, so use it carefully in sensitive situations.
'Geldi' focuses on the news arriving at you. 'Gitti' is the more common idiomatic form for news reaching any destination.
No, 'girdi' (entered) is not used idiomatically this way. Use 'gitmek' or 'çalınmak'.
It is common in journalism and literature, but less so in academic or legal papers.
Related Phrases
kulağına çalınmak
similarTo overhear something vaguely.
kulak misafiri olmak
similarTo eavesdrop unintentionally.
kulağına küpe olmak
contrastTo learn a lesson.
ağızdan ağıza yayılmak
builds onTo spread from mouth to mouth.
haberi uçmak
similarFor news to fly (spread very fast).
