Signification
Direct command.
Contexte culturel
In Turkish families, honesty is a pillar of 'terbiye' (upbringing). A child caught lying is often lectured with 'Yalan söyleme' followed by a story about how 'yalancının mumu yatsıya kadar yanar' (a liar's candle only burns until bedtime/the truth will out). Classic Turkish movies often feature a dramatic scene where the hero looks the villain in the eye and says 'Yalan söyleme!' This phrase is iconic in 1970s melodrama. On Turkish Twitter, 'Yalan söyleme' is often used as a hashtag or a reply to politicians or celebrities to call out perceived falsehoods, often accompanied by evidence. Directly saying 'Yalan söyleme' to a business partner is considered a bridge-burning move. Turks prefer indirectness in business to save face, even when they know the other party is lying.
Use 'Bana'
Adding 'Bana' (to me) makes the phrase sound more personal and serious.
Watch the Register
Never say this to someone older than you; it's considered very disrespectful.
Signification
Direct command.
Use 'Bana'
Adding 'Bana' (to me) makes the phrase sound more personal and serious.
Watch the Register
Never say this to someone older than you; it's considered very disrespectful.
The 'Sakın' Boost
Add 'Sakın' at the beginning ('Sakın yalan söyleme!') to mean 'Don't you dare lie!'
Body Language
When saying this, Turks often maintain intense eye contact to show they are serious.
Teste-toi
Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'to lie' (negative imperative, informal).
Bana ______, her şeyi biliyorum!
The context 'Bana' and the exclamation mark suggest a direct informal command.
Which sentence is the most appropriate to say to a child who is lying?
Choose the best option:
'Yalan söyleme' is the standard way to address a child, and 'tatlım' (my sweet) softens it.
Match the phrase to the situation.
Situation: You are talking to your boss and you think he is not being honest.
You must use the formal '-in' suffix with a boss, though even this is very risky!
Complete the dialogue.
Ayşe: Dün partiye gelmedim çünkü hastaydım. Fatma: ______, seni orada dans ederken gördüm!
Fatma is catching Ayşe in a lie, so 'Yalan söyleme' is the natural response.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesBana ______, her şeyi biliyorum!
The context 'Bana' and the exclamation mark suggest a direct informal command.
Choose the best option:
'Yalan söyleme' is the standard way to address a child, and 'tatlım' (my sweet) softens it.
Situation: You are talking to your boss and you think he is not being honest.
You must use the formal '-in' suffix with a boss, though even this is very risky!
Ayşe: Dün partiye gelmedim çünkü hastaydım. Fatma: ______, seni orada dans ederken gördüm!
Fatma is catching Ayşe in a lie, so 'Yalan söyleme' is the natural response.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsIt can be. It's a direct confrontation. Use it only with people you know well.
The formal version is 'Yalan söylemeyin' or 'Yalan söylemeyiniz'.
Yes, if a friend tells a crazy story, you can say it with a smile to mean 'No way!'
'Yalan' is a deliberate lie; 'yanlış' is just a mistake.
You can say 'Yalan söylemeyi bırak'.
Yes, 'Atma!' or 'Sıkma!' are common slang terms.
Absolutely not. It would be seen as a major insult.
It means 'liar'.
Yes, it is a very common lyric in Turkish pop and arabesque music.
Say 'Ona yalan söyleme'.
Expressions liées
Doğruyu söyle
contrastTell the truth
Yalan söylemek
builds onTo tell a lie
Yalancı
similarThe noun form describing the person.
Uydurma
similarDon't make it up
Atma
slangDon't throw (Don't BS)
Dürüst ol
similarBe honest
