Meaning
Asking if someone is free to talk.
Cultural Background
Turkish people often use 'Zamanın var mı?' as a prelude to 'sohbet' (chatting). It's rare to just ask a question without this polite opening. In Turkish offices, hierarchy is important. Always use 'Zamanınız var mı?' with superiors. It shows you value their busy schedule. If someone asks you this, saying 'No' can sometimes feel blunt. People often say 'Şu an biraz meşgulüm ama...' (I'm a bit busy now but...) to soften the refusal. On WhatsApp, it's common to send 'Zamanın var mı?' as a single message before calling someone. It's the digital equivalent of knocking.
The 'Mı' Rule
Always keep 'mı' as a separate word. Writing 'zamanın varmı' is a common mistake even for some natives, but it's grammatically incorrect.
Don't be too direct
In Turkey, jumping straight into a request without asking 'Zamanın var mı?' can seem aggressive or rude.
Meaning
Asking if someone is free to talk.
The 'Mı' Rule
Always keep 'mı' as a separate word. Writing 'zamanın varmı' is a common mistake even for some natives, but it's grammatically incorrect.
Don't be too direct
In Turkey, jumping straight into a request without asking 'Zamanın var mı?' can seem aggressive or rude.
Use 'Vakit'
If you want to sound a bit more sophisticated or traditional, use 'Vaktin var mı?' instead.
Test Yourself
Complete the sentence with the correct question particle.
Zamanın var ____?
The word 'var' has the vowel 'a', so the question particle must be 'mı' according to vowel harmony.
Which sentence is the most polite way to ask a teacher for their time?
Select the formal version:
The suffix '-ınız' is the formal/plural second person, which is used for respect.
Fill in the missing line in the dialogue.
Ahmet: ______? Can: Evet, müsaitim. Ne oldu?
Can't answer 'Yes, I'm available' to 'What time is it?' or 'What is your name?'.
Match the phrase to the situation.
You want to ask a friend to go to the movies tonight.
You first check if they are free before making the suggestion.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesZamanın var ____?
The word 'var' has the vowel 'a', so the question particle must be 'mı' according to vowel harmony.
Select the formal version:
The suffix '-ınız' is the formal/plural second person, which is used for respect.
Ahmet: ______? Can: Evet, müsaitim. Ne oldu?
Can't answer 'Yes, I'm available' to 'What time is it?' or 'What is your name?'.
You want to ask a friend to go to the movies tonight.
You first check if they are free before making the suggestion.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsOnly if you use a rising intonation to indicate a question, but 'Zamanın var mı?' is much more natural and correct.
'Zaman' is general time. 'Vakit' often refers to a specific period or the 'right' time for something. They are 90% interchangeable here.
Say 'Maalesef şu an yok' (Unfortunately not right now) or 'Çok meşgulüm' (I'm very busy).
Yes, but usually in the formal form: 'Zamanınız var mı?'.
The '-ın' suffix means 'your'. You are asking if 'your time' exists.
Yes! 'Cumartesi zamanın var mı?' is a classic way to ask someone out.
Not exactly. 'Var' means 'there is'. Turkish uses 'There is my time' to mean 'I have time'.
Say 'Çok zamanın var mı?'.
It is used everywhere in Turkey, every single day.
Yes, 'Müsait misin' is very common, especially on the phone.
Related Phrases
Vaktin var mı?
synonymDo you have time?
Müsait misin?
similarAre you available?
Meşgul müsün?
contrastAre you busy?
Bir dakikanı alabilir miyim?
specialized formCan I take a minute of your time?
