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A2 verb 9 min read

sürmek

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips sürmek in 30 Seconds

Explanation sürmek in your Level:

At the A1 level, 'sürmek' is primarily learned in the context of transportation. Students learn it alongside common vehicles: 'araba sürmek' (to drive a car) and 'bisiklet sürmek' (to ride a bike). At this stage, you don't need to worry about complex grammar. Just remember that the vehicle usually comes right before the verb. You might also encounter it in very simple time expressions like 'Beş dakika sürer' (It takes five minutes). The focus here is on daily routines and hobbies. You will use it to describe how you get to school or what you do for fun in the park. It is a 'doing' word that connects you to your environment and your schedule. Mastery of A1 'sürmek' means being able to say you drive to work and that your lunch break lasts one hour.

At the A2 level, you expand 'sürmek' to include the concept of duration in more detail. You learn to ask 'Ne kadar sürüyor?' (How long does it last?) for movies, lessons, and trips. You also start using it for simple 'applying' actions, like 'ekmeğe yağ sürmek' (spreading butter on bread) or 'krem sürmek' (applying cream). You begin to notice that the verb changes based on tense: 'sürdü' (lasted), 'sürecek' (will last), 'sürüyor' (is lasting/driving). A2 learners should be comfortable using 'sürmek' to describe their weekend activities, including how long they spent doing them. You also start to see it in common phrases like 'iz sürmek' (to track/follow a trail) in simple stories.

By B1, 'sürmek' becomes a tool for describing processes and more abstract durations. You use it to talk about how long a project 'sürer' or how long a feeling might 'sürmek'. You also encounter the causative form 'sürdürmek' (to maintain/continue), which is vital for discussing habits or traditions. For example, 'Bu geleneği sürdürüyoruz' (We are maintaining this tradition). You are now expected to use the correct cases consistently: Dative for the surface you apply something to, and Accusative for the vehicle or substance. You might also hear it in the context of 'sürgün' (exile) when reading simplified history or news. B1 is where you start to appreciate the 'extension' meaning of the verb.

At the B2 level, you use 'sürmek' in more idiomatic and formal contexts. Phrases like 'hüküm sürmek' (to reign/prevail) or 'sefa sürmek' (to live a life of ease) become part of your vocabulary. You understand the nuance between 'sürmek' and 'devam etmek' and can choose the appropriate one for your writing. You also use 'sürmek' in agricultural or technical contexts, such as 'tarla sürmek' (ploughing) or referring to 'piyasa sürümü' (market release/version). Your grammar is more complex, allowing you to use it in conditional sentences: 'Eğer çok uzun sürerse, gideriz' (If it lasts too long, we will leave). You also understand the passive voice 'sürülmek' in various contexts.

C1 learners use 'sürmek' with high precision in academic and literary settings. You recognize it in classical Turkish literature where it might mean 'to lead' a life ('ömür sürmek'). You are aware of its etymological roots and how it relates to words like 'süreç' (process) and 'süreklilik' (continuity). In professional writing, you use it to describe market trends or long-term historical effects. You can distinguish between the subtle shades of meaning when 'sürmek' is used for 'smearing' a reputation versus 'applying' a physical substance. You use it fluently in complex structures, including gerunds and participles: 'Sürüp giden tartışmalar' (The ongoing/continuing debates).

At the C2 level, 'sürmek' is fully integrated into your linguistic repertoire. You use it in highly idiomatic, poetic, or archaic senses found in high-level prose. You understand its role in forming complex compound verbs and its usage in legal or Ottoman-influenced texts. You can play with the word's multiple meanings for rhetorical effect. For a C2 speaker, 'sürmek' is not just a verb but a conceptual root that links motion, time, and application. You might use it to describe the 'reigning' of a certain philosophy or the 'driving' force behind a social movement. You are also expert at using its various derivatives like 'sürükleyici' (gripping/engrossing, as in a book) or 'sürat' (speed).

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

sürmek in 30 Seconds

Sürmek is a versatile verb meaning 'to drive', 'to last', or 'to apply/spread'.
Use it for cars, bicycles, movie durations, and applying skincare or food spreads.
It is a regular verb but changes meaning significantly based on the noun it follows.
Common in daily life, from traffic to breakfast and talking about schedules.

The Turkish verb sürmek is one of the most versatile and essential words in the Turkish language. At its core, it carries the idea of 'driving,' 'pushing forward,' or 'extending.' For an English speaker, it can be slightly confusing because it translates to several distinct English verbs depending on the context: to drive, to last, to apply, to smear, to exile, and even to plough. Understanding sürmek requires looking at the object it interacts with. If you are behind a wheel, you are driving; if you are looking at a clock, it is lasting; if you are holding a piece of bread and butter, you are spreading.

The Motion of Driving: When used with vehicles like cars (araba), bicycles (bisiklet), or motorcycles (motosiklet), it means to drive or ride. It implies the active control and forward movement of the vehicle.

Her gün işe giderken araba sürüyorum.

The Passage of Time: In a temporal context, it describes duration. If a movie takes two hours, or a meeting lasts all morning, you use 'sürmek'. It answers the question 'Ne kadar sürer?' (How long does it take/last?).

Toplantı beklediğimden uzun sürdü.

Applying and Smearing: This is the physical action of spreading a substance onto a surface. This could be putting cream on your face, butter on bread, or paint on a wall. It implies a thin layer being moved across a surface.

Ekmeğine biraz bal sürdü.

Beyond these common uses, sürmek appears in agricultural settings (tarlayı sürmek - to plough the field) and historical or legal settings (sürgüne sürmek - to send into exile). In all these cases, the underlying theme is a directional force—driving a car forward, driving a plough through soil, driving a person out of a country, or driving a substance across skin. It is a dynamic verb that suggests continuity and movement. Whether you are talking about a physical journey or the journey of time, sürmek is your go-to word for describing the process of something going on or being moved along a path.

Using sürmek correctly involves understanding the grammatical case of the object it governs. Because it has multiple meanings, the sentence structure changes slightly based on what you are trying to communicate. Let's break down the three primary grammatical patterns.

1. Driving (Accusative Case): When you drive a specific vehicle, the vehicle usually takes the Accusative case (-i, -ı, -u, -ü). For example, 'Arabayı sürüyorum' (I am driving THE car). However, if you are speaking generally about driving, you might omit the case: 'Araba sürmeyi seviyorum' (I love driving cars).

Bisiklet sürmek çok eğlencelidir.

2. Duration (Nominative Case for Time): When expressing how long something lasts, the time period acts as the subject or a predicate complement. You do not need special case endings for the duration itself. 'Film iki saat sürdü' (The film lasted two hours). Here, 'iki saat' is the duration.

Bu yolculuk ne kadar sürecek?

3. Applying (Dative + Accusative): When applying a substance, you apply 'something' (Accusative) 'to somewhere' (Dative). For example, 'Yüzüne (to his face) krem (cream) sürdü.' Note that 'krem' is the object being spread, and 'yüzüne' is the destination.

In more advanced usage, you might encounter the causative form sürdürmek (to make something continue/sustain) or the passive sürülmek (to be driven/exiled). For instance, 'Gelenekleri sürdürmeliyiz' (We must sustain the traditions). This shows how the root 'sür-' expands from simple physical driving to abstract continuation. Always check the context: if there is a duration, it's 'last'; if there is a vehicle, it's 'drive'; if there is a substance, it's 'apply'. Mastering these three patterns will cover 90% of your daily interactions with this verb.

You will encounter sürmek in almost every corner of Turkish life, from the mundane to the professional. Its high frequency makes it a 'chameleon verb' that adapts to the environment it is in. Here are the most common scenarios where you will hear it used by native speakers.

In Traffic and Transportation: This is perhaps the most literal use. You'll hear it in driving schools (Sürücü Kursu), in conversations about commutes, or when someone is showing off their new bike. 'Hızlı sürme!' (Don't drive fast!) is a common warning heard from parents and passengers alike.

Ehliyet almak için araba sürmeyi öğrenmelisin.

At the Breakfast Table: The Turkish breakfast (kahvaltı) is famous, and 'sürmek' is the star verb here. Whether it's spreading honey (bal), jam (reçel), or spicy pepper paste (salça) on a piece of fresh bread (ekmek), you'll hear: 'Ekmeğine sana yağ mı süreyim?' (Shall I spread margarine on your bread?).

Çocuk ekmeğine çok fazla çikolata sürdü.

Planning and Logistics: Whenever time management is involved, 'sürmek' is used to discuss schedules. At a bus station, you might ask, 'İstanbul'a gitmek kaç saat sürer?' (How many hours does it take to go to Istanbul?). In a business meeting, someone might say, 'Bu proje aylar sürebilir' (This project could last for months).

Furthermore, in news broadcasts or history documentaries, you will hear about people being 'exiled' (sürülmek) or a 'process continuing' (süreç sürüyor). In rural areas, you'll see farmers 'ploughing the field' (tarla sürmek). Even in the digital world, 'sürüm' means 'version' (like software version 2.0). Because it is so integrated into life, from the morning jam on your toast to the evening drive home and the duration of the movie you watch at night, 'sürmek' is a word you cannot avoid hearing in Turkey.

Even though sürmek is common, English speakers often make specific errors when trying to map it directly to English concepts. Understanding these pitfalls will help you sound more like a native speaker.

Mistake 1: Using 'Almak' for Duration: In English, we say 'It takes three hours.' Beginners often try to translate 'takes' as 'alır' (from almak). While 'almak' can be used in some contexts, for duration, 'sürmek' is much more natural. Saying 'Üç saat alıyor' sounds like the time is being literally taken away, whereas 'Üç saat sürüyor' means it lasts for that duration.

Yanlış: Yolculuk iki saat ~~alıyor~~. Doğru: Yolculuk iki saat sürüyor.

Mistake 2: Confusing 'Sürmek' with 'Kullanmak': Both mean 'to drive' in certain contexts, but 'kullanmak' literally means 'to use.' You can use (kullanmak) a car, a phone, or a tool. 'Sürmek' is specifically the act of steering/driving the vehicle. While often interchangeable for cars, you wouldn't say 'bisiklet kullanmak' as often as 'bisiklet sürmek'. Generally, 'sürmek' emphasizes the motion, while 'kullanmak' emphasizes the operation of the machine.

Araba sürmeyi mi seviyorsun yoksa sadece arabayı kullanıyor musun?

Mistake 3: Forgetting the Dative Case for 'Applying': When you apply cream, you must indicate where it's going. English speakers often say 'Krem sürdüm yüzümde' (I applied cream IN my face - locative), but it must be 'Yüzüme krem sürdüm' (I applied cream TO my face - dative). The motion of spreading implies a direction toward a surface.

Finally, be careful with the word sürü (herd). While related to the idea of driving animals, 'sürü' is a noun. Beginners sometimes mix up the verb conjugation with related nouns. Also, remember that 'sürmek' in the sense of 'to last' does not take a direct object in the accusative; the time period is just a quantifier. Avoiding these common translation-based errors will significantly improve your fluency and make your Turkish sound more authentic.

Because sürmek covers so much ground, there are several synonyms and alternatives that are more specific to certain contexts. Using these can make your speech more precise.

Sürmek vs. Devam Etmek (To Continue): While 'sürmek' means to last, 'devam etmek' means to continue or carry on. 'Sürmek' is often used for the total duration (The war lasted 4 years), whereas 'devam etmek' is used for the action of continuing (The war is continuing).
Example: Savaş dört yıl sürdü. (The war lasted 4 years.) vs. Savaş devam ediyor. (The war is continuing.)

Sürmek vs. Kullanmak (To Drive/Use): As mentioned before, 'kullanmak' is more general. You 'use' a car to get to work, but you 'drive' it down the road. In formal settings like a job interview, you might say 'Aktif olarak araba kullanıyorum' (I actively use/drive a car).

Sürmek vs. Yaymak (To Spread): 'Sürmek' is for applying a substance to a surface. 'Yaymak' is for spreading something out over an area, often used for news, rumors, or even light. You spread (yaymak) a carpet on the floor, but you apply (sürmek) butter to bread.

Haberler hızla yayıldı, ama krem yavaşça sürüldü.

Sürmek vs. Ovmak (To Rub): 'Ovmak' implies friction and pressure, like rubbing your eyes or massaging a muscle. 'Sürmek' is simply the act of putting the substance on. If you apply ointment, you 'sürmek' it; if you rub it in vigorously, you 'ovmak' it.

Choosing the right alternative depends on your focus. Use sürmek when you want to emphasize the duration of an event, the physical act of driving, or the application of a layer. Use the alternatives when you need to be more technical or when the action involves more than just a simple 'driving' motion. For instance, in the phrase 'hüküm sürmek' (to reign), 'sürmek' is used idiomatically to show the extension of power over time, where 'devam etmek' would sound too literal and weak.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The word 'süre' (time/duration) was actually coined during the Turkish Language Reform to replace the Arabic 'müddet', using the root 'sür-' because time is something that 'lasts' or 'is driven forward'.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /syɾˈmec/

US /syɾˈmɛk/

The stress is on the second syllable: sür-MEK.

Rhymes With

Görmek Vermek Örmek Sermek Germek Yermek Dermek Ermek

Common Errors

Pronouncing 'ü' like 'oo' in 'food'. It should be more like 'ee' with rounded lips.
Not tapping the 'r' (it shouldn't be a rhotic American 'r').
Stress on the first syllable.
Pronouncing 'k' too softly at the end.
Confusing the vowel with 'u' (surmak - which is not a word).

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

Easy to recognize, but context is needed to determine the specific meaning.

Writing 3/5

Requires knowledge of dative and accusative cases depending on the meaning.

Speaking 2/5

Very common, essential for basic survival Turkish.

Listening 2/5

Clear pronunciation, but polysemy can cause slight delays in comprehension.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

Araba Zaman Saat Ekmek Gitmek

Learn Next

Süre Süreç Sürekli Sürdürmek Kullanmak

Advanced

Hüküm sürmek Sürgün Sürdürülebilirlik Pey sürmek

Grammar to Know

Accusative Case for Vehicles

Arabayı (Acc) sürüyorum.

Dative Case for Surfaces (Applying)

Yüzüme (Dat) krem sürüyorum.

Simple Present for Duration

Yol üç saat sürer.

Causative -dür suffix

Sürdürmek (To cause to last/continue).

Passive -ül suffix

Sürülmek (To be driven/exiled).

Examples by Level

Ben araba sürüyorum.

I am driving a car.

Subject + Object + Verb (Present Continuous)

Bisiklet sürmeyi seviyorum.

I love riding a bike.

Infinitive '-meyi' used as an object of 'sevmek'.

Film bir saat sürer.

The movie lasts one hour.

Simple Present (Geniş Zaman) for general facts.

O, her gün otobüs sürer.

He drives a bus every day.

Third person singular.

Kahvaltıda ekmeğe bal sürerim.

I spread honey on bread at breakfast.

Dative case 'ekmeğe' (to the bread).

Yolculuk kaç saat sürüyor?

How many hours does the journey take?

Question form in present continuous.

Ali çok hızlı sürüyor.

Ali is driving very fast.

Adverb 'hızlı' modifying the verb.

Ders ne kadar sürdü?

How long did the lesson last?

Past tense '-dü'.

Kışın kayak sürmek çok zordur.

Skiing is very difficult in winter.

Infinitive as subject.

Yüzüne güneş kremi sür.

Apply sunscreen to your face.

Imperative mood.

Toplantı iki saatten fazla sürdü.

The meeting lasted more than two hours.

Ablative '-den' + 'fazla' (more than).

Bu boya çok yavaş sürülüyor.

This paint is applied very slowly.

Passive voice 'sürülmek'.

Dün akşam bisiklet sürdük.

We rode bikes last night.

Past tense first person plural.

Ekmeklerin üzerine tereyağı sürdüm.

I spread butter on the breads.

Plural and possessive markers.

İş görüşmesi ne kadar sürecek?

How long will the job interview last?

Future tense '-ecek'.

Motosiklet sürmek tehlikeli olabilir.

Riding a motorcycle can be dangerous.

Modal 'olabilir' (can be).

Bu gelenek yüzyıllardır sürüyor.

This tradition has been lasting for centuries.

Present continuous used for ongoing state.

Arabayı garaja sürer misin?

Would you drive the car into the garage?

Polite request with 'misin'.

Yaraya merhem sürmek iyi gelir.

Applying ointment to the wound helps.

Dative 'yaraya' (to the wound).

Tartışma bütün gece sürdü.

The argument lasted all night.

Definite past tense.

Çiftçi tarlayı traktörle sürüyor.

The farmer is ploughing the field with a tractor.

Instrumental 'traktörle'.

Bu ilaç etkisini ne kadar sürdürür?

How long does this medicine maintain its effect?

Causative 'sürdürmek'.

Onu uzak bir köye sürdüler.

They exiled him to a remote village.

Exile meaning of sürmek.

Kamyon sürmek büyük sorumluluktur.

Driving a truck is a big responsibility.

Gerund usage.

Osmanlı İmparatorluğu altı asır hüküm sürdü.

The Ottoman Empire reigned for six centuries.

Idiom: 'hüküm sürmek'.

Hatalarını yüzüne sürmek istemiyorum.

I don't want to rub your mistakes in your face.

Figurative use.

Bu proje beklediğimizden daha kısa sürecek.

This project will last shorter than we expected.

Comparative 'daha kısa'.

Gözlerine sürme sürmüş.

She has applied kohl (eyeliner) to her eyes.

Noun 'sürme' and verb 'sürmek' together.

Siyasetçiler bu politikayı sürdürmekte kararlı.

Politicians are determined to maintain this policy.

Locative of infinitive '-mekte'.

Polis suçlunun izini sürdü.

The police tracked the criminal.

Idiom: 'iz sürmek'.

Yeni yazılım sürümü yarın çıkıyor.

The new software version is coming out tomorrow.

Noun derivative 'sürüm'.

Hayatını huzur içinde sürmek istiyordu.

He wanted to lead his life in peace.

Idiom: 'hayat/ömür sürmek'.

Ekonomik krizin etkileri hala sürüyor.

The effects of the economic crisis are still lasting.

Abstract duration.

Yazar, romanında toplumsal bir sürgünü anlatıyor.

The author describes a social exile in his novel.

Noun 'sürgün'.

Olaylar kontrolden çıkıp kaosa sürüklendi.

Events got out of control and drifted into chaos.

Related verb 'sürüklenmek' (to be dragged/drift).

Bu ilacın yan etkileri uzun süre sürebilir.

The side effects of this drug may last for a long time.

Potential mood '-ebilmek'.

Tarlaların sürülmesi için en uygun mevsim bahardır.

Spring is the most suitable season for ploughing the fields.

Passive gerund 'sürülmesi'.

Sürdürülebilir kalkınma için yeni adımlar atılıyor.

New steps are being taken for sustainable development.

Adjective 'sürdürülebilir'.

Pey sürmek için elini kaldırdı.

He raised his hand to place a bid.

Idiom: 'pey sürmek' (to bid).

Karanlık bir devir hüküm sürüyordu.

A dark era was prevailing.

Figurative 'hüküm sürmek'.

Edebiyatımızda sürrealizm rüzgarları sürüyordu.

The winds of surrealism were blowing (continuing) in our literature.

Metaphorical use.

Hükümet, reformları sürdürme iradesini gösterdi.

The government showed the will to continue the reforms.

Noun phrase with gerund.

Gözden ırak, sessiz bir yaşam sürüyordu.

He was leading a quiet life, away from public eye.

Literary 'yaşam sürmek'.

Sürgit devam eden bu çekişme son bulmalı.

This ever-continuing conflict must end.

Adverb 'sürgit' (continually).

Mahkeme, sanığın sürgün edilmesine karar verdi.

The court decided on the exile of the defendant.

Compound verb 'sürgün edilmek'.

Fikirlerini piyasaya sürmek için doğru zamanı bekledi.

He waited for the right time to launch (put on the market) his ideas.

Idiom: 'piyasaya sürmek'.

Süreğen hastalıklar sabır gerektirir.

Chronic (persistent) diseases require patience.

Adjective 'süreğen' (chronic/ongoing).

Aşkın ömrü ne kadar sürer, kimse bilemez.

No one can know how long the life of love lasts.

Philosophical usage.

Common Collocations

Araba sürmek

Bisiklet sürmek

Krem sürmek

Yağ sürmek

İz sürmek

Hüküm sürmek

Tarla sürmek

Pey sürmek

Ömür sürmek

Sefa sürmek

Common Phrases

Ne kadar sürer?

— How long does it take? Used for travel, meetings, or processes.

Yolculuk ne kadar sürer?

Çok sürer mi?

— Will it take long? Used when you are in a hurry.

Bu iş çok sürer mi?

Sürüp gitmek

— To go on and on. Used for repetitive or long-lasting events.

Bu tartışma böyle sürüp gider.

Piyasaya sürmek

— To launch or release a product.

Yeni telefonu piyasaya sürdüler.

Öne sürmek

— To put forward an idea or claim.

Yeni bir iddia öne sürdü.

Geri sürmek

— To drive backward or to push back.

Arabayı geri sürdü.

Sürümden kazanmak

— To make a profit through high volume sales.

Ucuz satıyorlar ama sürümden kazanıyorlar.

Sefalet sürmek

— To live in misery.

Yıllarca sefalet sürdüler.

Keyif sürmek

— To enjoy oneself, to have a good time.

Bahçede keyif sürüyoruz.

Hüküm süren

— Prevailing or reigning.

Şehirde sessizlik hüküm süren tek şeydi.

Often Confused With

sürmek vs Kullanmak

Kullanmak means 'to use'. You use a car, but you drive (sürmek) it.

sürmek vs Sürüklemek

Sürüklemek means 'to drag'. It implies pulling something heavy.

sürmek vs Sürtmek

Sürtmek means 'to rub against' something, often accidentally.

Idioms & Expressions

"İz sürmek"

— To follow tracks or clues to find someone or something.

Avcı geyiğin izini sürdü.

Neutral

"Hüküm sürmek"

— To rule over a place or to be the dominant condition.

Bu bölgede kış aylarında sessizlik hüküm sürer.

Formal/Literary

"Sefa sürmek"

— To live a life of luxury and pleasure without worries.

Miras kalınca sefa sürmeye başladı.

Informal/Neutral

"Pey sürmek"

— To make a bid in an auction.

Tabloya beş bin lira pey sürdüm.

Business

"Öne sürmek"

— To propose an argument, theory, or excuse.

Bahane olarak hastalığını öne sürdü.

Neutral

"Yüzüne sürmek"

— To rub someone's mistakes or a bad situation in their face.

Eski hatalarını sürekli yüzüne sürüyor.

Informal

"Yaşam sürmek"

— To lead or live a life of a certain quality.

Köyde sakin bir yaşam sürüyor.

Neutral/Literary

"Sürgün yemek"

— To be sent into exile (slang/informal).

Memur yaptığı hata yüzünden sürgün yedi.

Informal

"Sürüden ayrılmak"

— To act differently from the group (to leave the herd).

Sürüden ayrılanı kurt kapar.

Proverbial

"Göz sürmek"

— To eye something or apply eyeliner.

Vitrinlere göz sürerek yürüdü.

Informal/Poetic

Easily Confused

sürmek vs Süre

Noun vs Verb

Süre is the noun 'duration', while sürmek is the verb 'to last'.

Süre doldu (Time is up) vs Film iki saat sürdü (Film lasted 2 hours).

sürmek vs Sürü

Related root

Sürü is a noun meaning 'herd' or 'flock'.

Koyun sürüsü (Flock of sheep).

sürmek vs Sürgün

Related root

Sürgün is the noun 'exile' or 'shoot/sprout' in plants.

Sürgüne gönderildi (Sent to exile).

sürmek vs Sürat

Related concept

Sürat is the noun 'speed'.

Sürat felakettir (Speed is disaster).

sürmek vs Sürekli

Adjective from root

Sürekli means 'continuously' or 'constantly'.

Sürekli konuşuyor (He is constantly talking).

Sentence Patterns

[Vehicle] sürmek

Bisiklet sürmek.

[Time] sürmek

İki saat sürer.

[Surface]-e [Substance] sürmek

Ekmeğe yağ sürmek.

[Action] ne kadar sürer?

Yemek yapmak ne kadar sürer?

[Abstract] sürmek

Hüküm sürmek.

[Substance] sürülmek

Krem sürüldü.

[Object] piyasaya sürmek

Yeni ürünü piyasaya sürmek.

[Concept] sürgit devam etmek

Bu düzen sürgit böyle devam eder.

Word Family

Nouns

Sürücü (Driver)

Süre (Duration)

Süreç (Process)

Sürgün (Exile)

Sürüm (Version/Circulation)

Sürme (Kohl/Eyeliner)

Verbs

Sürdürmek (To maintain)

Sürülmek (To be driven/exiled)

Sürüklemek (To drag)

Sürtmek (To rub against)

Adjectives

Sürekli (Continuous)

Süresiz (Indefinite)

Sürükleyici (Gripping)

Süratli (Fast)

Sürü (Herd)

Sürat (Speed)

Süreklilik (Continuity)

Sürgünlük (State of exile)

Sürpriz (Surprise - though unrelated etymologically, often confused in spelling)

How to Use It

frequency

Top 200 most used verbs in Turkish.

Common Mistakes

Yolculuk iki saat alıyor. → Yolculuk iki saat sürüyor.
In Turkish, time 'lasts' (sürmek), it doesn't 'take' (almak).
Ekmeğe yağ sürüyorum yüzünde. → Ekmeğe yağ sürüyorum.
If you mean 'on the bread', it's 'ekmeğe' (Dative). 'Yüzünde' means 'on the face' (Locative).
Ben araba kullanıyorum (when meaning riding a bike). → Ben bisiklet sürüyorum.
'Kullanmak' is for machines/cars; 'sürmek' is better for bikes.
Hüküm sürmek (using it for a person driving). → Araba sürmek.
'Hüküm sürmek' is a specific idiom for reigning or prevailing.
Sürgün etmek (using it for applying cream). → Krem sürmek.
'Sürgün etmek' means to exile someone.

Tips

Case Sensitivity

Always check if you need the Dative case for the destination of your 'spreading' action.

Duration

Use it whenever you talk about how long a movie, class, or trip is.

Natural Sound

Say 'bisiklet sürmek' instead of 'bisiklete binmek' if you want to emphasize the riding part.

Formal Context

In formal writing, use 'sürdürmek' to talk about maintaining policies or traditions.

Context Clues

If the sentence starts with a time, expect 'sürmek' to mean 'to last'.

Hospitality

Associate 'sürmek' with the smell of lemon cologne during guest visits.

Steer-Last-Smear

Remember the three S's: Steer (drive), Stay (last), Smear (apply).

Versatility

Don't be afraid to use it for 'applying' anything from paint to perfume.

No 'Take'

Never use 'almak' for time. 'Sürmek' is the king of duration.

Tracking

'İz sürmek' is a great idiom to use in detective stories or metaphorical tracking.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of a 'SURfer' who 'SÜR-mek' (drives/rides) the waves. The wave 'SÜR-mek' (lasts) for a while until he 'SÜR-mek' (applies) wax to his board.

Visual Association

Imagine a car driving through a giant clock. The car is the 'driving' part, and the clock is the 'lasting' part of the verb.

Word Web

Araba Zaman Krem Tereyağı Bisiklet Süre Sürgün Tarla

Challenge

Try to write a sentence using 'sürmek' twice with two different meanings. For example: 'Araba sürmek üç saat sürdü.' (Driving the car lasted three hours.)

Word Origin

Derived from the Old Turkic root 'sür-'. This root has existed since the earliest recorded Turkic inscriptions (Orkhon Inscriptions).

Original meaning: To drive, to chase away, to follow, or to move something forward.

Turkic

Cultural Context

The word 'sürgün' (exile) can be a sensitive topic in historical discussions.

English speakers often say 'It takes time', but Turks say 'It lasts time'. Also, 'driving' a bike in English is 'riding', but in Turkish, it is all 'sürmek'.

'Sürgün' - A famous novel by Refik Halid Karay. 'Hükümsüzdür' - Often seen in newspapers, related to 'hüküm sürmek'. Popular song 'Sefa Geldin' (though 'sefa sürmek' is the idiom).

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Driving

Yavaş sür
Ehliyetim var
Araba sürmeyi seviyorum
Ters yöne sürme

Time/Duration

Kaç saat sürer?
Çok uzun sürdü
Kısa sürecek
Sonsuza kadar sürer

Breakfast/Food

Reçel sür
Tereyağı sürer misin?
Çok sürme
Ekmeğin üzerine sür

Skincare/Health

Krem sürdüm
Merhem sür
Güneş kremi sür
İlacı sür

Work/Projects

Proje ne kadar sürer?
Süreci takip et
Yeni sürüm
Piyasaya sürdük

Conversation Starters

"İşe gitmek ne kadar sürüyor?"

"Araba sürmeyi ne zaman öğrendin?"

"En uzun yolculuğun ne kadar sürdü?"

"Bisiklet sürmeyi sever misin?"

"Kahvaltıda ekmeğine ne sürmeyi seversin?"

Journal Prompts

Bugün yaptığın işler ne kadar sürdü? Detaylıca yaz.

Araba sürmek mi yoksa yürümek mi daha keyifli? Neden?

Hayatında sonsuza kadar sürmesini istediğin bir an var mı?

Yeni bir dil öğrenme süreci sence ne kadar sürer?

Çocukken bisiklet sürmeyi nasıl öğrendin?

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

Yes, you can use it for cars, trucks, buses, bicycles, and motorcycles. For horses, you usually say 'ata binmek' (to ride a horse), but 'at sürmek' is also possible in a more active sense.

Not when it means 'to last'. In 'Film sürdü', the film is the subject. When it means 'to drive' or 'to apply', it usually takes an object.

'Sürmek' emphasizes the duration of a process, while 'devam etmek' emphasizes the act of not stopping.

In Turkish, you say 'Benim için on dakika sürer' or simply 'On dakika sürer'.

No, but 'koku sürmek' means to apply perfume/scent.

Yes, 'ruj sürmek' is the standard way to say 'to put on lipstick'.

It means to release a product to the market or to circulate something.

Sürdüm, sürdün, sürdü, sürdük, sürdünüz, sürdüler.

Usually 'yaymak' is used for rumors, but 'öne sürmek' can be used for spreading an idea.

Extremely common. It is a fundamental verb for daily life, travel, and time.