Significado
Acting with extreme urgency due to fear or danger.
Contexto cultural
The phrase is deeply linked to the Turkish experience of natural disasters, especially the 1999 and 2023 earthquakes, where it became a standard way to describe the 'miracle' of survival. In village tales, heroes often find 'can havli' when fighting monsters or wolves, representing the spiritual strength of the underdog. In crowded cities like Istanbul, the phrase is sometimes used ironically to describe the daily struggle of commuting or surviving economic inflation. The word 'Can' is sacred. Acting 'can havliyle' is seen as the body's way of honoring the soul's desire to continue its earthly journey.
Use with 'Sarılmak'
A very common collocation is 'can havliyle hayata sarılmak' (to cling to life with a survival instinct). It's great for writing essays.
Don't Overuse
If you use it for small things, you'll sound like a drama queen. Keep it for real emergencies.
Significado
Acting with extreme urgency due to fear or danger.
Use with 'Sarılmak'
A very common collocation is 'can havliyle hayata sarılmak' (to cling to life with a survival instinct). It's great for writing essays.
Don't Overuse
If you use it for small things, you'll sound like a drama queen. Keep it for real emergencies.
News Vocabulary
You will see this phrase in almost every news report about accidents. It's a key word for understanding Turkish media.
Teste-se
Fill in the blank with the correct phrase.
Yangın merdivenlerine ___________ koştuk.
In a fire (yangın), you run with a survival instinct (can havliyle).
Which situation is most appropriate for 'can havliyle'?
Hangi durumda 'can havliyle' ifadesi kullanılır?
Escaping a mad dog is a life-threatening survival situation.
Complete the dialogue.
Ayşe: 'Deprem olduğunda ne yaptın?' Mehmet: '_________________.'
Hiding under a table during an earthquake is a survival reflex.
Match the verb with 'can havliyle'.
Can havliyle...
Shouting (bağırmak) can be a desperate survival act; the others are too calm.
🎉 Pontuação: /4
Recursos visuais
Banco de exercicios
4 exerciciosYangın merdivenlerine ___________ koştuk.
In a fire (yangın), you run with a survival instinct (can havliyle).
Hangi durumda 'can havliyle' ifadesi kullanılır?
Escaping a mad dog is a life-threatening survival situation.
Ayşe: 'Deprem olduğunda ne yaptın?' Mehmet: '_________________.'
Hiding under a table during an earthquake is a survival reflex.
Can havliyle...
Shouting (bağırmak) can be a desperate survival act; the others are too calm.
🎉 Pontuação: /4
Perguntas frequentes
10 perguntasIt is neutral. It's used in both daily speech and formal news reports.
Rarely. It almost always involves fear or danger. You wouldn't say 'I ran can havliyle to my wedding.'
'Hızla' just means fast. 'Can havliyle' means fast *because you are terrified*.
No, it is very commonly used for animals too.
Technically yes, but 'can havliyle' is the standard idiomatic form used 99% of the time.
Not necessarily. You can try 'can havliyle' and still fail, but it implies you gave it your absolute all.
Yes, 'can çekişmek' is the act of dying (the soul struggling to leave). 'Can havli' is the strength used to prevent that.
Only if you are describing a past crisis you managed. Don't say you are working 'can havliyle' now; it sounds like you're panicking.
There isn't a direct opposite idiom, but 'soğukkanlılıkla' (with cold-bloodedness/calmly) is the contextual opposite.
No, 'havl' is archaic and almost never used outside of this specific idiom in modern Turkish.
Frases relacionadas
canını dişine takmak
similarTo work with all one's might despite great danger.
canhıraş
specialized formSoul-piercing (usually for sounds).
ölümü göze almak
similarTo risk death.
can pazarı
builds onA place or situation where lives are at stake.
