Skip to content
NewTurkLogic for Android is released with 140 lessons, 660+ quizzes & offline audio!Install on Google Play
TurkLogicTR
Learn Turkish with Logic
Greetings & goodbyes

How to Say “I Have to Go” in Turkish

The usual way to say “I have to go” in Turkish is Gitmem lazım. It is neutral: safe in almost any situation. Below are 4 alternatives (informal, colloquial), how to reply, an example dialogue and the grammar behind it.

In Turkish

Gitmem lazım

Literally
“my going is necessary”
Register
Neutralsafe in almost any situation

How Gitmem lazım is built

  1. git-go
  2. -meverbal noun: going
  3. -mmy
  4. lazımnecessary
Grammar guideTurkish Verbal Nouns (-mek, -me, -iş): Turning Verbs into Nouns →Grammar guideTurkish Possessive Suffixes (İyelik Ekleri) & Noun Compounds →Grammar guideTurkish Necessitative Mood (-meli / -malı): Must, Should & Have To →Conjugate the verbgitmek (to go) →

Other ways to say “I have to go”

  • Gitmem gerekNeutral

    “I need to go”

    Same meaning; gerek is a touch more formal.

  • GitmeliyimNeutral

    “I must go”

    Uses the -meli mood.

  • Ben kalkayım artıkInformal

    “let me get up now”

    The polite way to start leaving a visit.

  • Kaçtım benColloquial

    “I’m off (lit. I ran away)”

    Jokey, among friends.

How to reply

  • Daha erken, otursana!

    It’s still early, stay a bit!

  • Peki, görüşürüz.

    OK, see you.

Example dialogue

  1. A

    Saat dokuz olmuş, gitmem lazım.

    It’s nine already, I have to go.

  2. B

    Daha erken, biraz daha otur!

    It’s still early, stay a little longer!

  3. A

    Yarın erken kalkacağım, kusura bakma.

    I’m getting up early tomorrow, sorry.

Related phrases

All phrases →
GoodbyeHoşça kalInformalIt’s getting lateGeç olduNeutralSee you laterGörüşürüzInformalI’m in a hurryAcelem varNeutral

More greetings & goodbyes

Go deeper

GuideTurkish Greetings: How to Say Hello and Goodbye (Merhaba, Selam, Hoşça Kal)

“I have to go” in Turkish: FAQ

How do you say “I have to go” in Turkish?

The most common way is Gitmem lazım (literally “my going is necessary”), which is neutral: safe in almost any situation. You will also hear Gitmem gerek (“I need to go”): same meaning; gerek is a touch more formal.

How do you reply to Gitmem lazım?

Typical replies are Daha erken, otursana! (“It’s still early, stay a bit!”) and Peki, görüşürüz. (“OK, see you.”).

What does each part of Gitmem lazım mean?

git- = go; -me = verbal noun: going; -m = my; lazım = necessary. Lazım and gerek follow a verbal noun with a possessive ending: gitmem (my going), gitmen (your going).

Practice everyday phrases in the App

Learn Turkish phrases in context

The TurkLogic app teaches phrases like this inside 140 structured lessons, with audio, quizzes and spaced repetition so they stick.

✓ 140 Lessons✓ 660+ Practice Drills✓ Spaced Repetition (SRS)✓ 100% Offline
Free Download • In-App Purchases
← All Turkish phrases