How to Say “I’m Lost” in Turkish
The usual way to say “I’m lost” in Turkish is Kayboldum. It is neutral: safe in almost any situation. Below are 4 alternatives (informal), how to reply, an example dialogue and the grammar behind it.
In Turkish
Kayboldum
- Literally
- “I got lost”
- Register
- Neutralsafe in almost any situation
How Kayboldum is built
- kaybol-get lost (kayıp lost + olmak)
- -du-past tense
- -mI
Other ways to say “I’m lost”
- Yolumu kaybettimNeutral
“I lost my way”
More precise.
- Galiba kayboldumInformal
“I think I’m lost”
Softer.
- Buraların yabancısıyımNeutral
“I’m a stranger to these parts”
“I’m not from around here”.
- Bu adres nerede?Neutral
“where is this address?”
Show a map or address.
How to reply
Nereye gidiyorsunuz?
Where are you going?
Gelin, göstereyim.
Come, let me show you.
Example dialogue
- A
Affedersiniz, kayboldum. Galata Kulesi ne tarafta?
Excuse me, I’m lost. Which way is Galata Tower?
- B
Bu yokuştan yukarı çıkın, beş dakika.
Go up this hill, it’s five minutes.
Related phrases
All phrases →More travel & directions
Go deeper
“I’m lost” in Turkish: FAQ
How do you say “I’m lost” in Turkish?
The most common way is Kayboldum (literally “I got lost”), which is neutral: safe in almost any situation. You will also hear Yolumu kaybettim (“I lost my way”): more precise.
How do you reply to Kayboldum?
Typical replies are Nereye gidiyorsunuz? (“Where are you going?”) and Gelin, göstereyim. (“Come, let me show you.”).
What does each part of Kayboldum mean?
kaybol- = get lost (kayıp lost + olmak); -du- = past tense; -m = I. Turkish uses the past tense (kayboldum) for a state that has just come about.
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