How to Say “Wait a Minute” in Turkish
The usual way to say “Wait a minute” in Turkish is Bir dakika. It is neutral: safe in almost any situation. Below are 4 alternatives (informal, formal), an example dialogue and the grammar behind it.
In Turkish
Bir dakika
- Literally
- “one minute”
- Register
- Neutralsafe in almost any situation
How Bir dakika is built
- birone, a
- dakikaminute
Other ways to say “Wait a minute”
- Bir saniyeNeutral
“one second”
Same meaning.
- BekleInformal
“wait”
Plain command.
- Bekler misiniz?Formal
“would you wait?”
Polite request.
- DurInformal
“stop”
“Hold on”.
Example dialogue
- A
Gidiyor muyuz?
Are we going?
- B
Bir dakika, telefonumu alıyorum.
Wait a minute, I’m getting my phone.
Related phrases
All phrases →More everyday expressions
Go deeper
“Wait a minute” in Turkish: FAQ
How do you say “Wait a minute” in Turkish?
The most common way is Bir dakika (literally “one minute”), which is neutral: safe in almost any situation. You will also hear Bir saniye (“one second”): same meaning.
Is Bir dakika formal or informal?
Bir dakika is neutral, safe in almost any situation. For a informal alternative, use Bekle (“wait”).
What does each part of Bir dakika mean?
bir = one, a; dakika = minute. Bir dakika and bir saniye are fixed phrases; nobody means an exact minute.
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