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Phrase 36 of 500

How to say “I didn't understand” in Turkish

Anlamadım.
ahn·lah·mah·duhm
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Meaning
I didn't understand.
Pronunciation
ahn·lah·mah·duhm

What “Anlamadım” really means

Anlamadım means "I didn't understand". It is the past tense, so it sounds natural right after someone has spoken. Pair it with "Tekrar eder misiniz?" (Can you repeat?) or "Yavaş konuşur musunuz?" (Can you speak slowly?).

💬 Example dialogues

GarsonYanında ne içersiniz?What would you like to drink with it?

BenPardon, anlamadım. Tekrar eder misiniz?Sorry, I didn't understand. Could you repeat?

TeyzeNe dedim ben, anladın mı?What did I say, did you understand?

BenHayır, anlamadım. Bir daha söyler misin?No, I didn't understand. Can you say it again?

🚫 When NOT to use it

Said sharply on its own, "Anlamadım!" can sound like "What on earth are you talking about?". Add "Pardon" or "Kusura bakmayın" to keep it soft.

🇹🇷 Culture note

Turks often repeat louder instead of slower. Saying "Yavaş, lütfen" with a smile is completely fine.

⚠️ Common mistakes

  • ✗ Anlamıyorum (after one sentence) → ✓ AnlamadımAnlamadım is the natural reaction to something just said.

Culture tip

Turks are thrilled when a foreigner tries Turkish. A simple Merhaba, ben… wins you smiles, tea and new friends.

Letters to watch in this sentence

  • I ı no dot: a relaxed “uh”, like the e in “open”

Related phrases

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