What is a common mistake with “Kafayı yedim”?

✗ Başımı yedim → ✓ Kafayı yedim: The idiom uses kafa, not baş.

Phrase 240 of 500

How to say “I'm going crazy! (lit. I ate my head)” in Turkish

Q: How is “Kafayı yedim” used in a conversation?

Mert: Üç gündür uyumadım, kafayı yedim! (I haven't slept for three days, I'm losing my mind!) Can: Biraz dinlen kardeşim. (Get some rest, bro.)

Kafayı yedim!

kah·fah·yuh yeh·deem

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Meaning: I'm going crazy! (lit. I ate my head)
Pronunciation: kah·fah·yuh yeh·deem

What “Kafayı yedim” really means

Kafayı yedim! literally means "I ate my head" and is the slang for "I'm going crazy!". Use it when you are overwhelmed by stress, work or a situation.

💬 Example dialogues

MertÜç gündür uyumadım, kafayı yedim!I haven't slept for three days, I'm losing my mind!

CanBiraz dinlen kardeşim.Get some rest, bro.

EceBu ev işleri bitmiyor, kafayı yiyeceğim!These chores never end, I'm going to go crazy!

AyşeGel, bir kahve içelim.Come, let's have a coffee.

🚫 When NOT to use it

It is slang; do not use it at a job interview. It is also not a medical term, so it can sound insensitive about real mental illness.

🇹🇷 Culture note

"Kafayı yemek" can also mean being obsessed: "Bu diziye kafayı taktım" means "I'm obsessed with this series".

⚠️ Common mistakes

✗ Başımı yedim → ✓ Kafayı yedimThe idiom uses kafa, not baş.

Culture tip

Yok artık! (no way!), Eyvah! (oh no!) and Vay be! (wow!) are heard every day. Use them and you'll sound like a local.

Letters to watch in this sentence

I ı no dot: a relaxed “uh”, like the e in “open”
İ i like ee in “see”