You remember a question while talking about something else. Use bu arada to introduce it without pretending that it follows directly from the previous point. At this level, the challenge is choosing the right moment and reading the context.
The idea
Bu arada introduces an extra remark or a small change of topic. Put it before the new information; at the end of a sentence, it sounds like an afterthought. Keep bu arada together as a phrase, but write it as two words. In a sequence of overlapping activities, the same phrase can mean “meanwhile”: the surrounding actions tell you which sense fits.
Examples
- Bu arada, yeni işin nasıl?By the way, how is your new job?
- Bu arada, çantan bende kaldı.By the way, you left your bag with me.
- Bu arada, yarın müsait misiniz?By the way, are you free tomorrow?
- Bu arada, bir şey sorabilir miyim?By the way, may I ask something?
- Bu arada, gönderdiğiniz dosyayı henüz açamadım.By the way, I haven’t been able to open the file you sent yet.
- Sen çayı hazırla; ben bu arada masayı kurayım.You make the tea; I’ll set the table in the meantime.
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Watch out
Do not treat bu arada as permission to cut someone off. A sudden change of topic during a serious explanation can still sound dismissive. Wait for a pause, or ask Sözünüzü kesebilir miyim? before taking the floor. Also, bu arada is not burada (“here”): the latter names a place.
Try it yourself
Bu ___, yarın müsait misiniz? Complete the expression introducing an aside: “By the way, are you free tomorrow?”
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arada
arada: together with the supplied Bu, it introduces a question about tomorrow. Burada would mean “here” and would not signal the aside.
Correct the spacing of buarada, intended to mean “by the way”. Write the whole expression.
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bu arada
bu arada: correcting the joined spelling restores the two words of the expression. The locative ending belongs to ara, not to bu.
Sen çayı hazırla; ben bu arada masayı kurayım. Here, does bu arada mean o sırada (at that time) or signal yeni bir konu (a new topic)? Write the matching option.
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o sırada
o sırada: making tea and setting the table overlap, so the phrase points to the same period of time; it does not introduce unrelated news here.
Sözünüzü ___ miyim? Use kesmek to ask “May I interrupt you?” Fill the blank only.
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kesebilir
kesebilir: Sözünüzü kesebilir miyim? asks permission to interrupt. The polite possessive form sözünüzü addresses the listener respectfully, while the question lets them respond.
Practice round
Answer questions, then rebuild Turkish sentences and words where available. We keep your score.
Bu ___, yarın müsait misiniz? Complete the expression introducing an aside: “By the way, are you free tomorrow?”
Correct the spacing of buarada, intended to mean “by the way”. Write the whole expression.
Sen çayı hazırla; ben bu arada masayı kurayım. Here, does bu arada mean o sırada (at that time) or signal yeni bir konu (a new topic)? Write the matching option.
Sözünüzü ___ miyim? Use kesmek to ask “May I interrupt you?” Fill the blank only.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
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Write a four-line conversation about weekend plans. Add a newly remembered question with bu arada, then return to the plans. Write a separate sentence in which bu arada links two activities happening at the same time.