Use kaybetmek for a misplaced possession, defeat in a game or the loss of time and hope. The table gives four common affirmative forms; the examples also show negation and a question.
The idea
The stem kaybet- becomes kaybed- before a vowel: kaybediyorum, kaybedeceğim, kaybederim. It keeps t before a consonant: kaybettim, kaybetmedim, kaybetmiyorum. Write the verb as one word. A specific lost item takes the accusative, as in eldivenimi kaybettim. General zaman kaybetmek means to waste time. The aorist can describe a habit; hep kaybediyorum also naturally describes repeated losses. Subject pronouns can be omitted.
| Subject | Present continuous | Past | Future | Aorist |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ben | kaybediyorum | kaybettim | kaybedeceğim | kaybederim |
| sen | kaybediyorsun | kaybettin | kaybedeceksin | kaybedersin |
| o | kaybediyor | kaybetti | kaybedecek | kaybeder |
| biz | kaybediyoruz | kaybettik | kaybedeceğiz | kaybederiz |
| siz | kaybediyorsunuz | kaybettiniz | kaybedeceksiniz | kaybedersiniz |
| onlar | kaybediyorlar | kaybettiler | kaybedecekler | kaybederler |
Examples
- Dün eldivenimi kaybettim.I lost my glove yesterday.
- Bu oyunda hep kaybediyorum.I always lose at this game.
- Biz burada zaman kaybediyoruz.We are wasting time here.
- Bu hızla çok zaman kaybedeceğiz.At this pace, we will lose a lot of time.
- Merak etme, biletini kaybetmedim.Don’t worry, I haven’t lost your ticket.
- Anahtarını yine kaybettin mi?Have you lost your key again?
- Umudunu kaybetme, bir çözüm buluruz.Don’t lose hope; we’ll find a solution.
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Watch out
Kaybettim means “I lost something” or “I lost the game”, not “I got lost”. For losing your way, say kayboldum. Compare Anahtarımı kaybettim (I lost my key) with Anahtarım kayboldu (my key went missing).
Try it yourself
Use the present continuous of kaybetmek: Ben şu anda zaman ___.
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kaybediyorum
kaybediyorum: the speaker is wasting time right now. The vowel at the start of the tense ending triggers d, and -um identifies “I”.
Use the past of kaybetmek, “we”: Dün maçı ___.
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kaybettik
kaybettik: yesterday’s defeat is a completed event involving “we”. The stem’s t meets the past ending -ti, producing tt; final -k marks the group.
Use the future of kaybetmek, “we”: Bu hızla çok zaman ___.
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kaybedeceğiz
kaybedeceğiz: the sentence predicts a loss of time for “we”. There are two changes: stem t becomes d, and future k becomes ğ before the personal ending.
You cannot find your way. Choose kayboldum or kaybettim: Neredeyim? Galiba ___.
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kayboldum
kayboldum: the speaker cannot find their way, so the subject is the person who got lost. Kaybettim would instead describe losing something or a contest.
Practice round
Answer questions, then rebuild Turkish sentences and words where available. We keep your score.
Use the present continuous of kaybetmek: Ben şu anda zaman ___.
Use the past of kaybetmek, “we”: Dün maçı ___.
Use the future of kaybetmek, “we”: Bu hızla çok zaman ___.
You cannot find your way. Choose kayboldum or kaybettim: Neredeyim? Galiba ___.
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 short account of losing an object, a sentence about wasting time now and a warning about a future loss. Check the stem in each tense, then practise harcamak for spending.