How to use conjunctions in Turkish? (Turkish Lesson 100)
How to use conjunctions in Turkish?
Turkish Conjunctions Lesson: “Maalesef” & “Ne yazık ki” (Unfortunately)
🔵 “Maalesef” and 🔴 “Ne yazık ki” both mean “unfortunately” or “sadly” in English. They are used to express regret or disappointment in a situation.
What is the difference between “ne yazık ki” and “maalesef” in Turkish? (
Both “ne yazık ki” and “maalesef” translate to “unfortunately” or “sadly” in English, but there are subtle differences in tone and usage:
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Emotional Weight:
🔴 “Ne yazık ki” → Stronger emotional tone, often expressing deeper regret or sorrow.
Example: “Ne yazık ki annemi kaybettim.” (Sadly, I lost my mother.)🔵 “Maalesef” → More neutral, commonly used in everyday disappointments.
Example: “Maalesef randevu alamadım.” (Unfortunately, I couldn’t get an appointment.) -
Formality:
“Maalesef” is slightly more formal and widely used in written/spoken Turkish.“Ne yazık ki” feels more dramatic, like a lament (similar to “alas” in English).
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Placement in Sentences:
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Both can start a sentence or follow “ama” (but):
“Araba kazandım ama ne yazık ki ehliyetim yok.”
“Araba kazandım ama maalesef ehliyetim yok.”
(I won a car, but unfortunately, I don’t have a license.)
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When to Use Which?
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Use “maalesef” for everyday disappointments (e.g., canceled plans, minor issues).
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Use “ne yazık ki” for serious, emotional, or tragic situations (e.g., death, irreversible bad news).
Key Similarity:
Both are conjunctions used to introduce bad news, but “ne yazık ki” packs more emotional punch.
How to use the word ”maalesef” in Turkish?
20 Examples with “Maalesef” & “Ne yazık ki” (Word-by-Word Translations
Example 1
🔵 Çok ders çalıştım ama maalesef sınavı geçemedim.
(I studied hard but unfortunately couldn’t pass the exam.)
çok – very/much
ders – lesson/study
çalıştım – I studied
ama – but
maalesef – unfortunately
sınavı – the exam
geçemedim – I couldn’t pass
Example 2
🔴 Yeni araba almak istiyorum ama ne yazık ki yeterli param yok.
(I want to buy a new car but unfortunately don’t have enough money.)
yeni – new
araba – car
almak – to buy
istiyorum – I want
ama – but
ne yazık ki – unfortunately
yeterli – enough
param – my money
yok – there isn’t
Example 3
🔵 Maalesef bugün konser iptal oldu.
(Unfortunately, today’s concert was canceled.)
maalesef – unfortunately
bugün – today
konser – concert
iptal oldu – was canceled
Example 4
🔴 Onu çok seviyorum ama ne yazık ki o beni sevmiyor.
(I love him/her very much but unfortunately he/she doesn’t love me.)
onu – him/her
çok – very/much
seviyorum – I love
ama – but
ne yazık ki – unfortunately
o – he/she
beni – me
sevmiyor – doesn’t love
Example 5
🔵 Maalesef hava yağmurlu olduğu için pikniğe gidemiyoruz.
(Unfortunately, we can’t go to the picnic because the weather is rainy.)
maalesef – unfortunately
hava – weather
yağmurlu – rainy
olduğu için – because it is
pikniğe – to the picnic
gidemiyoruz – we can’t go
Example 6
🔵 Maalesef hava yağmurlu olduğu için pikniğe gidemiyoruz.
(Unfortunately, we can’t go to the picnic because the weather is rainy.)
maalesef – unfortunately
hava – weather
yağmurlu – rainy
olduğu için – because it is
pikniğe – to the picnic
gidemiyoruz – we can’t go
How to use the word ” ne yazık ki” in Turkish?
Example 7
🔴 Bu kitabı okumak istiyorum ama ne yazık ki Türkçem yeterli değil.
(I want to read this book but unfortunately my Turkish isn’t good enough.)
bu – this
kitabı – the book
okumak – to read
istiyorum – I want
ama – but
ne yazık ki – unfortunately
Türkçem – my Turkish
yeterli – sufficient
değil – isn’t
Example 8
🔵 Maalesef bu restoran artık açık değil.
(Unfortunately, this restaurant is no longer open.)
maalesef – unfortunately
bu – this
restoran – restaurant
artık – anymore
açık – open
değil – isn’t
Example 9
🔴 Uçağı kaçırdım ve ne yazık ki bir sonraki uçak yarın.
(I missed the flight and unfortunately the next plane is tomorrow.)
uçağı – the flight
kaçırdım – I missed
ve – and
ne yazık ki – unfortunately
bir sonraki – the next
uçak – plane
yarın – tomorrow
Example 10
🔵 Maalesef bu sorunun cevabını bilmiyorum.
(Unfortunately, I don’t know the answer to this question.)
maalesef – unfortunately
bu – this
sorunun – of the question
cevabını – the answer
bilmiyorum – I don’t know
Example 11
🔴 Onunla görüşmek istedim ama ne yazık ki çok meşguldü.
(I wanted to meet with him/her but unfortunately he/she was very busy.)
onunla – with him/her
görüşmek – to meet
istedim – I wanted
ama – but
ne yazık ki – unfortunately
çok – very
meşguldü – was busy
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