Geçirilmeli

Geçirilmeli is a Turkish grammatical form used to express obligation or necessity about how time, experiences, or processes should be spent or endured. It is built from the verb geçirmek (to pass, to spend) and combines the necessity suffix -meli/-malı with a passive stem, producing forms such as geçirilmelidir in its full, formal usage. The basic, commonly encountered stem in the shorthand form is geçirilmel-, with the final -i/ -e suffixes added according to mood and person.

Usage and meaning

The form is most often found in formal, instructional, or normative contexts—such as guidelines, policy texts, or academic writing—where a result or procedure is described as something that ought to occur in a particular way. Geçirilmeli focuses on how a period of time, a sequence of events, or an experience should be spent or carried out, rather than who exactly spends it. It contrasts with active constructions like geçirmek, which centers on the actor performing the spending of time.

Nuance and translation

Geçirilmeli conveys obligation more than intention and is commonly translated as “should be spent,” “must be spent,” or “ought to be spent,” depending on context. It can refer to time management, the conduct of processes, or the handling of experiences in a way that ensures an appropriate or desired outcome. In everyday language, Turkish speakers may prefer more direct or active forms, but geçirilmelidir and its variants remain standard in formal or prescriptive writing.