Yoldan

Yoldan is the ablative form of the Turkish noun yol (road). It functions as a postpositional element in Turkish grammar and is used to express origin or departure in relation to the road. In literal usage, yoldan typically appears with verbs of movement to describe leaving the road or veering off it, and it can also introduce figurative departures from a plan or path.

Formation and meaning: Yoldan is created by adding the ablative suffix -dan/-den to yol; the vowel harmony of Turkish yields yoldan (with -dan, since the root contains the vowel o). The word is most commonly found in phrases such as yoldan çıkmak (to go off the road) or yoldan sapmak (to deviate from the path).

Usage examples: Araba yoldan çıktı means the car went off the road. O yoldan sapıyor means he/she is deviating from the path. More generally, yoldan can appear in expressions describing literal or metaphorical deviation from a course, plan, or expectation.

Related terms include yol (road), yoldan çıkmak (to leave the road/derail), and yoldan sapmak (to deviate from the path).