dönebilmedim

Dönebilmedim is a Turkish verb form meaning "I could not return" or "I was not able to turn/come back." It combines the verb dönmek ("to turn" or "to return") with the potential suffix -ebil- (expressing ability), the negative marker -me-, the past tense suffix -di, and the first-person singular ending -m. The form emphasizes lack of ability rather than merely stating that an action did not occur.

Pronunciation is approximately "doh-neh-beel-meh-dim" (Turkish phonology: [dønebilˈmedim]). In use, dönebilmedim can refer to physical inability to go back to a place, inability to turn (physically), or metaphorically to an inability to revert to a previous state, decision, or relationship. For example: "Yola çıkmak istedim ama hava çok kötüydü, dönebilmedim" — "I wanted to set off but the weather was so bad, I couldn't return."

The form is one of several ways Turkish expresses inability in past time; related forms include dönemedim (I couldn't return/I did not return) and dönebildim (I was able to return). The choice among them can affect nuance—dönebilmedim highlights the inability as a capacity issue. Dönebilmedim appears commonly in everyday speech, literature, and song lyrics where themes of separation, regret, or failed attempts are expressed.