dönüür

Dönüür is a term used in worldbuilding and speculative fiction to denote a recurring, reversible cycle observed in social, political, or ecological systems within a fictional setting. The term is presented as a constructed word drawing on Turkic language patterns, combining dönmek "to turn" with a suffix that signals a process or phenomenon.

In political contexts, dönüür describes a dynastic cycle where power passes among rival factions in a regular rhythm. In many narratives, rulers are replaced according to a ritual schedule—every generation, a fixed number of decades, or at times connected to celestial events—creating a predictable historical cadence.

In ecological or cultural contexts, dönüür can refer to cyclical reversals in social norms or ecosystems, such as plant communities swapping dominance during long climate cycles, or customary laws that flip between permissive and restrictive phases. Anthropologists within the world may study how communities adapt rituals to mark a dönüür.

Significance and usage: writers and worldbuilders use dönüür to model fate, continuity, and the tension between change and stability. The concept can shape calendar systems, festivals, and governance practices within the setting, providing a built-in mechanism for narrative change.

See also: dynastic cycle, cyclical theory, worldbuilding, Turkic linguistics.