görünürken

Görünürken is a Turkish adverbial conjunction formed from the verb görünmek (to appear, to seem) with the temporal suffix -ken. The combination yields a clause that expresses simultaneity, roughly translating to “while (it) appears” or “as (it) appears.” In practice, görünürken introduces a dependent clause that runs parallel in time to the action described in the main clause.

Grammatically, the form is used to link two actions or states occurring at roughly the same time. The subject of the dependent clause can be the same as the main clause or different, and the verb in the dependent clause is conjugated to match its own subject and tense. The construction is common in narrative and descriptive Turkish and can convey setting, background, or a backdrop against which the main action unfolds.

Usage and notes: Görünürken is most often found in formal or literary Turkish, though it also appears in spoken language. It tends to emphasize perception or appearance and can shade meaning toward how something presents itself at a given moment. The clause can express simultaneity without implying causation or condition, though context can enable additional nuance such as contrast between appearance and reality when paired with other elements in a sentence. It is related to other -ken forms that mark time while performing actions, such as bakarken (while looking) or yürürken (while walking).

Related terms: -ken forms in Turkish grammar; other simultaneous-action constructions include -ırken and similar participial clauses. Note that görünürken is distinct from epistemic uses of görünür (it seems) in phrases like görünür ki (it seems that).