istemeyerek

İstemeyerek is a Turkish adverb that expresses that an action was not performed out of the person's will or desire. It means “unwillingly; not willingly; without intending to” and is used to indicate that the speaker did not want to do something, but did so due to circumstances, pressure, or necessity.

The word is formed from istemek (to want) with the olumsuz stem istemey- and the adverbial suffix -erek. In Turkish, -erek/-arken/-erek constructions indicate the manner of an action, and istemeyerek specifies the manner as not wanting or not willingly. This makes istemeyerek distinct from simply saying someone did something by chance or accidentally.

Usage and nuance: İstemeyerek describes actions done despite the person’s lack of desire or consent. It often carries an undertone of reluctance or obligation. Examples include: “İstemeyerek bu kararı kabul ettim,” meaning I accepted this decision unwillingly; “İstemeyerek de olsa yardım etmek zorunda kaldım,” meaning I had to help, even if I did not want to; “İstemeyerek toplantıya katıldım,” meaning I attended the meeting unwillingly. It is more formal than everyday phrases and is contrasted with istemeden, which emphasizes lack of intention in a more neutral or inadvertent sense.

Related terms include istemeden (without intending to) and gönülsüz (unwilling). İstemeyerek is commonly used in written Turkish and formal speech to convey reluctance or compulsion without implying a mistake or accident.