unuttuunda

Unuttuunda is a Turkish grammatical form that serves to introduce a temporal clause meaning “when you forget” or “the moment you forget.” It is not a separate noun or verb by itself, but a verb form built from the verb unutmak (to forget) combined with a suffix that marks time. In Turkish, this kind of construction is used to set the moment at which something else happens or should happen.

Morphology and use

The base is the verb root unut-, from unutmak. The form -duğunda attaches to create a dependent clause that specifies a time frame. The resulting clause can function as a condition or a time reference for the main clause, and it can appear in statements or imperatives. For example, a sentence with unuttuğunda might translate as “When you forget, tell me,” depending on context. Because Turkish relies heavily on suffixes for grammar, such time clauses are common in both spoken and written language.

Variants and nuance

Unuttuğunda is closely related to other time-clause forms such as unutunca. While both convey a sense of “when” in relation to forgetting, there can be subtle differences in immediacy or aspect depending on the surrounding verb tenses and context. In practice, these forms are chosen to convey the intended temporal relationship between forgetting and the action in the main clause.

See also

Turkish grammar, time clauses, verb forms.