çoktan

Çoktan is a Turkish adverb that means “a long time ago” or “long since.” It is primarily used in literary or formal contexts and is less common in everyday speech, where phrases like uzun zaman önce are more typical.

Etymology and form: The word is a compound of çok (“much” or “many”) and tan, a suffix with a sense related to time in older Turkish usage. In modern Turkish, çoktan is regarded as archaic or literary and tends to appear in poetry, historical writing, or stylized prose rather than in casual conversation.

Usage notes: Çoktan often appears in combination with beri to form çoktan beri, meaning “for a long time.” When used on its own, çoktan conveys distance from the present and an impression of antiquity or nostalgia. In everyday language, speakers may opt for synonyms such as uzun zaman önce or çok uzun zaman önce to achieve a similar meaning with contemporary tone. Examples: Çoktan beri bu sorunu çözmek istiyorduk. Çoktan unutulmuş bir anı ortaya çıktı.