Learn Hardcore Turkish: Süre doldu.

Literally, süre means “duration/time period” and doldu is the 3rd person singular simple past of dolmak, meaning “it filled.” So word-for-word it’s “duration filled,” but idiomatically it means “time’s up.”

What part of speech is süre?

Süre is a noun meaning “time,” “period,” or “duration.” It refers to the length of time rather than a moment in time.

What does doldu mean and what is its root verb?

Doldu comes from the verb dolmak, which literally means “to fill” or “to become full.” In süre doldu, it conveys that the allotted time “has filled up” or “has run out.”

What tense and person is doldu?

It’s the simple past tense (often called past tense) in the 3rd person singular. Turkish verbs indicate the person with their endings, so -du shows “he/she/it” in the past.

Why is there no subject pronoun like “it” in Süre doldu?

In Turkish, subject pronouns are usually dropped because the verb ending already tells you who or what the subject is. Here -du on doldu signals 3rd person singular (“it”).

Why is doldu used instead of bitti?

Bitti comes from bitmek (“to end/finish”), so süre bitti also means “the time ended.” However, süre doldu (“the period has filled up”) is more idiomatic when you want to say “time’s up,” especially in timed tests, games, etc.

How would you say “Your time is up” in Turkish?

You add a possessive to specify “your.” Common options:

Zamanın doldu. (from zaman = time)
Vaktin doldu. (from vakit = time)
Using süre you could say Süren doldu., but zamanın/vaktin doldu is more natural in speech.

How do you ask “How much time is left?” in Turkish?

A typical question is:
Ne kadar süre kaldı?
You can also say Ne kadar zaman kaldı? or be more specific: Kaç dakika/saniye kaldı?

What’s the difference between süre, zaman, and vakit?

Süre emphasizes a span or length of time (duration).
Zaman is a broad term for time itself (abstract or calendar time).
Vakit is more colloquial for “time” or “hour,” often used in everyday speech.
Which you choose depends on context and collocations.

Could you use a different tense, like Süre dolmuş?

Yes. Süre dolmuş uses the perfect tense and implies you’ve just discovered or realized that the time is up (“apparently the time has expired”). Süre doldu is more direct and factual: “the time is up right now.”