Learn Hardcore Turkish: Kol saatini takmayı unutma; randevu saatini kaçırma. - Don’t forget to wear your wristwatch; don’t miss the appointment time.

In Turkish, “to forget to do X” is expressed with a verbal noun: V-mAyI unutmak. So you nominalize the verb with -mA and then add the accusative -(y)I because it’s the object of unutmak.

takmayı = tak- (to put on/wear an accessory) + -ma (verbal noun) + -yı (accusative) Pattern: X yapmayı unutma = “don’t forget to do X.”

What is the function of the -y- in takmayı?

It’s a buffer consonant used before a vowel-initial suffix. Here, takma ends in a vowel and we’re adding the accusative -(I), so we insert -y-: takma-y-ı → takmayı. This keeps vowels from clashing.

Why does kol saatini end with -ni?

Because it’s in the accusative case (definite direct object). Internally:

kol saati is a compound meaning “wristwatch” (literally “arm watch”; the head noun has a 3rd-person possessive marker).
Add accusative -(I) to a possessed form → you get a buffer -n-: kol saat-i + -ni → kol saatini. So kol saatini = “the wristwatch” (as a specific object).

Does kol saatini mean “your wristwatch” here?

It can be read that way in context. Formally, kol saatini is ambiguous between:

“the wristwatch” (compound with 3rd-person possessive + accusative), and
“your wristwatch” (kol saatin = your wristwatch + accusative -i → kol saatini). In a 2nd-person imperative like this, listeners usually understand it as “your watch.” To make it explicit, you can say:
Senin kol saatini takmayı unutma.
Or simply: Saatini takmayı unutma.
For emphasis: Kendi saatini takmayı unutma.

Why takmak and not giymek for a watch?

Turkish uses different verbs for “wear”:

takmak for accessories: saat (watch), yüzük (ring), küpe (earring), kolye (necklace), gözlük (glasses), şapka (hat).
giymek for clothing: gömlek, elbise, ceket, ayakkabı. So a watch is worn with takmak, not giymek.

What exactly does randevu saatini mean? Why not randevuyu?

randevu saati = “appointment time” (the time of the appointment).
randevuyu (accusative of randevu) = “the appointment.” Both work with kaçırmak (to miss):
Randevu saatini kaçırma focuses on missing the time.
Randevuyu kaçırma is the more common way to say “don’t miss your appointment.” Another common alternative is: Randevuya geç kalma (“don’t be late for the appointment”).

How are unutma and kaçırma formed?

They are negative imperatives (2nd person singular):

Stem + -ma/-me (chosen by vowel harmony): unut-ma, kaçır-ma. Affirmative imperatives would be unut (“forget!”) and kaçır (“miss!”), which you don’t want here. For plural/polite: add -ın/-in → unutmayın; kaçırmayın. You can add Lütfen for politeness.

Is the word order fixed? Could I say Unutma, kol saatini takmayı?

Turkish is generally SOV, so the complement typically precedes the main verb: kol saatini takmayı unutma is the neutral order. In speech, you can front unutma for emphasis and then pause: Unutma, kol saatini takmayı, which is acceptable and natural with the comma intonation.

Why is there a semicolon in the sentence?

As in English, a semicolon links two closely related independent clauses. Here, it ties two related commands. You could also use a period or a dash. Using ve (“and”) is possible but less punchy for two prohibitions.

Which words are direct objects of which verbs?

In the first clause, takmayı (a nominalized verb) is the direct object of unutma; within that nominalized clause, kol saatini is the direct object of takmak.
In the second clause, randevu saatini is the direct object of kaçırma.

What vowel harmony is at play in the suffixes?

Verbal noun: tak- → takma (back vowel → -ma).
Accusative of the verbal noun: takma + -(I) → last vowel is back, so -ı, with buffer: takmayı.
Negative imperatives: unut-, kaçır- both take back -ma → unutma, kaçırma.
For possessed nouns, adding a case suffix uses a buffer -n-: saat-i + -ni → saatini.

Why does saat appear twice with different meanings?

Turkish saat is polysemous:

“watch/clock” (physical object): kol saati = wristwatch.
“hour/time (of day)” (temporal): randevu saati = appointment time. Context disambiguates the two senses here.

Can I drop kol and just say Saatini takmayı unutma?

Yes. Saat alone commonly means “(wrist)watch” in everyday speech. Saatini takmayı unutma is concise and natural.

How can I make the warning stronger or more polite?

Stronger: add sakın before the negative imperative: Sakın kol saatini takmayı unutma; sakın randevu saatini kaçırma.
Polite/plural: Lütfen saatini takmayı unutmayın; randevu saatini kaçırmayın.