Learn Hardcore Turkish: Yeter ki zamanında gelin, toplantıyı kısa tutacağız. - So long as you arrive on time, we will keep the meeting short.

Yeter ki means “so long as,” “provided that,” or “as long as.” It sets a minimal condition and often implies willingness or a promise if that one condition is met. It sounds encouraging, even accommodating: “Just be on time, and we’ll keep the meeting short.”

What is the form and function of gelin here?

Gelin is the second-person plural imperative, also used as a polite imperative to address one person formally. So it can mean “Come (you all)” or “Please come (sir/ma’am).” Alternatives:

Informal singular: gel
Very formal: geliniz

Why not use the conditional -se/-sa (e.g., gelirseniz) after Yeter ki?

After Yeter ki, Turkish usually uses the imperative/optative (here, gelin) rather than the conditional. You can use a normal conditional without Yeter ki: Eğer zamanında gelirseniz, toplantıyı kısa tutacağız. With Yeter ki, the imperative is the idiomatic choice and feels more like “Just make sure you do X.”

Does zamanında simply mean “on time”? Are there alternatives?

Yes, zamanında gelmek means “to arrive on time/punctually.” Alternatives:

vaktinde = on time (very common)
tam zamanında = exactly on time Note: zamanında can also mean “in due time/when it was time” in other contexts (e.g., İşini zamanında bitirdi = “He finished his work on time”).

Why is toplantıyı in the accusative (-ı)?

Turkish marks definite/specific direct objects with the accusative. Here, it’s “the meeting” (a specific one everyone knows about), so toplantı takes -yı: toplantıyı. Compare:

Su içeceğim = I’ll drink (some) water. (indefinite, no accusative)
Suyu içeceğim = I’ll drink the water. (definite, accusative)

What tense is tutacağız, and how is it formed/pronounced?

It’s simple future, 1st person plural: tut- (keep/hold) + -AcAk (future) + -ız (we) → tutacağız. Pronunciation tip: ğ lengthens the preceding vowel; it isn’t a hard “g.” So it sounds like “tuta-a-z” (with a lengthened “a”), and c is like English “j.”

Could I say tutarız instead of tutacağız? Would it change the meaning?

Yes, but with a nuance:

tutacağız = a concrete, planned future action (“we will keep [it] short”).
tutarız (aorist) = a general promise/assurance or typical behavior (“we’ll keep it short, no problem”). Both fit here; tutacağız sounds more like a specific plan.

Is kısa tutmak idiomatic? Are there synonyms?

Yes, kısa tutmak (“to keep [something] short”) is idiomatic and neutral. Alternatives:

kısa kesmek = to cut something short (more colloquial/abrupt)
Toplantı kısa sürecek = “The meeting will be short” (no agent; duration as a fact)
Toplantıyı kısa keseceğiz = “We’ll cut the meeting short” (more informal/decisive)

Can I reverse the clause order or change punctuation?

Yes. You can say: Toplantıyı kısa tutacağız, yeter ki zamanında gelin. A comma is standard to separate the two clauses. A semicolon is also possible in careful writing.

Isn’t gelin also the noun “bride”? How do I know which it is?

Yes, gelin can mean “bride,” but context and capitalization in English translations make it clear. In this sentence, gelin follows a time expression (zamanında) and functions as a verb (imperative), so there’s no ambiguity for native speakers.

How would I make this more polite or more casual?

More polite/formal: Lütfen zamanında geliniz, toplantıyı kısa tutacağız.
Neutral polite (as given): … gelin, … tutacağız.
More casual to one person: Zamanında gel, toplantıyı kısa tutacağız. Adding lütfen softens the request further.

Can Yeter ki take a negative condition?

Yes. You can negate the verb after Yeter ki to set a negative requirement:

Yeter ki geç kalmayın, toplantıyı kısa tutacağız. = “As long as you don’t be late, we’ll keep the meeting short.”