Learn Hardcore Turkish: Seçim yaklaşıyor; oy kullanmayı sakın unutma. - The election is approaching; don’t forget to vote.

Turkish uses the semicolon much like English: to join two closely related independent clauses without a conjunction. Here, Seçim yaklaşıyor and oy kullanmayı sakın unutma are complete clauses, and the semicolon ties the “situation” to the “advice.” A period would also be fine and slightly more detached: Seçim yaklaşıyor. Oy kullanmayı sakın unutma. A comma is not ideal in formal writing because it would splice two independent clauses.

What tense/aspect is yaklaşıyor, and what does it imply?

It’s present continuous (-iyor), from yaklaş- “to approach,” so yaklaşıyor means “is approaching.” In Turkish, the present continuous is also used for ongoing processes and near-future developments, so it naturally expresses that the election is drawing near. Morphology: yaklaş- (stem) + -ıyor (present continuous) → yaklaş-ıyor → yaklaşıyor (with vowel harmony).

Could we say Seçimler yaklaşıyor instead of Seçim yaklaşıyor?

Yes. Both are common. Singular seçim can refer to “the election” as an event in general. Plural seçimler mirrors English “elections” and is very common in public discourse. Neither is wrong; it’s a stylistic choice.

What about Seçim geliyor? Is that acceptable?

Yes. Geliyor (“is coming”) is a bit more colloquial and vivid; yaklaşıyor (“is approaching”) sounds slightly more neutral/formal. Both are idiomatic for an event that is getting close.

What does sakın do here?

Sakın is an adverb meaning “by all means don’t / make sure you don’t,” and it combines with a negative imperative. It strengthens the warning: sakın unutma ≈ “don’t you dare forget / be sure not to forget.” It modifies the imperative verb, not the action of voting itself.

Why is it unutma and not unut?

Unutma is the negative imperative singular (“don’t forget”) of unutmak. The positive imperative would be unut (“forget”). Here we’re telling someone not to forget, so the negative imperative is required.

Why is it oy kullanmayı and not oy kullanmak?

When unutmak (“to forget”) takes a verb as its object (“forget to do X”), Turkish uses the -mA verbal noun, usually with the accusative: -mA + -(y)I. So:

oy kullanma-yı (verbal noun + accusative) = “the act of voting” as a direct object of unutma. Using the dictionary infinitive oy kullanmak here is ungrammatical. Compare: Aramayı unutma (“Don’t forget to call”).

Why is there a buffer -y- in kullanmayı?

Because the verbal noun ends in a vowel (-ma/-me) and the accusative begins with a vowel (-ı/-i/-u/-ü). Turkish inserts -y- to prevent a vowel clash: kullanma + ı → kullanmayı.

Is there a difference between oy kullanmak and oy vermek?

Oy kullanmak = “to cast a vote,” focusing on the act of voting (often used in official/neutral contexts).
Oy vermek = “to give a vote (to someone),” commonly used when you specify a candidate/party: X’e oy ver. For the general “remember to vote,” both are possible, but oy kullanmak is especially common in announcements.

Do I need to say oyunu kullanmayı (“your vote”)?

You can, but you don’t have to. Oy kullanmak is a set phrase and sounds perfectly natural without possessive marking. Oyunu kullanmayı unutma adds emphasis to it being “your vote,” but most of the time the bare expression is preferred.

Can I move sakın to a different place?

Yes. Common options:

Sakın oy kullanmayı unutma. (very typical)
Oy kullanmayı sakın unutma. (also fine, with slight emphasis on the object) Putting sakın right before the imperative it modifies is the key. Word order is flexible for nuance, but avoid burying sakın too far from unutma.

Is sakın the same as sakin?

No. Sakın (with dotless ı) means “by all means don’t” and appears with negative imperatives. Sakin (with dotted i) means “calm/quiet” or, in older usage, “resident.” They are unrelated in meaning and not interchangeable.

How do I say this politely to more than one person?

Use the plural/formal imperative:

Oy kullanmayı sakın unutmayın. (standard polite/plural) Very formal/bureaucratic style uses -nız/-niz:
Oy kullanmayı sakın unutmayınız. (official tone)

Could I say Sakın oy kullanmamayı unutma?

Grammatically yes, but it flips the meaning to “Don’t forget not to vote,” which is probably not what you want. The negation belongs on unutma (“don’t forget”), while the embedded action stays positive: oy kullanmayı (“to vote”).

What’s the nuance of Seçim yaklaştı versus Seçim yaklaşıyor?

Seçim yaklaşıyor: an ongoing approach; it’s getting closer.
Seçim yaklaştı: “it has approached / it’s now close,” emphasizing that the time is already near. Both are natural; pick based on how imminent you want it to feel.

Could I use a different punctuation mark instead of the semicolon?

Yes. A period is the most neutral alternative: Seçim yaklaşıyor. Oy kullanmayı sakın unutma. A dash can convey a more informal, dramatic link: Seçim yaklaşıyor — oy kullanmayı sakın unutma. A colon is less common here but possible if you see the second clause as an explanation or consequence.