Dönüş geç oldu.

to be

Breakdown of Dönüş geç oldu.

• geç: late
• dönüş: the return

Questions & Answers about Dönüş geç oldu.

What does dönüş mean exactly, and what kind of word is it?

Dönüş is a noun meaning return (the act of coming back). It’s a deverbal noun formed from the verb dönmek (to return) with the suffix -üş. It can also mean a turn (as in a U-turn). Examples: gidiş-dönüş bileti (round-trip ticket), U dönüşü (U-turn).

Why do we need oldu here? Why not just Dönüş geç?

Turkish uses olmak to express that something turned out/ended up in a certain state, especially in the past. Dönüş geç oldu means the return ended up being late. Bare Dönüş geç is not idiomatic for past meaning.

Does oldu mean “was” or “became” here?

Both nuances are possible, but the most natural English rendering is was late or ended up being late. The verb olmak often softens the statement to a result: it turned out late.

Who is the subject here? There’s no “we” or “I.”

The subject is the noun dönüş (the return). Turkish doesn’t need a pronoun; context usually makes it clear whose return is meant (often our return). To be explicit, add possession: Dönüşüm geç oldu (my return), Dönüşümüz geç oldu (our return).

How do I say “We got back late” more directly?