Learn Hardcore Turkish: Sonunda tren geldi. - Finally, the train arrived.

Literally, sonunda is “at the end”: son (end) + -un (genitive “of”) + -da (locative “in/at”). In this sentence it functions adverbially, meaning “finally/at last” or neutrally “in the end.”

Does sonunda always mean “finally”? How does it compare to nihayet and en sonunda?

Sonunda: common and neutral; can imply relief or just an eventual outcome, depending on tone.
Nihayet: “at last/finally,” a bit more formal or emphatic.
En sonunda: “in the very end/at long last,” stronger emphasis than plain sonunda.

Could I say Tren sonunda geldi instead? Any difference in emphasis?

Yes. Both are correct:

Sonunda tren geldi foregrounds the time/relief (“finally”).
Tren sonunda geldi foregrounds the subject (“the train did finally arrive”). You may also hear expressive variants like Sonunda geldi tren or afterthought-like Tren geldi sonunda.

Why is there no word for “the” before tren?

Turkish has no definite article. Definiteness comes from context and word order. As the subject here, tren is understood as “the train.” If you wanted “a train,” you could say Bir tren geldi.

Why doesn’t tren take any ending here? When would I use treni?

Subjects appear in the bare (nominative) form, so tren has no case ending. Treni (accusative) is for a definite direct object: Treni gördüm (“I saw the train”). But here, the train is the subject of “arrived,” so no accusative.

What does the ending in geldi tell us?

Gel-di = gel- (come) + -di (simple past, definite/witnessed) + 3rd singular. Vowel harmony chooses the vowel of the past suffix (dı/di/du/dü). Consonant assimilation makes it -ti after a voiceless consonant (e.g., bak-tı, git-ti). With gel-, it’s geldi.

How would the sentence change with gelmiş instead of geldi?

Sonunda tren gelmiş uses the evidential past (-miş), implying the speaker learned, inferred, or is reporting it (not necessarily witnessed). It’s like “Apparently/it turns out the train finally arrived.”

Can I use the present progressive, like Sonunda tren geliyor?

Yes, but it changes the meaning: “Finally the train is coming (now)”—you see it approaching. Geldi states a completed arrival.

Is gelmek the right verb for “arrive”? What about varmak?

Both are used. Tren geldi is idiomatic (“the train arrived/came”). Varmak specifically means “to arrive” and takes the dative: Tren istasyona vardı (“The train arrived at the station”). Avoid bare Tren vardı—that can be read as “There was a train.”

How do I ask “Did the train finally arrive?” in Turkish?

Use the question particle mi after the predicate: Tren sonunda geldi mi? (or Sonunda tren geldi mi?). The particle is written separately and follows vowel harmony (mı/mi/mu/mü).

How do I say “The train didn’t arrive in the end”?

Sonunda tren gelmedi. The negative is -me/-ma before the tense marker: gel-me-di.

How would I make it plural: “Finally the trains arrived”?

Sonunda trenler geldi. Pluralize the subject: trenler. The verb stays 3rd person plural with no extra ending in this simple sentence.

Any pronunciation tips for Sonunda tren geldi?

r is a tapped/flapped sound.
Initial tr in tren is a true cluster; don’t insert a vowel.
e as in “bed,” i as in “machine.”
Stress typically falls late: so-nun-DA, gel-Dİ. Overall sentence stress is often on the verb.

Do I need a comma after Sonunda?

Usually no. Sonunda tren geldi. is standard. A comma is optional if you want to mark a strong pause or if the fronted adverbial is long/complex.

Can sonunda mean “at the end of X”? How would I say “at the end of the month”?

Yes, with a possessor: ayın sonunda (“at the end of the month”), yılın sonunda (“at the end of the year”). For example: Ayın sonunda tren geldi.

How can I emphasize “finally” even more or express relief?

Use en sonunda, nihayet, or even just Sonunda! as an exclamation. Colloquially, you might hear Çok şükür, tren geldi (“Thank goodness, the train arrived”).