dolayısıyla

Consequently

Level 6

dolayısıyla = consequently / therefore / as a result.
Used in formal, academic, or professional Turkish to show that one event or idea logically follows another.

How It Works

1. Meaning and Usage
dolayısıyla is primarily used in high-level Turkish to indicate a logical result. It functions similarly to 'consequently' or 'therefore' in English. While it can also mean 'indirectly' (dolaylı olarak), this usage is generally restricted to formal, legal, or technical contexts (e.g., dolayısıyla zarar - indirect damage). In modern Turkish, it most commonly serves as a logical connector or a postposition meaning 'due to'.

2. Morphology
The word is a fossilized form derived from:

dolay: Noun meaning 'surroundings' or 'vicinity'
-ı: 3rd person possessive suffix
-sı: A second fossilized possessive suffix
-y-: buffer consonant
-la: instrumental suffix (by/with)

Literally, it means 'by way of its connection/surroundings'.

3. Logical Connector (Consequently)
It typically appears at the beginning of a result clause to show that the second follows naturally from the first:

Hava çok yağışlıydı, dolayısıyla maç iptal edildi. (The weather was very rainy, consequently the match was cancelled.)

4. Postpositional Usage (Due to)
Unlike simple conjunctions, dolayısıyla can follow a noun (often with a possessive suffix) to mean 'by reason of' or 'due to'. This is very common in formal contexts:

İşi dolayısıyla sık sık seyahat ediyor. (He travels often due to his job.)
Konumu dolayısıyla bu ev çok pahalı. (This house is very expensive due to its location.)

5. Register Distinctions
Use dolayısıyla when you want to sound professional, academic, or precise. In casual conversation, speakers usually prefer bu yüzden or çünkü.

Examples (4)

Bütçe azaldı, dolayısıyla proje ertelendi.
The budget decreased; consequently, the project was postponed.
Word by Word: Budget decreased, consequently project was-postponed.
Here, dolayısıyla connects the cause (budget cut) to the logical result (postponement).
Hava şartları kötüleşti, dolayısıyla uçuşlar iptal edildi.
Weather conditions worsened; therefore, flights were canceled.
Word by Word: Weather conditions worsened, therefore flights cancel were-made.
This is a classic formal usage often seen in news reports or official announcements.
Hızlı ve dolayısıyla tehlikeli bir sürüş tarzı var.
He has a fast and, by extension, dangerous driving style.
Word by Word: Fast and consequently dangerous a driving style he-has.
In this case, dolayısıyla links two adjectives, suggesting that the second quality (danger) is a result of the first (speed).
Toplantıya katılamadı, dolayısıyla karardan haberi yok.
He couldn't attend the meeting; consequently, he is unaware of the decision.
Word by Word: To-the-meeting he-could-not-attend, consequently from-the-decision news-his there-is-not.
Shows a logical lack of information resulting from an absence.

Common Mistakes

Using the ablative case (-DAn) before dolayısıyla.
Kardan dolayısıyla yollar kapandı.
Kar yağdı, dolayısıyla yollar kapandı.
Learners often confuse 'dolayısıyla' with the postposition -den dolayı. 'Dolayı' requires the ablative case, but 'dolayısıyla' does not. It connects clauses, or follows a noun with a possessive ending, as in 'işi dolayısıyla'.
Using it in very casual, everyday speech.
Karnım acıktı, dolayısıyla tost yedim.
Karnım acıktı, o yüzden tost yedim.
Using 'dolayısıyla' for trivial daily matters sounds unnaturally stiff. Use o yüzden for casual situations.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

dolayısıylaLevel 6Consequently

Learn This First

To understand 'dolayısıyla' (consequently/therefore), a learner should already be familiar with basic causal connectors like 'bu yüzden' and the postposition '-den dolayı'. Morphologically, it is a fossilized form involving a possessive suffix and the instrumental case, though it is primarily learned as a standalone logical connector.

Words in This Pattern