Replacement of loanwords in Turkish
The replacing of loanwords in Turkish is part of a policy of Turkification of Atatürk. The Ottoman Turkish language had many loanwords from Arabic and Persian, but also European languages such as French, Greek, and Italian origin—which were officially replaced with their Turkish counterparts suggested by the Turkish Language Association (Turkish: Türk Dil Kurumu, TDK) as a part of the cultural reforms—in the broader framework of Atatürk's Reforms—following the foundation of Republic of Turkey.
The TDK, established by Atatürk in 1932 to research the Turkish language, also sought to replace foreign loanwords (mainly Arabic) with their Turkish counterparts. The Association succeeded in removing several hundred Arabic words from the language. While most of the words introduced into the language in this process were newly derived from existing Turkish verbal roots, TDK also suggested using old Turkish words which had not been used in the language for centuries; like yanıt, birey, gözgü. Most of these words are used today widely while their predecessors are not used in daily language anymore. Some words were used before language reform too but they were used much less than the Persian ones. Some words were taken from rural areas but most of them had different meanings, like ürün. Mongolian also played an important role too, because Mongolian preserved the old Turkic borrowings, such as ulus and çağ.
There are generational differences in vocabulary preference. While those born before the 1940s tend to use the old Arabic-origin words (even the obsolete ones), younger generations commonly use the newer expressions. Some new words have not been widely adopted, in part because they failed to convey the intrinsic meanings of their old equivalents. Many new words have taken up somewhat different meanings, and cannot necessarily be used interchangeably with their old counterpart.
Origin of the words in Turkish vocabulary, which contains 104,481 words, of which about 86% are Turkish and 14% are of foreign origin
Many of the loanwords (especially the Arabic, Persian and French ones) are still widely used today, though decreasing in tendency.
Connotations and implications of word choice
Historically, Arabic was the language of the mosque and Persian was the language of education and poetry. Its deliberate usage (eschewing the usage of a "western" word) often implies romanticism or a religious subtext, respectively. Similarly, the use of European words may be favored to impart a perceived "modern" character. The use of "pure Turkic" words may be employed as an expression of nationalism or as a linguistic "simplification".
Origin of the words in Turkish vocabulary
The 2005 edition of Güncel Türkçe Sözlük, the official dictionary of the Turkish language published by Turkish Language Association, contains 104,481 words, of which about 86% are Turkish and 14% are of foreign origin.[1] Among the most significant foreign contributors to Turkish vocabulary are Arabic, Persian, French, Italian, English, and Greek.[2]
Word derivations
Most of the new Turkish words are derived from other words with thematic suffixes. For example:
bat- is the root of the verb batmak, which means "to sink" or "to set". The derived word batı means "west" or the cardinal direction in which the sun "sinks". Another example would be aylık, which means "salary" as well as monthly. This is derived from the word ay, which means "moon, month".
Here are some other examples of derivations:
- gün means "day" → günce means "agenda", güncel means "current", gündem means "current events and news", güncellemek means "to update", günay means "date", güney means "south", güneş means "sun", günlük means "diary" or "daily", gündüz means "daytime" (opposite of night) or "morning",
- kes- is the root of the verb "to cut" → kesi means "incision", kesici means "cutter", kesin means "accurate", kesinlikle means "definitely", kesinleşmek means "to become definite", kesinsizlik means "the state of indefinity", keskenmek means "to pretend to hit with a hand motion", kesmece is a saying that means "the agreement of cutting a fruit before buying it", keser means "adze", kesiklik means "sudden feeling of tiredness, lethargy", kesilmek means "to act like something", kesir means "fraction", kesirli means "fractional", kesit means "cross section", keski means "chisel", keskin means "sharp", keskinlik means "acuity" and "sharpness", kesim means "segment", kesimlik means "animal (or tree) fit or ready to be slaughtered/cut", kesinti means "interruption", kesintili means "on and off", kesintisiz means "uninterrupted" and "seamless", kesme means "an object cut in the form of a geometrical shape", kestirme means "short-cut", kesik means "interrupted", kestirmek means "to forecast" and "to nap", kestirim means "guess", kesen means "a line that intersects a geometrical entity", kesenek means "deduction", kesişmek means "to intersect", kesişim means "intersection",
- sap- is the root of the verb "to deviate" → sapık means "pervert", sapak means "turn" (as in roads, traffic),
- duy- is the root of the verb "to hear", "to feel" → duyu means "sensory", duyarlı means "sensitive", duyarlılık means "sensitivity", duygu means "feeling", duyarga(ç) means "sensor", duyargan means "allergen", duyarca means "allergy", duyum means "hearsay", duyumsamazlık means "apathy",
- yet- is the root of the verb "to suffice" → yeter means "sufficient", yetki means "authority", yetenek means "talent",
- başka means "other" → başkalaşım means "metamorphosis",
- tek means "single" → tekel means "monopoly", tekdüze means "monotonous",
- ev means "home" → evlilik means "marriage", evcil means "domestic",
- seç- is the root of the verb "to choose" → seçenek means "choice", seçkin means "elite", seçim means "election",
- düş- is the root of the verb "to fall" → düşük means "miscarriage",
- sür- is the root of the verb "to last", "to put forward" → süreğen means "chronic", sürüm means "version",
- yaz- is the root of the verb "to write" → yazar means "writer", yazgı means "fate", yazılım means "software", yazanak means "report", yazıt means "inscription", yazman means "secretary", yazıcı means "printer", yazın means "literature", yazım means "orthography", yazışma means "correspondence", yazdırım means "dictation",
- ver- is the root of the verb "to give" → veri means "data", vergi means "tax", verim means "efficiency",
- öz means "self", "real" → özel means "special", özen means "attention", özgü means "peculiar", özgül means "specific", özge means "other", özne means "subject", özgün means "original", özgür means "free", özümleme means "assimilation", öznel means "subjective". The verb özle- (meaning "to miss", "to long for") is also derived from this word, and özlem is a noun that means "longing".
Some of the Turkish words are also compound words, such as:
- Başvuru means "application". It is derived from baş (meaning "head") and vuru (meaning "hitting"), so the literal English translation of this compound word would be "head-hitting"
- Ayak means "foot", and kap means "container", and the compound word ayakkabı means foot-container, "shoe".
- Ana means "main", and yasa means "law", and the compound word anayasa means "constitution".
- Öz means "self", and veri means "giving", and the compound word özveri means "altruism, self-sacrifice".
- Büyük means "big", and elçi means "messenger", and the compound word büyükelçi means "ambassador".
- Kesim means "cutting", ev means "house", and kesimevi means "slaughterhouse".
For more information, see the related article: Turkish vocabulary.
Lists of replaced loanwords
Loanwords of Arabic origin
The list gives the Ottoman Turkish word, the modern spelling of the word in Turkish (as suggested by TDK), the modern Turkish equivalent, and its meaning in English. Arabs also used the following words as loanwords for their language.
* Old words that are still used in modern Turkish together with their new Turkish counterparts.
** New words that are not as frequently used as the old words.
| Ottoman Turkish word and its transliteration | Modern spelling of the Ottoman Turkish word | Modern Turkish equivalent | Meaning in English | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| عفو ايتمك ʻafu itmek* | affetmek | bağışlamak | to forgive | From the Persian bağışla– "to spare."[3] |
| اخلاق ahlak* | ahlak | töre | customs, ethics | From the Old Turkic noun töre "customary law."[3] |
| عائله ʻaile* | aile | ocak** | family | From the Old Turkic noun ocak "hearth."[3] |
| عقبه akabe* | akabe | geçit | passage | From the root geç– "to pass."[3] |
| عقد ʻaqd*, مقاوله mukâvele | akit, mukavele | sözleşme, anlaşma, bağıt | contract | From the Old Turkic söz "word."[3] |
| عقل ʻaql* | akıl | us** | wisdom | From the Old Turkic noun us "intelligence."[3] |
| علاقه ʻalaqe* | alaka(lı) | ilgi(li) | relevant, related to | From the Old Turkic root il– "to tie loosely" and "to touch."[3] |
| عَلَامَتْ alamet* | alamet | önsezi | premonition | From the adjective ön "front."[3] |
| عمه amme* | amme | sargı | bandage | From the root sar– "to warp."[3] |
| عامل ʻâmil | amil | etken | factor | From the root et– "to do."[3] |
| عملية ʻamaliyyah | ameliye | işlem | operation, process | From the root işle– "to work."[3] |
| عامه amme | amme | kamu | public, community | From the Middle Persian adjective "kamu" "all."[3] |
| عمودی amudi* | amudi | dikey | perpendicular; the Arabic survives in the expression amuda kalkmak. | From the root dik– "to plant."[3] |
| عنعنه a'nane | anane | gelenek, görenek | tradition | Created by İsmet İnönü in 1947, from the root gel– "to come."[3] |
| عنغنوى ananevi* | ananevi | geleneksel | customary | Created by İsmet İnönü in 1947, from the root gel– "to come."[3] |
| عساكر asakir* | asker | sü**, çeri** | soldier | The Turkish words are used in specific contexts such as subay, "army officer" and yeniçeri "janissary"). |
| عصر asr* | asır | yüzyıl | century | A compound formed by yüz "to pass" and yıl "year." The replacement does not preserve the distinction between "century" and "hundred years." The distinction is sometimes important: Speaking in 2020, "yedi asır kadar önce" (some seven centuries ago), has a margin of error of some 60 or 70 years and may refer to 1260–1380, whereas "yedi yüzyıl kadar önce" refers to 1320. |
| بارز bâriz* | bariz | kesin, belli | obvious, accurate | From the root kes– "to cut."[3] |
| بسيط basîṭ* | basit | kolay | easy, simple | From the noun kol "arm."[3] |
| بعض bazı* | bazı | kimi | some (pronoun) | |
| ﺑﺪﺍﻫﺖ bedāhet)* | bedahet | hazırcevaplık | quick wit | |
| ﺑﺸﺮﻳّﺖ beşeriyyet* | beşeriyet | insanlık | humankind | |
| أبيض abyâz* | beyaz | ak | white | The Arabic word and the Turkish word are used in somewhat different contexts: "beyaz" translates as "fair" or "(white) clean" |
| جمعة camiʻah* | camîa | topluluk | community | From the adjective toplu "collective."[3] |
| جبراً cebren | cebren | zorla | forcefully | From the adjective zor– "difficult."[3] |
| جلسة calsah* | celse | oturum | (law) hearing, session | From the root otur– "to sit."[3] |
| جماعت cemaat* | cemaat | kurultay | society | From the Mongolian kurilta "assembly of the nobles."[3] |
| جمعيت cemiyet* | cemiyet | toplum | society | From the adjective toplu "collective."[3] |
| جنوب cenûb | cenup | güney | south | From the old Turkic Gün "sun" or "day," conserved in some Anatolian dialects to mean "sunny place."[3] |
| جرحة cerahah | cerahat | irin | pus | |
| جريان cereyan* | cereyan | akım | flow | From the root ak– "to flow."[3] |
| جواب cevâb* | cevap | yanıt | answer | From the Old Turkic noun yanut.[3] |
| جهاز cihaz* | cihaz | aygıt | apparatus | |
| جوارى civarı* | civarı | dolayları | approximately, around | |
| جمله cümle* | cümle | tümce** | sentence | From the noun tüm "all, entire."[3] |
| دفعه defʻa*, کره kere* | defa, kere | kez | times (repetition) | Both defa and kere are still in popular use. |
| دفينه define* | define | gömü | treasure | From the root göm– "to bury." |
| دليل delil* | delil | kanıt | evidence | |
| دور devr* | devir | çağ | era | Borrowed from Mongolian, which itself is from Old Turkic çak.[3] |
| دوره devre* | devre | dönem | semester | From the root dön– "to turn."[3] |
| ابعاد ebʻâd* | ebat | boyut | dimension, size | From the Arabic buʻd. |
| ابدى ebedî* | ebedî | sonsuz | forever | The Turkish word literally means "without-end." |
| اجداد ecdâd | ecdat | ata | ancestry | The Turkish word literally means "father." |
| اجل ecel* | ecel | ölüm | (predestined time of) death | From the root öl– "to die." |
| اجنبى acnebi* | ecnebi | el, yad | stranger, foreigner | |
| ادبيات edebiyyat* | edebiyat | yazın** | literature | From the root yaz– "to write." |
| اهميات ehemmiyyet | ehemmiyet | önem | importance | |
| البسه elbise* | elbise | giysi | cloth | From the root giy– "to wear." |
| أمر emr* | emir | buyruk | order, command | From the Old Turkic noun buyruk.[3] |
| امنيه amniyyah* | emniyet | güvenlik | security | From the noun güven "trust." |
| اثر eser* | eser | yapıt | production (music, film) | From the root yap– "to make."[3] |
| اسير esîr* | esir | tutsak | hostage | From the root tut– "to hold."[3] |
| اطراف etraf* | etraf | ortalık | surroundings, surrounding area | From the adjective orta "middle."[3] |
| اوراق evrâk* | evrak | belge | paper document | In Arabic, evrāk is the plural of vārāk; in modern Turkish, evrak is used as often a singular, although it should be used as a plural of varak. |
| اول evvel* | evvel | önce | before | Using the adjective ön "front" as a prefix. |
| فعال faʻâl* | faal | etkin | active | From the root et– "to do." |
| فائد faiz* | faiz | ürem**, getiri | interest (monetary) | From the root ür– "to produce." |
| فقير، فقره fakir, fukara* | fakir | yoksul | poor | From the root yok– "to not exist." |
| فرض farz* | farz | varsayım | assumption | From the root varsay– "to suppose."[3] |
| فايدة fâydah* | fayda | yarar | benefit, utility | |
| فن fenn*, علم ʻilm* | fen, ilim | bilim | science | From the root bil– "to know." |
| فيضان feyezan | feyezan | taşkın | flood | From the root taş– "to overflow."[3] |
| فرقه fırka* | fırka | topluluk | group | From the adjective toplu "collective."[3] |
| فرقة furqah | fırkat | ayrılık | disparity | From the Old Turkic root ayr– "to separate."[3] |
| فكر fikr* | fikir | görüş | opinion | From the root gör– "to see." |
| فعل fiʻl* | fiil | eylem | verb | From the root ey– "to do." |
| غرب garb | garp | batı | west | From the root bat– "to sink." |
| غير gayr | gayri | olmayan, başka, dışı | non-, other | |
| غذاء gıda* | gıda | besin | food | |
| حادثه hadise* | hadise | olay | event, happening, fact, occurrence | From the root ol-, meaning "to be", "to become".[3] |
| حافظه hâfıza* | hafıza | bellek | memory | The new word is commonly used in electronics, like computer memory, i.e. önbellek for cache |
| خفيف hafif* | hafif | yeğni** | light (in weight) | The Turkish word is rarely used. |
| حفريات hafriyyât | hafriyat | kazı | excavation | From the root kaz-, meaning "to dig".[3] |
| حق haqq* | hak | pay | portion | |
| حقيقت haqîqat* | hakikat | gerçek | reality | |
| حاكم hâkim* | hâkim | yargıç | judge | |
| حال hâl*, وضعيت vazʻiyet* | hâl, vaziyet | durum | situation | From the root dur– "to halt."[3] |
| خليطه halîta | halita | alaşım | alloy | |
| حامله haʻmile* | hamile | gebe | pregnant | |
| خراب harâb* | harap | yıkık | ruin | From the root yık– "to destroy."[3] |
| حرارت harâret* | hararet | ısı, sıcaklık | heat, temperature | The old word can be used in both meanings in Turkish language. |
| حركة harekkat* | hareket | devinim** | movement, motion | |
| حرف harf* | harf | ses, imce** | letter | From the Old Turkic noun ses– "to voice."[3] |
| حسره hasra* | hasret | özlem | longing | |
| حساس hassas* | hassas | duyarlı | sensitive | From the root duy– "to feel."[3] |
| حشره haşara* | haşere | böcek | insect | |
| خطا hatâ*, قصور kusûr* | hata, kusur | yanlış | mistake | |
| حطب hatb | hatab | odun | wood | |
| ﺧﻄﻮﺍﺕ ḫaṭavāt | hatavat | adımlar | steps | |
| خاطره hâtıra* | hatıra | anı | memoir | From the root an– "to call to mind."[3] |
| حيات hayât*, عمر ömr* | hayat, ömür | yaşam, dirim** | life | From the root yaşa– "to live." |
| حيثيت haysiyyet* | haysiyet | saygınlık | respectability | From the root say– "to count."[3] |
| حزم hazm* | hazım | sindirim | digestion | |
| هديه hediyye* | hediye | armağan | gift | |
| هيئت hey'et* | heyet | kurul | board (company) | From the root kur– "to set up."[3] |
| حدت hiddet* | hiddet | kızgınlık, öfke | anger | |
| حكاية hikâye* | hikâye | öykü | story | Neologism coined by Nurullah Ataç.[3] |
| خلاف hilâf | hilaf | karşıt | contrary | From the noun karşı "opposite." |
| حس his* | his | duygu | feeling | From the root duy– "to feel." |
| خواجه hôca* | hoca | öğretmen | teacher | From the root 'öğret-, meaning "to teach". |
| حدود hudut* | hudut | sınır | border. | Sınır is a Greek borrowing.[3] |
| حقوق hukuk* | hukuk | tüze** | (judiciary) law | From the Old Turkic root tuz– "to command."[3] |
| خلاصه hulasa* | hulasa | özet | summary | |
| خصوص husûs* | husus | konu | subject | Coined in 1935 from the root kon– "to be placed."[3] |
| حضور huzûr* | huzur | dirlik** | comfort | |
| حجرة hucre* | hücre | göze** | cell | |
| هجوم hücûm* | hücum | saldırı | attack | From the root saldır– "to attack."[3] |
| حرمت hürmet* | hürmet | saygı | respect | From the root say– "to count."[3] |
| اِرْثِيَتْ ırsiyet* | ırsiyet | kalıtım | heredity | From the root kal– "to remain."[3] |
| اصرار ısrar* | ısrar | üsteleme | insisting | From the adjective üst "above." |
| اصطلاح ıstılah* | ıstılah | terim | term | Borrowed from Persian.[3] |
| اجتماع içtima | içtima | kavuşum | new moon (astronomy) | |
| اجتماعى ictimai | içtimai | toplumsal | communal | From the adjective toplu "collective."[3] |
| اداره idare* | idare | yönetim | administration | From the root yönet– "to give direction ."[3] |
| ادرار idrar* | idrar | sidik | urine | The original meaning of the Arabic word is "the action of yielding milk". The Turkish word is derived from an old Turkic verb siymek, meaning "to urinate". |
| افاده ifade* | ifade | anlatım | narration | From the root anlat– "to explain." |
| افتخار iftihâr* | iftihar | övünme | pride | From the root öv– "to praise." |
| احتراس ihtiras* | ihtiras | tutku | passion | From the root tut– "to hold." |
| احتواء ihtiva | ihtiva etmek | içermek | to comprise | From the adjective iç "inside." |
| إحتياج ihtiyâc* | ihtiyaç | gereksinme, gereksinim | need | iħtiyāj is an Arabic verbal-noun form of iħtāj, meaning "need" |
| اختيار ihtiyâr* | ihtiyar | yaşlı | old (age) | From the noun yaş "age." |
| احتياط ihtiyât | ihtiyat | yedek | backup, spare | |
| احتياط ihtiyatlı* | ihtiyatlı | uyanık | wide-awake | From the root uyan– "to arouse." |
| اقتباس iktibas | iktibas | alıntı | copying (in literature; referencing) | From the root al– "to take" |
| الهه ilahe* | ilahe | tanrıça | goddess Tanrı (God) + –ça of Serbo-Croatian | Serbo-Croat supplied the feminine suffix, –ça, which Turkish lacked. |
| علاوه ilave* | ilave | ek | addition | |
| الهام ilhâm* | ilham | esin | inspiration | |
| عمار ʻimâr* | imar | bayındırlık | construction, development | |
| امكان imkân* | imkân | olanak | opportunity, possibility | From the root ol– "to exist."[3] |
| املاء imlâ* | imla | yazım | orthography | From the root yaz– "to write."[3] |
| امتداد imtidad* | imtidad | uzay | space | From the root uza– "to extend."[3] |
| امتحان imtihân | imtihan | sınav, yazılı | examination | From the Tatar root sına– "to test." |
| امتياز imtiyâz* | imtiyaz | ayrıcalık | "to write." | From the adjective ayrı "separate." |
| انحسار inhisâr | inhisar | tekel | monopoly | Ömer Asım Aksoy coined from tekel "single hand."[3] |
| انسان insân* | insan | kul** | human | The new word is used almost only in religious context. |
| انطباع intiba | intiba | izlenim | impression | |
| انتخاب intihab* | intihab | seçim | election | From the root seç– "to choose." |
| انتحال intihal | intihal | aşırma | plagiarism | From the root aşır– "to steal." |
| ابتدائی ibtidâ‘î | iptidai | ilkel | primary; primitive | From the word ilk "first." |
| ارتفاع irtifâʻ* | irtifa | yükseklik | altitude | The old word is only used in aviation, as in "the altitude of the plane". |
| ارثی irsî* | ırsi | kalıtsal, kalıtımsal | hereditary | From the root kal– "to remain." |
| اسم ism* | isim | ad | name | |
| اِسْكَانْ iskan* | iskan | konut | abode | From the root kon– "to settle."[3] |
| اِسْتِخْدَامْ istihdam* | istihdam | dağıtım | distribution | From the root dağıt– "to distribute."[3] |
| إستحصال istiḥṣāl | istihsal | üretim | production | From the root üret– "to produce."[3] |
| استقامت istikamet* | istikamet | yön | direction | |
| إستقلال istiqlal* | istiklal | bağımsızlık | independence, freedom | From the noun bağ "tie, bond, impediment."[3] |
| استراحة istirâhat* | istirahat | dinlenme | rest | From the root dinlen– "to rest." |
| استثمار istismar* | istismar | sömürge | colony | From the root sömür– "to exploit."[3] |
| إستثقال istisḳāl | istiskal | aşağılama | abasement | |
| استثناء istisnâ'* | istisna | aykırı | exception | |
| اشارت işaret* | işaret | gösterge | indicator | From the root göster– "to show."[3] |
| اشتغال iştigâl | iştigal | uğraş, uğraşı | occupation | |
| اشتراك iştirâk* | iştirak | ortaklık | association | |
| اتمام itmam* | itmam | tamamlama | completion | From the adjective tam "complete, full." |
| ايضاح izâh* | izah | açıklama | clarification | From the root aç– "to open." |
| ازدواج izdivâc | izdivaç | evlilik | marriage | From the noun ev "house." |
| قابليه kâbiliyet* | kabiliyet | yetenek, yeti | talent, ability | From the root yet– "to reach."[3] |
| قادر kader* | kader | yazgı | fate | From the root yaz– "to write."[3] |
| قفة qaffa* | kafa | baş | head | |
| كافي kâfi* | kâfi | yeter | enough | From the root yet– "to be enough."[3] |
| قاعده kaide* | kaide | taban | floor | |
| كائنات kâ'inât* | kâinat | evren | universe | |
| قلب kalb* | kalp | yürek | heart | |
| قانون kânûn* | kanun | yasa | law | Borrowed from Mongolian.[3] |
| قانون اساسى kanunuesasi | kanunuesasi | anayasa | constitution (law) | Literally "mother law." |
| قافيه kâfiye* | kafiye | uyak | rhyme | From the root uy– "to comply, fit." |
| كانون اول kânûn-ı evvel | aralık | December | "Aralık" was adopted during the drafting of the 1945 Constitution because it occurred in the text. With the new name for December it became the subject of jokes on the theme that the transition from December to January—Aralıktan Ocağa—now meant passing through the gap into the fire.[3] | |
| كانون ثانی kânûn-ı sânî | ocak | January | "Ocak," the new name for January preserves the meaning of kânun "hearth."[3] | |
| كلمه kelime* | kelime | sözcük, söz | word | Invented by Melih Cevdet Anday in 1958.[3] |
| قرمز ghermez* | kırmızı | al**, kızıl | red | The Arabic and the Turkish words are used in somewhat different contexts. kızıl is mostly used for red hair. |
| قسم kısm* | kısım | bölüm | part | From the root böl– "to divide." |
| كتاب ketab* | kitap | betik** | book | From the Old Turkic root biti– "to write," which is a loanword from Chinese word 筆, meaning "brush."[3] |
| كفر kufr* | küfür | sövme** | curse | From the root söv– "to swear, curse."[3] |
| قوة kuvvet* | kuvvet | güç, erk | power, force | In physics, the old word is used for "force" and the new word is used for "power". |
| كُلِّيَتْ külliyet* | külliyet | tüm | whole | |
| كرة küre* | küre | yuvar** | sphere | |
| لطيفه lâtîfe | latife | şaka | joke | The new word is also of Arabic origin (from the word şaḳā (شقاء)), meaning "pity, being unfortunate" |
| لسان lisân* | lisan | dil | language | dil means both tongue in the physical sense and language, while "lisan" only means tongue in the language sense. |
| لغات lûġat | lügat | sözlük | dictionary | |
| لزوملو lüzûmlu* | lüzumlu | gerekli | necessary | |
| ﻣﻌﺎﺭﻒ me‘ārif* | maarif | eğitim | education | |
| معاش maʻâş* | maaş | aylık | salary | From the noun ay "moon, month" |
| معباد maʻbed* | mabet | tapınak | temple | From the root tap– "to worship." |
| مادة maddî* | maddî | özdeksel** | material, materialistic | The Turkish word is exclusively used in the context of philosophy. |
| مفصل mafsal | mafsal | eklem | ligament | The old word is used for "hinge" (non-anatomical). |
| مغدور mağdûr* | mağdur | kıygın** | wronged, injured | The new word is almost never used. |
| مغلوبيات maʻlubiyyat* | mağlubiyet | yenilgi | defeat | From the root yen– "to defeat." |
| محلى mahalli* | mahalli | yöresel | regional | |
| محفوظ mahfuz | mahfuz | saklı | hidden | From the root sakla– "to hide." |
| مخلوق mahlûk* | mahluk | yaratık | creature | From the root yarat– "to create." |
| محصول mahsûl* | mahsul | ürün | product | The new word actually meant "weed". |
| مخصوص mahsûs* | mahsus | özgü | peculiar | |
| مقصد maksad*, غايه gaye*, هدف hedef* | maksat, gaye, hedef | amaç, erek | goal | |
| معقول maʻkûl* | makul | uygun, elverişli | reasonable | From the root uy– "to comply." |
| معنة maʻnah* | mâna | anlam | meaning | From the root anla– "to comprehend." |
| معنوي manevî* | manevî | tinsel** | moral, spiritual | The Turkish word is exclusively used in the context of philosophy. |
| مانع mâniʻ* | mani | engel | obstacle | |
| مصرف masraf* | masraf | gider, harcama | cost | From the root git– "to go, leave." |
| مطبعه matbaa* | matbaa | basım evi | printing | From the root bas– "to press." |
| معذرت mazeret* | mazeret | gerekçe | corollary | From the root gerek– "to need." |
| ﻣﺒﺪﺃ mebde’* | mebde | başlangıç | beginning | |
| مجاز mecaz*, استعارة istiare | mecaz | iğretileme, eğretileme | metaphor | |
| مجبور mecbûr* | mecbur | zorunlu | obligation, obligatory | Both the new and the old words can be used as either a noun or an adjective. |
| مجهول mechûl* | meçhul | bilinmeyen | unknown | From the root bil– "to know." |
| مدني madanni* | medeni | uygar | civil | Borrowed from Uyghur. |
| مدنيات madanniyyat* | medeniyet | uygarlık | civilization | From the name of the Uyghur Uygur, who established an advanced civilization in Eastern Turkestan in the tenth to twelfth centuries.[3] |
| مفهوم mefhûm* | mefhum | kavram | concept | From the root kavra– "to grasp, understand." |
| مکروه mekrûh* | mekruh | iğrenç | disgusting | |
| مملکت memleket* | memleket | ülke | country | The old word is used for "one's native region" |
| ﻣﻨﺸﺄ menşe* | menşe | kök | root | |
| مراسم merâsim* | merasim | tören | ceremony | |
| مساحه mesaha* | mesaha | yüzölçüm | area, measure of | From the root ölç– "to measure." |
| مرثيه mersiye | mersiye | ağıt | elegy | |
| مسافه mesafe* | mesafe | uzaklık | distance | From the root uza– "to extend."[3] |
| مثانة mesane* | mesane | sidik kesesi | urinary bladder | |
| مثلا meselâ* | mesela | örneğin | for example | |
| مسعود mesʻûd* | mesut | mutlu, sevinçli | happy | |
| مسئوليات maʻsûliyyat* | mesuliyet | sorumluluk | responsibility | |
| مشهور meşhûr* | meşhur | ünlü | famous | From the noun ün "fame." |
| مشروبات meşrûbât* | meşrubat | içecek | beverage | From the root iç– "to drink." |
| موقع mevkiʻ مكان mekân* | mevki, mekân | yer, konum | location | From the root kon– "to settle."[3] |
| موضع mevzi* | mevzi | bölge | location | From the root böl– "to divide." |
| ميدان meydân*, ساحه sâha | meydan, saha | alan** | open area, plaza | While the new word is used mainly in mathematics (as in the "area" of a triangle), it is seldom used with the same meaning of the old words except in compound words like havaalanı (airport), not hava meydanı (older version). |
| ميل meyl* | meyil | eğim, eğilim | inclination | From the root eğil– "to incline." |
| مزار mezar* | mezar | gömüt** | cemetery | From the root göm– "to bury." |
| منطقة mıntıka | mıntıka | bölge | region | From the root böl– "to divide." |
| ملت millet* | millet | ulus | ulus | From the Mongolian noun uluş "confederation of people."[3] |
| مراث mirâs* | miras | kalıt** | inheritance | From the root kal– "to remain."[3] |
| مسافر misâfir* | misafir | konuk | guest | From the root kon– "to settle."[3] |
| مثال misâl* | misal | örnek | example | |
| مسکين miskîn* | miskin | uyuşuk, mıymıntı | lazy | From the root uyuş– "to numb." |
| معامله muʻâmele* | muamele | davranış | treatment, behavior | From the root davran– "to behave." |
| معما muʻammâ | muamma | bilmece | puzzle, trivia | From the root bil– "to know." |
| معاصر muʻâsır | muasır | çağdaş, güncel | contemporary | |
| معاون muʻâvin* | muavin | yardımcı | helper | |
| معجزه muʻcize* | mucize | tansık** | miracle | The new word is almost never used. |
| مغذي mugaddii | mugaddi | besleyici | nourisher | |
| مغالطه mugalata | mugalata | yanıltmaca | deceptive statement | From the root yanılt– "to mislead." |
| مغني، مغنيه muganni, muganniye | muganni,muganniye | şarkıcı | singer | |
| مغايرة mugayeret | mugayeret | aykırılık | irregularity | |
| مغاير mugayir | mugayir | aykırı | irregular | The old word has only remained as a legal term meaning "adverse". |
| مخابره muhabere | muhabere | iletişim, iletişme | communication | From the root ilet– "to transmit." |
| مهاجرة muhaceret | muhaceret | göç | emigration | From the root göç– "to move." |
| مهاجم muhacim | muhacim | saldıran, saldırıcı | attacker, offender | From the root saldır– "to attack." |
| مهاجر muhacir | muhacir | göçmen | immigrant | From the root göç– "to move." |
| محدب muhaddep | muhaddep | dış bükey | convex | From the root bük– "to bend." |
| محافظة muhafaza* | muhafaza | koruma | conservation | From the root koru– "to protect." |
| محافظ muhafız | muhafız | koruyucu | protector | From the root koru– "to protect." |
| محاكمه muhakeme* | muhakeme | yargılama, uslamlama | judgment, argumentation | |
| مدة muddat* | müddet | süre | duration | From the root sür– "to last." |
| محقق muhakkak* | muhakkak | kesin(likle) | certain(ly) | |
| محقق muhakkik | muhakkik | soruşturmacı | investigator | From the root sor– "to ask." |
| محال muhal | muhal | olanaksız | impossible | From the root ol– "to exist." |
| مخالفة muhallaffat* | muhalefet | karşıtlık | opposition | From the adjective karşı "opposite."[3] |
| مخمن muhammen | muhammen | oranlanan, ön görülen | pre-determined | |
| مخمس muhammes | muhammes | beşgen | pentagon | From the noun beş "five." |
| محاربه muhârebe, حرب harb | muharebe, harp | savaş | war | |
| محارب muharip | muharip | savaşçı | warrior | |
| محرر muharrer | muharrer | yazılı, yazılmış | written | From the root yaz– "to write."[3] |
| محرك muharrik | muharrik | kışkırtıcı, ayartıcı | provoker | From the root kışkırt– "to provoke." |
| محاصره muhasara | muhasara | kuşatma | siege | From the root kuşat– "to encircle."[3] |
| محاسبه muhasebe* | muhasebe | saymanlık | accounting, bookkeeping | From the root say– "to count."[3] |
| محاسبجي muhasebeci* | muhasebeci | sayman | accountant, bookkeeper | From the root say– "to count."[3] |
| محتمل muhtemel* | muhtemel | olası | possible | From the root ol– "to happen." |
| محتويات muhteviyyât | muhteviyat | içindekiler | ingredients | From the adjective iç "inside." |
| مقدس mukaddes | mukaddes | kutsal | sacred | |
| منتظم muntazam* | muntazam | düzgün, düzenli | tidy | From the root düz– "to align."[3] |
| مربع murabbaʻ | murabba | kare | square | A loanword from the French carré. |
| معتدل muʻtedil | mutedil | ılım(lı) | moderate(ly) | |
| موفقيت muvaffakıyyet | muvaffakiyet | başarı | success | From the root başar– "to succeed (in)." |
| مبالغه mübalâga | mübalağa | abartı | exaggeration | From the root abart– "to exaggerate." |
| مجادله mücâdele* | mücadele | çaba, uğraş | endeavor | |
| مجرد mücerrit | mücerrit | soyut | abstract | From the root soy– "to strip."[3] |
| مدافعه müdâfaʻa | müdafaa | koruma | sustain, protect, defend | From the root koru– "to protect." |
| مداخله müdâhale* | müdahale | karışma | intervention | From the root karış– "to interfere, meddle with." |
| مُلَازِمْ mülazım* | mülazım | teğmen | lieutenant | From the Old Turkic teğ– "to touch," which Turkish retains as değ–.[3] |
| مدت müddet* | müddet | süre | duration | From the root sür– "to last." |
| مدركه mudrike | müdrike | anlık | intellect (in psychology) | |
| مؤدب mueddep | müeddep | uslu | well behaved, demure | From the noun us "intelligence." |
| مؤلفات muelleffat | müellefat | (yazılı) yapıt | (written) piece | From the root yap– "to make." |
| مؤلف، محرر muellif, muharrir | müellif, muharrir | yazar | writer | From the root yaz– "to write." |
| مؤمن muemmen | müemmen | sağlanmış | secured | From the adjective sağ "alive." |
| مؤنث muennes | müennes | dişil | feminine | |
| مؤسسه mu‘essese | müessese | kurum | foundation | From the root kur– "to set up." Kurum is recorded in Tarama Sözlüğü (1963-77) as occurring in two dictionaries from the fourteenth and eighteenth century.[3] |
| مؤثر muessir | müessir | dokunaklı | touching | From the root dokun– "to touch." |
| مؤسس muessis | müessis | kurucu | founder | From the root kur– "to set up."[3] |
| مفكره mufekkrireh | müfekkire | düşünce gücü | thought capacity | From the root düşün– "to think." |
| مفرد mufrett | müfret | tekil | singular | From the adjective tek "single." |
| مفلس muflis | müflis | batkın | one that's gone bankrupt | From the root bat– "to sink." |
| مهم mühim* | mühim | önemli | important | From the noun önem "importance." |
| مؤمن mü‘min | mümin | inanan, inançlı | believer | From the root inan– "to believe." |
| مناسبت münâsebet* | münasebet | ilişki | relation | From the Old Turkic root il– "to tie loosely" and "to touch."[3] |
| منتخب müntahib* | müntahib | seçmen | voter | From the root seç– "to choose." |
| مراجعت mürâcaʻat | müracaat | başvuru | application | From the root başvur– "to apply." |
| مركب mürekkeb | mürekkep | birleşmiş, birleşik | ink | From the root birleş– "to unite." |
| مرتب murrettip | mürettip | dizgici | type setter | From the root diz– "to align."[3] |
| مسابقه müsâbaka | müsabaka | karşılaşma | match, competition | From the adjective karşı "opposite."[3] |
| مسامحه müsâmaha | müsamaha | hoşgörü | tolerance | From the root gör– "to see." |
| مُسَاو۪ي müsavi* | müsavi | eşit | equal | From the noun eş "pair." |
| مسدس müseddes* | müseddes | altıgen | hexagon | From the noun altı "six." |
| مستهجن müstehcen* | müstehcen | uygunsuz | inappropriate, obscene | From the root uy– "to comply."[3] |
| مستملك mustamlak | müstemleke | sömürge | colony (exploitee) | From the root sömür– "to exploit."[3] |
| مسوده müsvedde* | müsvedde | taslak | draft | |
| مشابه، مماثل muşabbih, mumassil | müşabih, mümasil | benzer | similar | From the root benze– "to resemble." |
| مشبهات muşşabbahat | müşabehet | benzerlik | similarity | From the root benze– "to resemble." |
| مشخص müşahhas | müşahhas | somut | concrete (in concept, the opposite of abstract) | |
| مشكل müşkül | müşkül | çetin** | difficult | |
| مشرك muşrik | müşrik | çoktanrıcı | polytheist | |
| مشتق müştak | müştak | türev | derivative | Borrowed from Kazakh, where verbs end not in –mek/–mak, but in –v.[3] |
| مشتكي muşteki | müşteki | yakınan, sızlanan | one who complains, whiner | |
| مشتملات muştemilat | müştemilat | eklenti | attachment, appandage | From the root ekle– "to add." |
| مشترك muşterek* | müşterek | ortak | partner | From the noun orta "middle."[3] |
| مشتري muşteri* | müşteri | alıcı, alımcı | customer | From the root al– "to buy."[3] |
| مطالعه mütâlâʻa | mütalâa | düşünce | thought | From the root düşün– "to think." |
| متارکه mütâreke | mütareke | antlaşma | armistice | From the noun ant "oath."[3] |
| متعدد muteaddit | müteaddit | birçok | a lot, many | |
| متفن muteaffin | müteaffin | kokuşuk | malodorous | From the root kok– "to smell." |
| متعهد muteahhid* | müteahhit | üstenci | contractor | |
| متعاقب muteakib | müteakip | sonra, ardından | after, thereafter | From the adjective arka "behind." |
| متعاليه mutealiye | mütealiye | deneyüstücülük | transcendentalism | |
| متعلق muteallik | müteallik | ilişkin, ilgili | related (to) | From the Old Turkic root il– "to tie loosely" and "to touch."[3] |
| متعمم muteammim | müteammim | yaygınlaşmış, genelleşmiş | something that has widespread | From the root yay– "to radiate."[3] |
| متعارفه mutearife | mütearife | belit** | axiom | |
| متبقي mutebaki | mütebaki | kalan | remaining | From the root kal– "to remain." |
| متبدل mutebeddil | mütebeddil | değişen, kararsız | one that changes, undecided | From the root değiş– "to change." |
| متبسم mutebessim | mütebessim | gülümseyen, güleç | one that smiles | From the root gül– "to laugh." |
| متجنس mutecanis | mütecanis | bağdaşık | homogenous | |
| متجاوز mutecaviz | mütecaviz | saldırgan | attacker | From the root saldır– "to attack." |
| متدين mutedeyyin | mütedeyyin | dindar | religious | Borrowed from Persian, where it means "owner of religion." |
| متأثر muteessir | müteessir | üzüntülü | sad (person) | From the root üz– "to aggrieve." |
| متفكر mutefekkir | mütefekkir | düşünür | thinker, intellectual | From the root düşün– "to think." |
| متفرق müteferrik | müteferrik | dağınık | untidy | From the root dağıt– "to distribute." |
| متحمل mutehammil | mütehammil | dayanıklı | durable | |
| متحرك muteharrik | müteharrik | devingen, oynar | mobile | |
| مُحْتَرَمْ muhterem* | muhterem | saygıdeğer | honorable | |
| متخصص mütehassıs | mütehassıs | uzman | expert | From the Old Turkic noun uz "skilled craftsman" and the intensive suffix "–man" in şişman "fat" and kocaman "huge."[3] |
| متشبث muteşşebbis | müteşebbis | girişimci | entrepreneur | From the root gir– "to enter." |
| متوازي mütevâzî* | mütevazi | alçakgönüllü | humble | |
| متوفى muteveffa | müteveffa | ölü, ölmüş | dead | From the root öl– "to die." |
| متفق muttefik* | müttefik | bağlaşık** | ally | From the root bağla– "to tie."[3] |
| مزايده muzayyadeh | müzayede | açık arttırma | auction | |
| مزمن müzmin | müzmin | süreğen | chronic | From the root sür– "to last." |
| نادر nadir*, اندر ender* | nadir, ender | seyrek | rare(ly) | |
| نغمه nağme | nağme | ezgi | melody | |
| ناقص nakıs* | nakıs | eksi | minus | |
| نصيحت nasîhat* | nasihat | öğüt | advice, counsel | |
| نظير nâzır | nazır | bakan | minister | |
| نفس nefes* | nefes | soluk | breath | |
| نسيج nesiç | nesiç | doku | tissue | |
| نسل nesl* | nesil | kuşak | generation | |
| نتيجه netîce* | netice | sonuç | result | From the combination of old Turkic nouns son "end" and uç "latter."[3] |
| نزيف nezif | nezif | kanama | hemorrhage | From the noun kan "blood" |
| نصف nısf | nısıf | yarı(m) | half | From the root yar– "to split."[3] |
| نهايت nihâyet* | nihayet | son(unda) | final(ly) | |
| نكاح nikâh* | nikâh | düğün | wedding | In modern Turkish, nikâh is generally used for the wedding ceremony, while düğün is used for the wedding reception or party. |
| نسبت nisbet* | nispet | oran | ratio | From the Old Turkic noun oran for "measure," "proportion" or "moderation."[3] |
| نطق nutk* | nutuk | söylev | speech | Borrowed from Kazakh, where verbs end not in –mek/–mak, but in –v.[3] |
| رفاه rafāh* | refah | gönenç | prosperity | |
| رغما ragmen* | rağmen | karşın | despite, in spite of | From the adjective karşı "opposite."[3] |
| رئيس re'îs | reis | başkan | president | |
| رأي rey* | rey | oy | vote | |
| رجعت ricat* | ricat | çekilme | retreat | From the root çek– "to pull."[3] |
| روح ruh* | ruh | tin** | spirit | The Turkish word is almost never used, except in the context of philosophy. |
| رطوبه rutûbet* | rutubet | yaşlık, ıslaklık | moisture | From the adjective yaş "dank." |
| رؤيا rü'ya* | rüya | düş | dream | |
| سادهّ sade, سائد sa'aid* | sade | yalın | plain | The Turkish word is rarely used. |
| صفحة safha* | safha | evre, aşama | stage, phase | |
| صفراء safra* | safra | öd | bile | |
| ساحل sahil* | sahil | kıyı | coast | |
| صاحب sahip* | sahip | iye** | owner | The Turkish word is seldom used; however, it is commonly used in the context of grammar when describing the possessive suffix (iyelik eki) |
| سطح sath | satıh | yüzey | surface | From the noun yüz "face." |
| سياره sayyâre | seyyare | araba, taşıt | car | Araba is the outdated expression for "car" in Arabic. The current word in Arabic for car is seyyara but in Turkish seyyar, means "transportable" or given to travel. |
| سبب sebeb* | sebep | neden | reason | |
| سفاره safarat | sefaret | büyükelçilik | embassy | |
| سلامت selâmet | selamet | esenlik | health, soundness | |
| سما semâ | sema | gök | sky | |
| سنه sene* | sene | yıl | year | |
| صحت sıhhat | sıhhat | sağlık | health | From the adjective sağ "alive." |
| سحر sihr* | sihir | büyü | magic | |
| صحبت sohbet* | sohbet | söyleşi | chat | From the root söyle– "to say." |
| سؤال su'âl | sual | soru | question | From the root sor– "to ask." |
| صلح sulh | sulh | barış | peace | |
| صنع sunî | suni | yapay | artificial | From the root yap– "to make."[3] |
| سکوت sükût | sükût | sessizlik | silence | From the noun ses "voice." |
| شاهد şâhid* | şahit | tanık | witness | From the root tanı– "to recognize." |
| شاعر şair* | şair | ozan | poet | |
| شعير şaîr* | şair | arpa | barley | |
| شرق şark | şark | doğu | east | From the root doğ– "to be born."[3] |
| شرط şart* | şart | koşul | condition | Invented in 1947 by Nurullah Ataç.[3] |
| شمال şimâl | şimal | kuzey | north | From the noun kuz "side of a mountain out of reach of the sun." Kuzey was also used in some Anatolian dialects, meaning sunless place.[3] |
| ﺷﻌﺎﻉ şu‘ā‘)* | şua | ışın | ray, gleam | |
| تعلق taalluk | taalluk | ilinti | connection, relation | From the Old Turkic root il– "to tie loosely" and "to touch."[3] |
| طبقه tabaqqa* | tabaka | katman | layer | From the noun kat "floor." |
| طبيعت ṭabîʻat* | tabiat | doğa | nature | From the root doğ– "to be born." |
| طبيعى ṭabîʻî* | tabii | doğal | natural | From the root doğ– "to be born." |
| تعبير، افاده taʻbîr, ifâde* | tabir, ifade | deyiş** | narration | |
| ṭâbiyet* | tâbiyet | uyruk** | nationality | |
| تحليل tahlil* | tahlil | inceleme | (laboratory) test (as in medicine) | |
| تخمين tahmin* | tahmin | kestirim** | guess, prediction | From the root kes– "to cut." |
| تعقيب taʻkib* | takip | izlem** | follow-up | From the root izle– "to watch." |
| طلب ṭaleb* | talep | istek | request, demand, wish | From the root iste– "to demand, request." |
| طلبه ṭalebe | talebe | öğrenci | student (plural of طالب ṭâlib, "seeker" [of knowledge]) | From the Old Turkic root igid– "to feed."[3] |
| تعمیم tâmîm* | tâmîm | genelge | circular, notice | From the adjective genel "general." |
| تعمير taʻmîr*, تعديلات taʻdîlât* | tamir, tadilat | onarım | repair, renovation | From the root onar– "to repair." |
| طرف taraf* | taraf | yan | side | |
| ترصدات tarassut* | tarassut | gözetleme | observation | |
| تاريخ tarih* | tarih | günay** | date (in time) | The Arabic word tarih also means "history". The Turkish word günay (literally meaning "day-month") is rarely used. |
| تسلط tasallut | tasallut | sarkıntılık | (sexual) harassment | From the root sark– "to dangle from." |
| تصور tasavvur | tasavvur | canlandırma, tasarı | imagine | |
| تصديق tasdîk* | tasdik | onay | approve | |
| تصحيح tashîh | tashih | düzeltme | correction | From the adjective düz "even, flat." |
| تصوير tasvîr* | tasvir | betimleme | description | |
| طياره tayyâre | tayyare | uçak | airplane | From the root uç– "to fly." |
| توصيه tavsiye* | tavsiye | salık | advice | |
| تعادل teʻâdül | teadül | denklik | equivalence | From the adjective denk "equal." |
| تعامل teʻâmül | teamül | tepkime, davranış | reaction, behavior | From the root davran– "to behave." |
| تبسم tebessüm | tebessüm | gülümseme | smile | From the root gül– "to laugh." |
| تبديل tebdîl | tebdil | değişiklik | change | From the root değiş– "to change." |
| تبريك tebrîk* | tebrik | kutlama | congratulate | From the root kutla– "to celebrate." |
| تجربه tecbüre* | tecbüre | deney | experiment | From the root dene– "to try." |
| تجلى tecellî | tecelli | belirme | emerge, appear | |
| تجسم tecessüm | tecessüm | görünme | appearance, manifestation | From the root gör– "to see." |
| تجربة tecrübe* | tecrübe | deneyim | experience | From the root dene– "to attempt."[3] |
| تجهيزات techîzât* | teçhizat | donanım | equipment | |
| تداوى tedavi* | tedavi | sağaltım** | therapy | |
| تدبير tedbîr* | tedbir | önlem | precaution | From the root önle– "to prevent." |
| ﺗﺪﺭﻳﺴﺎﺕ tedrіsāt)* | tedrisat | öğretim | teaching | |
| تأثر te'essür | teessür | üzüntü | agony | From the root üz– "to aggrieve." |
| تكامل tekâmül | tekamül | evrim, başkalaşım | maturation, metamorphosis, evolution | |
| تقاعد tekaʻüd | tekaüt | emeklilik | retirement | |
| تكفل tekeffül | tekeffül | yükümlenme | standing surety | |
| تكليف teklîf* | teklif | öneri | proposal | From the root öner– "to propose." |
| تكرار tekrar* | tekrar | yine | again | |
| تلاش telâş* | telaş | tasa, kaygı | worry | |
| تَمْي۪يزْ temyiz* | temyiz | yargıtay | Borrowed from Chagatai. | |
| تناسب tenâsüb | tenasüp | uyum | congruity | From the root uy– "to conform." |
| تنبيه tenbîh* | tembih | uyarı | warning | From the root uyar– "to warn." |
| ﺗﺮﻗّﻰ teraḳḳі* | terakki | ilerleme | progress | |
| ترجمه tercüme* | tercüme | çeviri | translation | |
| تردد terreddut* | tereddüt | duraksama | hesitancy | From the root dur– "to halt, stop." |
| ترتيب tertip* | tertip | düzen | order, tidiness | From the root düz– "to align." |
| تأثير tesir* | tesir | etki | effect | From the root et– "to do." |
| تسلى teselli* | teselli | avunma | console | From the root avun– "to console oneself." |
| تشخيص teşhis* | teşhis | tanı | diagnosis | From the root tanı– "to recognize."[3] |
| تَشْك۪يلَاتْ teşkilat* | teşkilat | örgüt | organization | From the noun örgü "plait."[3] |
| تشكيل teshkil | teşkil etmek | oluşturmak | to constitute | |
| تشرين اول teşrîn-i evvel | ekim | October | From the root ek– "to harvest." | |
| تشرين ثانی teşrîn-i sânî | kasım | November | ||
| تشويق teşvik* | teşvik | özendirme, kışkırtma | (providing) incentive, provocation | |
| تدقيق tetkit* | tetkit | araştırma | research | |
| تولد tevellüd* | tevellüd | doğum | birth | From the root doğ– "to be born." |
| تذكار tezkar* | tezkar | anılmaya değer | worth-mentioning | From the root an– "to call to mind."[3] |
| تجارت ticaret* | ticaret | alımsatım | business | |
| عنصر unsur* | unsur | öğe | constituent, element | |
| عنوان unvan* | ünvan | san | (professional) title | |
| اسلوب uslup* | üslup | biçem** | style | |
| وعد vaʻd* | vaat | söz | promise (noun) | |
| واقعه vakʻâ* | vaka | olay | event | From the root ol– "to happen." |
| وقور vakûr | vakur | ağır başlı | dignified | The Turkish expression literally means "heavy headed". |
| وصف vasf* | vasıf | nitelik | feature, quality | |
| واسطه vasıta | vasıta | araç | vehicle | |
| وسيع vâsi | vâsi | engin | vast | |
| وطن vatan* | vatan | yurt | homeland | |
| وظيفه vazîfe* | vazife | görev | task, mission | |
| و ve* | ve | ile | and | From the Old Turkic root il– "to tie loosely" and "to touch."[3] |
| وهم vehm | vehim | kuruntu | apprehension, fancy | |
| ولاية vilâyet* | vilayet | il | province | |
| تفسير tefsîr* | tefsir | yorum | interpretation, analysis, comment | |
| ضبط dzabt* | zabıt | tutanak | minute of proceeding, trial | From the root tut– "to hold."[3] |
| ضمير zamîr* | zamir | adıl** | pronoun | From the noun ad "noun." |
| زاويه zaviye | zaviye | açı | angle | From the root aç– "to open." |
| ﺫﻯ ﻗﻴﻤﺖ ẕі-ḳiymet)* | zikıymet | değerli | valuable | |
Loanwords of French origin
French words started to infiltrate the Turkish language in the 1800s, when administrative reforms (Tanzimat) started taking place in the Ottoman Empire. The extent of French influence was such that the number of French loanwords was close to 5,000.
Most of the French loanwords are still widely used in Turkish today.
* Words that are still used in modern Turkish together with their new Turkish counterparts.
| Loanword | Turkish equivalent | Meaning in English | Original French spelling |
|---|---|---|---|
| ajanda * | andaç (replaced with gündem ) | agenda | agenda |
| akselerasyon | ivme | acceleration | accélération |
| aksesuar * | süs | accessory (decorative) | accessoire |
| aktif * | etkin | active | actif |
| alternatif * | seçenek | alternative (noun) | alternatif |
| analiz * | çözümleme | analysis | analyse |
| asansör | ? | lift | ascenseur |
| asimilasyon, anabolizma * | özümleme | assimilation, anabolism | assimilation, anabolisme |
| astronomi * | gökbilim | astronomy | astronomie |
| avantaj * | üstünlük | advantage | avantage |
| done | veri | data | donnée |
| detay * | ayrıntı | detail | détail |
| direkt * | doğrudan | directly | direct |
| dikte * | yazdırım | dictation | dictée |
| doktrin | öğreti | doctrine | doctrine |
| doküman * | belge | document | document |
| domestik * | evcil | domestic | domestique |
| dominant | baskın | dominant | dominant |
| egzersiz * | alıştırma | exercise | exercice |
| endemik * | salgın | endemic | endémique |
| enerji * | erke | energy | énergie |
| enflamasyon * | yangı | inflammation | inflammation |
| enformatik | bilişim | information technology | informatique |
| enteresan * | ilginç | interesting | intéressant |
| eritrosit | alyuvar | red blood cell | érythrocyte |
| eksper * | bilirkişi | expert | expert |
| faks * | belgeç, belgegeçer | fax | fax |
| faktör * | etken | factor | facteur |
| fenomen * | olgu | phenomenon | phénomène |
| filoloji * | dilbilim | philology | philologie |
| filtre * | süzgeç | filter | filtre |
| fizyoloji * | işlevbilim | physiology | physiologie |
| fonksiyon * | işlev | function | fonction |
| fotokopi * | tıpkıbasım | photocopy | photocopie |
| garanti * | güvence | insurance, assurance | garantie |
| global * | küresel | global | global |
| gramer | dil bilgisi | grammar | grammaire |
| grup * | öbek | group | groupe |
| halüsinasyon * | sanrı | hallucination | hallucination |
| histoloji | doku bilimi | histology | histologie |
| homojen * | bağdaşık | homogenous | homogène |
| Hoplamak* | Zıpla | Jump | Oup La |
| illüzyon * | yanılsama | illusion | illusion |
| istatistik * | sayımlama | statistics | statistiques |
| izolasyon * | yalıtım | isolation | isolation |
| kalite * | nitelik | quality | qualité |
| kampüs * | yerleşke | campus | campus |
| kapasite * | sığa, kapsam | capacity | capacité |
| karakter * | kişilik | character, personality | caractère |
| kategori * | ulam | category | catégorie |
| kompleks * | karmaşık | complex | complexe |
| komünikasyon | iletişim | communication | communication |
| konsantrasyon * | derişim | concentration | concentration |
| konsolidasyon * | süreletme | consolidation (economics) | consolidation |
| kontrol * | denetim | control | contrôle |
| korelasyon | bağıntı | correlation | corrélation |
| kramp * | kasınç | (muscle) cramp | crampe |
| kriter * | ölçüt | criteria | critères |
| kronik * | süreğen | chronic(ally) | chronique |
| kuaför * | güzellik salonu/berber | beauty/hair salon, barber | coiffeur |
| lenf * | ak kan | lymph | lymphe |
| liste * | dizelge | list | liste |
| lokosit | akyuvar | white blood cell | leucocyte |
| medya * | basın-yayın | media | média |
| mekanizma * | düzenek | mechanism | mécanisme |
| meridyen * | boylam | longitude | méridien |
| mesaj, posta * | ileti | message | message |
| metamorfoz * | başkalaşım | metamorphosis | métamorphose |
| metot * | yöntem | method | méthode |
| monoton * | tekdüze | monotonous | monotone |
| mobilya * | ? | furniture | mobilier |
| moral * | özgüç | moral | morale |
| mutasyon * | değişinim | mutation | mutation |
| normal * | olağan | normal | normal |
| objektif * | nesnel | objective | objectif |
| organizasyon * | düzenleme | organization | organisation |
| orijinal * | özgün | original | original |
| otorite * | yetke | authority | autorité |
| over | yumurtalık | ovary | ovaire |
| paradoks * | çelişki | paradox | paradoxe |
| paralel * | enlem | latitude | parallèle |
| parazit * | asalak | parasite | parasite |
| pasif * | edilgen | passive | passif |
| performans * | başarım | performance | performance |
| plaj * | kumsal | beach | plage |
| plato * | yayla | plateau | plateau |
| popüler, favori * | gözde | popular, favorite | populaire, favori |
| prensip * | ilke | principal | principe |
| prezentasyon | sunum | presentation | présentation |
| primer | birincil | primary | primaire |
| problem * | sorun | problem | problème |
| prodüktör | yapımcı | producer | producteur |
| program * | izlence | program | programme |
| proje * | tasarı | project | projet |
| prosedür * | işlem, işleyiş | procedure | procédure |
| proses | süreç | process | procès |
| provokasyon | kışkırtma | provocation | provocation |
| radyoaktif * | ışın etkin | radioactive | radioactif |
| randıman * | verim | efficiency | rendement |
| rapor * | yazanak | report | rapport |
| rejisör | yönetmen | director | régisseur |
| resesif | çekinik | recessive | récessif |
| restoran * | aşevi | restaurant | restaurant |
| rezistans | direnç | resistance | résistance |
| sekunder, sekonder | ikincil | secondary | secondaire |
| sekreter * | yazman | secretary | secrétaire |
| sembol * | simge | symbol | symbole |
| semptom * | belirti | symptom | symptôme |
| sendrom * | belirti | syndrome | syndrome |
| sentez * | bireşim | synthesis | synthèse |
| sistem * | dizge | system | système |
| simülasyon * | öğrence | simulation | simulation |
| solüsyon | çözelti | solution | solution |
| spesifik | özellikli | specific | spécifique |
| spesiyal | özel | special | spécial |
| standart * | ölçün | standard | standard |
| statik * | duruk | static | statique |
| statü * | durum | status | statut |
| subjektif * | öznel | subjective | subjectif |
| teori * | kuram | theory | théorie |
| tretuvar | kaldırım | pavement / sidewalk | trottoir |
| tümör * | ur | tumor | tumeur |
| versiyon * | sürüm | version | version |
| viraj * | dönemeç | turn (as in traffic) | virage |
| ultrason * | yansılanım (the act of echoing) | ultrasound | ultrason |
Loanwords of Persian origin
The list gives the Ottoman Turkish word, the modern spelling of the word in Turkish (as suggested by TDK), the modern Turkish equivalent, and its meaning in English.
Most of the original Persian words are still widely used in modern Turkish. In fact, there are over 1,500 Persian words in Turkish. However, for many of the Persian words (unlike Arabic words), there is no TDK-prescribed equivalent. TDK did not put as much effort into replacing Persian words as it did for Arabic words, largely because the Persian words were better assimilated into the language. Arabic language and culture is general perceived by Turks to be more "foreign" than Persian language and culture, which had a native presence in Anatolia since the time of the Achaemenids, and was patronised for millennia afterwards by other dynasties with a presence in Anatolia such as the Sasanians, Seleucids, Seljuks, Sultanate of Rum, and lastly, the Ottomans, amongst others.
* New words that are not as frequently used as the old words.
| Ottoman Turkish word and its transliteration | Modern spelling of the Ottoman Turkish word | Modern Turkish equivalent | Meaning in English | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| آموزندە amuzende* | amuzende | okutman | lector | |
| بدبين bedbin* | bedbin | bitki | plant | From the root bit– "to grow."[3] |
| برابر beraber* | 'beraber | birlikte | together | |
| بوسه buse* | 'buse | öpücük | kiss | |
| جنگ cenk* | cenk | savaş | war | |
| چابك çabuk* | çabuk | ivedi | quick | |
| چاره çare* | çare | çözüm | solution | |
| چهره çehre* | çehre | yüz | face | |
| چنبر çember* | çember | yuvarlak | circle | |
| چشيت çeşit* | çeşit | tür | kind, variety | |
| چهار یک çeyrek* | çeyrek | dörtte bir | quarter | Both the Persian and the Turkish expressions literally mean one in four. |
| درد dert* | dert | ağrı | pain | |
| دمار demar* | demar | ölüm | death | From the root öl– "to die." |
| دیگر diğer* | diğer | öbür, öteki | other | |
| دشمن düşman* | düşman | yağı | enemy | |
| دوز düz* | düz | yatay | horizontal | |
| انديشه endişe* | endişe | kaygı | worry | |
| فروخت füruht* | füruht | satış | sale | From the root sat– "to sell."[3] |
| گوشت gûşt* | guşt | et | meat | |
| گزيده güzide* | güzide | seçkin | élite | |
| خسته hasta* | hasta | sayrı | patient, sick | The original Persian word actually means tired |
| همیشه hemîşe* | hemîşe | her zaman | always | |
| هنوز henüz* | henüz | daha | yet | |
| قورناز kurnaz* | beraber | açıkgözlü | cunning | |
| مهتاب mehtap* | mehtap | ay ışığı | moonlight | |
| محافظه كار* muhafazakar* | muhafazakar | tutucu | conservative | From the root tut– "to hold." |
| موشكيل-پسند müşkülpesent* | müşkülpesent | titiz | fussy | |
| خبز عزيز nân-ı aziz* | nân-ı aziz | ekmek | bread | |
| نيكبين nikbin* | nikbin | iyimser | optimist | |
| پاپوش pabuç* | pabuç | ayakkabı | shoe | Both the Persian and the Turkish words literally mean foot cover. |
| پ۪يشْدَارْ pişdar* | pişdar | öncü | vanguard | |
| سرخوش sarhoş* | sarhoş | esrik | drunk | |
| ساخته* sahte* | sahte | düzmece | fake | From the root düz– "to align."[3] |
| سر ser* | ser | baş | head | |
| سربست serbest* | serbest | erkin | free, footloose | |
| سرسری serseri* | serseri | başıboş | rascal | |
| سياه siyah* | siyah | kara | black | |
| بهار sonbahar* | sonbahar | güz | fall (season) | |
| سطور sütur* | sütur | binek | ride | From the root bin– "to ride." |
| شخص şahıs* | şahıs | birey | individual | From the root biregü [< bir+egü "from someone."[3] |
| شایان şayan* | şayan | değerli | valuable | |
| شهر şehir* | şehir | kent | city | The word kent is of Sogdian origin. |
| تازه taze* | taze | yeni | new | |
| تنبل tembel* | tembel | haylaz | lazy | |
| ویران viran* | viran | yıkık | ruin | |
| اميد ümit* | ümit | umut | hope | |
| یاور yaver* | yaver | yardımcı | helper | |
| يَكْنَسَقْ yeknesak* | yeknesak | tekdüze | monotonous | |
| یکپاره yekpare* | yekpare | bütün | whole | |
| زهر zehir* | zehir | ağı | poison, toxin | |
| زنگین zengin* | zengin | varlıklı | rich | |
| زور zor* | zor | çetin | difficult | |
Loanwords of other origin
* Words that are still used in modern Turkish together with their new Turkish counterparts.
| Loanword | Turkish equivalent | Meaning in English | Origin language | Original spelling | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| akut | iveğen | acute(ly) | German | akut | |
| angarya * | yüklenti | drudgery, forced labor | Greek | αγγαρεία | The Turkish word is still unused. |
| endoskopi * | iç görüm ("inside seeing") | endoscopy | English | The Turkish word is less common. | |
| fetüs * | dölüt | fetus | Latin | fetus | The Turkish word is used occasionally. |
| genetik * | kalıtım (bilimi) ("the science of heredity") | genetics | German | Genetik | Both the loanword and the Turkish word are used. |
| hegemonya * | boyunduruk | hegemony | Greek | ηγεμονία | The Turkish word is more commonly used. |
| İnternet * | Genel Ağ | Internet | English | The Turkish word is still unused. | |
| konsonant | ünsüz | consonant | German[4] | Konsonant | The loanword is now unused. |
| kundura * | ayakkabı | shoe | Italian | condura | The Turkish word is more commonly used. |
| otoban * | otoyol | highway | German | Autobahn | |
| vokal * | ünlü | vowel | German[5] | Vokal | The loanword is now unused. |
| pezevenk * | dümbük | procurer | Armenian | բոզավագ | The Turkish word is less common. |
See also
Notes
- "Güncel Türkçe Sözlük" (in Turkish). Turkish Language Association. 2005. Archived from the original on 2007-03-21. Retrieved 2007-03-21.
- "Türkçe Sözlük (2005)'teki Sözlerin Kökenlerine Ait Sayısal Döküm" [Numerical list on the origin of words in Türkçe Sözlük (2005)] (in Turkish). Turkish Language Association. 2005. Archived from the original on 2007-03-01. Retrieved 2007-03-21.
- Lewis, Geoffrey (2000). Turkish Grammar (Second ed.). Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-870036-9.
- TDK Online Dictionary - konsonant Archived 2007-08-22 at the Wayback Machine
- TDK Online Dictionary - vokal Archived 2007-08-22 at the Wayback Machine
Sources
- Yazım Kılavuzu, the official spelling guide of the Turkish language on TDK website
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