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 the 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.
Connotations and implications of word choice
Historically, Arabic was the language of the mosque and Persian was the language of education and poetry. A deliberate usage of either (eschewing the usage of a "western" word) often implies a religious subtext or romanticism, 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".
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", 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 afv etmek* | affetmek | bağışlamak | to forgive | From the Persian bağışla– "to spare."[1] |
| اخلاق ahlak* | ahlak | töre | customs, ethics | From the Old Turkic noun töre "customary law."[1] |
| عائله aile* | aile | ocak** | family | From the Old Turkic noun ocak "hearth."[1] |
| عقبه akabe | akabe | geçit | passage | From the root geç– "to pass."[1] |
| عقد akd*, مقاوله mukavele | akit, mukavele | sözleşme, anlaşma, bağıt | contract | From the Old Turkic söz "word."[1] |
| عقل akl, akıl* | akıl | us** | wisdom | From the Old Turkic noun us "intelligence."[1] |
| علاقه alaka* | alaka(lı) | ilgi(li) | relevant, related to | From the Old Turkic root il– "to tie loosely" and "to touch."[1] |
| علامت alamet | alamet | önsezi | premonition | From the adjective ön "front."[1] |
| عمه amme | amme | sargı | bandage | From the root sar– "to wrap."[1] |
| عامل amil | amil | etken | factor | From the root et– "to do."[1] |
| عملیه ameliye | ameliye | işlem | operation, process | From the root işle– "to work."[1] |
| عامه amme | amme | kamu | public, community | From the Middle Persian adjective "kamu" "all."[1] |
| عمودی amudi | amudi | dikey | perpendicular; the Arabic survives in the expression amuda kalkmak. | From the root dik– "to plant."[1] |
| عنعنه a'nane | anane | gelenek, görenek | tradition | Created by İsmet İnönü in 1947, from the root gel– "to come."[1] |
| عنعنوی a'nanevi | ananevi | geleneksel | customary | Created by İsmet İnönü in 1947, from the root gel– "to come."[1] |
| عسكر asker* | 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 "one hundred" 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 bariz* | bariz | kesin, belli | obvious, accurate | From the root kes– "to cut."[1] |
| بسیط basit* | basit | kolay | easy, simple | From the noun kol "arm."[1] |
| بعضی bazı* | bazı | kimi | some (pronoun) | |
| بیاض beyaz* | beyaz | ak | white | The Arabic word and the Turkish word are used in somewhat different contexts: "beyaz" translates as "fair" or "(white) clean" |
| جامعه cami'a* | camia | topluluk | community | From the adjective toplu "collective."[1] |
| جبراً cebren | cebren | zorla | forcefully | From the adjective zor– "difficult."[1] |
| جلسه celse | celse | oturum | (law) hearing, session | From the root otur– "to sit."[1] |
| جماعت cema'at* | cemaat | kurultay | society | From the Mongolian kurilta "assembly of the nobles."[1] |
| جمعیت cem'iyet* | cemiyet | toplum | society | From the adjective toplu "collective."[1] |
| جنوب cenub | cenup | güney | south | From the old Turkic Gün "sun" or "day," conserved in some Anatolian dialects to mean "sunny place."[1] |
| جراحت cerahat | cerahat | irin | pus | |
| جریان cereyan* | cereyan | akım | flow | From the root ak– "to flow."[1] |
| جواب cevab* | cevap | yanıt | answer | From the Old Turkic noun yanut.[1] |
| جهاز cihaz* | cihaz | aygıt | apparatus | |
| جواری civarı* | civarı | dolayları | approximately, around | |
| جمله cümle* | cümle | tümce** | sentence | From the noun tüm "all, entire."[1] |
| دفعه def'a*, کره kere* | defa, kere | kez | times (repetition) | Both defa and kere are still in popular use. |
| دفینه define* | define | gömü** | treasure | From the root göm– "to bury." |
| دلیل delil* | delil | kanıt | evidence | |
| دور devr* | devir | çağ | era | Borrowed from Mongolian, which itself is from Old Turkic çak.[1] |
| دوره devre* | devre | dönem | semester | From the root dön– "to turn."[1] |
| ابعاد eb'ad | ebat | boyut | dimension, size | From the noun boy "length" |
| ابدی ebedi* | ebedî | sonsuz | forever | The Turkish word literally means "without-end." |
| جد cedd | cet | ata | ancestry | The Turkish word literally means "father." |
| اجل ecel* | ecel | ölüm | (predestined time of) death | From the root öl– "to die." |
| اجنبی ecnebi | ecnebi | el, yad | stranger, foreigner | |
| ادبیات edebiyat* | edebiyat | yazın** | literature | From the root yaz– "to write." |
| اهمیت ehemmiyet | ehemmiyet | önem | importance | |
| البسه elbise* | elbise | giysi | cloth | From the root giy– "to wear." |
| امر emir* | emir | buyruk | order, command | From the Old Turkic noun buyruk.[1] |
| امنیت emniyet* | emniyet | güvenlik | security | From the noun güven "trust." |
| اثر eser* | eser | yapıt | production (music, film) | From the root yap– "to make."[1] |
| اسیر esir* | esir | tutsak | hostage | From the root tut– "to hold."[1] |
| اطراف etraf* | etraf | ortalık | surroundings, surrounding area | From the adjective orta "middle."[1] |
| اوراق evrak* | 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. |
| أول evvel* | evvel | önce | before | Using the adjective ön "front" as a prefix. |
| فعال fa'al* | faal | etkin | active | From the root et– "to do." |
| فائض faiz* | faiz | ürem**, getiri | interest (monetary) | From the root ür– "to produce." |
| فقیر fakir* | fakir | yoksul | poor | From the root yok– "to not exist." |
| فرض farz* | farz | varsayım | assumption | From the root varsay– "to suppose."[1] |
| فائده faide* | fayda | yarar | benefit, utility | |
| فن fenn*, علم ilm* | fen, ilim | bilim | science | From the root bil– "to know." |
| فیضان feyezan | feyezan | taşkın | flood | From the root taş– "to overflow."[1] |
| فرقه fırka* | fırka | topluluk | group | From the adjective toplu "collective."[1] |
| فرقت fırkat | fırkat | ayrılık | disparity | From the Old Turkic root ayr– "to separate."[1] |
| فكر fikr, fikir* | fikir | görüş | opinion | From the root gör– "to see." |
| فعل fi'il* | fiil | eylem | verb | From the root ey– "to do." |
| غرب garb | garp | batı | west | From the root bat– "to sink." |
| غیر gayr | gayri | olmayan, başka, dışı | non-, other | |
| غذا gıda*, gıza | gıda | besin | food | |
| حادثه hadise* | hadise | olay | event, happening, fact, occurrence | From the root ol-, meaning "to be", "to become".[1] |
| حافظه hafıza* | hafıza | bellek | memory | The new word is commonly used in electronics, like computer memory, i.e. önbellek for cache |
| خفیف hafif* | hafif | yeğni** | light (in weight) | The Turkish word is rarely used. |
| حفریات hafriyat | hafriyat | kazı | excavation | From the root kaz-, meaning "to dig".[1] |
| حق hakk* | hak | pay | portion | |
| حقیقت hakikat* | hakikat | gerçek | reality | |
| حاكم hakim* | hâkim | yargıç | judge | |
| حال hal, وضعیت vaz'iyet* | hâl, vaziyet | durum | situation | From the root dur– "to halt."[1] |
| خلیطه halita | halita | alaşım | alloy | |
| حامل hamile* | hamile | gebe | pregnant | |
| خراب harab* | harap | yıkık | ruin | From the root yık– "to destroy."[1] |
| حرارت harâret | hararet | ısı, sıcaklık | heat, temperature | The old word can be used in both meanings in Turkish language. |
| حركت hareket* | hareket | devinim** | movement, motion | |
| حرف harf* | harf | ses, imce** | letter | From the Old Turkic noun ses– "to voice."[1] |
| حسرة hasra* | hasret | özlem | longing | |
| حساس hassas* | hassas | duyarlı | sensitive | From the root duy– "to feel."[1] |
| حشره haşere* | haşere | böcek | insect | |
| خطا hatâ*, قصور kusûr* | hata, kusur | yanlış | mistake | |
| حطب hatb | hatab | odun | wood | |
| ﺧﻄﻮﺍﺕ hatavat | hatavat | adımlar | steps | |
| خاطره hatıra* | hatıra | anı | memoir | From the root an– "to call to mind."[1] |
| حیات hayat*, عمر ömr* | hayat, ömür | yaşam, dirim** | life | From the root yaşa– "to live." |
| حیثیت haysiyet | haysiyet | saygınlık | respectability | From the root say– "to count."[1] |
| هضم hazm* | hazım | sindirim | digestion | |
| هدیه hediye* | hediye | armağan | gift | |
| هيئت hey'et* | heyet | kurul | board (company) | From the root kur– "to set up."[1] |
| حدت hiddet* | hiddet | kızgınlık, öfke | anger | |
| حكایه hikaye* | hikâye | öykü | story | Neologism coined by Nurullah Ataç.[1] |
| خلاف hilâf | hilaf | karşıt | contrary | From the noun karşı "opposite." |
| حس hiss* | his | duygu | feeling | From the root duy– "to feel." |
| خواجه hoca* | hoca | öğretmen | teacher | From the root öğret-, meaning "to teach". |
| حدود hudut | hudut | sınır | border. | Sınır is a Greek borrowing.[1] |
| حقوق hukuk* | hukuk | tüze** | (judiciary) law | From the Old Turkic root tuz– "to command."[1] |
| خلاصه hulasa | hulasa | özet | summary | |
| خصوص husus* | husus | konu | subject | Coined in 1935 from the root kon– "to be placed."[1] |
| حضور huzur* | huzur | dirlik** | comfort | |
| حجره hücre* | hücre | göze** | cell | |
| هجوم hücum* | hücum | saldırı | attack | From the root saldır– "to attack."[1] |
| حرمت hürmet* | hürmet | saygı | respect | From the root say– "to count."[1] |
| ارثیت ırsiyet | ırsiyet | kalıtım | heredity | From the root kal– "to remain."[1] |
| اصرار ısrar* | ısrar | üsteleme | insisting | From the adjective üst "above." |
| اصطلاح ıstılah | ıstılah | terim | term | Borrowed from Persian.[1] |
| اجتماع içtima | içtima | kavuşum | new moon (astronomy) | |
| اجتماعی ictimai | içtimai | toplumsal | communal | From the adjective toplu "collective."[1] |
| اداره idare* | idare | yönetim | administration | From the root yönet– "to give direction ."[1] |
| 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." |
| احتوا ihtiva | ihtiva etmek | içermek | to comprise | From the adjective iç "inside." |
| احتياج ihtiyac* | ihtiyaç | gereksinme, gereksinim | need | iħtiyāj is an Arabic verbal-noun form of iħtāj, meaning "need" |
| اختيار ihtiyar* | ihtiyar | yaşlı | old (age) | From the noun yaş "age." |
| احتياط ihtiyat | ihtiyat | yedek | backup, spare | |
| احتياطلی 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 ilham* | ilham | esin | inspiration | |
| عمار 'imar* | imar | bayındırlık** | construction, development | |
| امكان imkân* | imkân | olanak | opportunity, possibility | From the root ol– "to exist."[1] |
| املا imlâ* | imla | yazım | orthography | From the root yaz– "to write."[1] |
| امتداد imtidad | imtidad | uzay | space | From the root uza– "to extend."[1] |
| امتحان imtihân | imtihan | sınav, yazılı | examination | From the Tatar root sına– "to test." |
| امتياز imtiyâz* | imtiyaz | ayrıcalık | privilege | From the adjective ayrı "separate." |
| انحسار inhisâr | inhisar | tekel | monopoly | Ömer Asım Aksoy coined from tekel "single hand."[1] |
| 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 | |
| اسكان iskan* | iskân | konut | abode | From the root kon– "to settle."[1] |
| استخدام istihdam* | istihdam | dağıtım | distribution | From the root dağıt– "to distribute."[1] |
| استحصال istihsal | istihsal | üretim | production | From the root üret– "to produce."[1] |
| استقامت istikamet* | istikamet | yön | direction | |
| استقلال istiklal* | istiklal | bağımsızlık | independence, freedom | From the noun bağ "tie, bond, impediment."[1] |
| استراحت istirâhat* | istirahat | dinlenme | rest | From the root dinlen– "to rest." |
| استثمار istismar* | istismar | sömürge | colony | From the root sömür– "to exploit."[1] |
| استثقال istiskal | istiskal | aşağılama | abasement | |
| استثنا istisna* | istisna | aykırı | exception | |
| اشارت işaret* | işaret | gösterge | indicator | From the root göster– "to show."[1] |
| اشتغال iştigal | iştigal | uğraş, uğraşı | occupation | |
| اشتراك iştirak* | iştirak | ortaklık | association | |
| اتمام itmam* | itmam | tamamlama | completion | From the adjective tam "complete, full." |
| ایضاح izah* | izah | açıklama | clarification | From the root aç– "to open." |
| ازدواج izdivac | izdivaç | evlilik | marriage | From the noun ev "house." |
| قابلیت kâbiliyet* | kabiliyet | yetenek, yeti | talent, ability | From the root yet– "to reach."[1] |
| قادر kader* | kader | yazgı | fate | From the root yaz– "to write."[1] |
| قفه kafa* | kafa | baş | head | |
| كافی kafi | kâfi | yeter | enough | From the root yet– "to be enough."[1] |
| قاعده ka'ide | kaide | taban | floor | |
| كائنات ka'inat* | kâinat | evren | universe | |
| قلب kalb* | kalp | yürek | heart | |
| قانون kanan* | kanun | yasa | law | Borrowed from Mongolian.[1] |
| قانون اساسى kanunuesasi | kanunuesasi | anayasa | constitution (law) | Literally "mother law." |
| قافیه kâfiye* | kafiye | uyak | rhyme | From the root uy– "to comply, fit." |
| كانون اول kanan-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.[1] | |
| كانون ثانی kanan-ı sânî | ocak | January | "Ocak," the new name for January preserves the meaning of kânun "hearth."[1] | |
| كلمه kelime* | kelime | sözcük, söz | word | Invented by Melih Cevdet Anday in 1958.[1] |
| قرمزی kırmızı* | 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 kitab* | kitap | betik** | book | From the Old Turkic root biti– "to write". Some say it is a loanword from Chinese word 筆, meaning "brush"[1] but it lacks evidence |
| كفر küfr* | küfür | sövme** | curse | From the root söv– "to swear, curse."[1] |
| قوت kuvvet* | kuvvet | güç, erk | power, force | In physics, the old word is used for "force" and the new word is used for "power". |
| كلیت külliyet | külliyet | tüm | whole | |
| كره küre* | küre | yuvar** | sphere | |
| لطیفه latife | latife | şaka | joke | The new word is also of Arabic origin (from the word şaḳā (شقاء)), meaning "pity, being unfortunate" |
| لسان lisan* | lisan | dil | language | dil means both tongue in the physical sense and language, while "lisan" only means tongue in the language sense. |
| لغات lügat | lügat | sözlük | dictionary | |
| لزوملو lüzumlu* | lüzumlu | gerekli | necessary | |
| ﻣﻌﺎﺭﻒ ma'arif | maarif | eğitim | education | |
| معاش ma'aş* | maaş | aylık | salary | From the noun ay "moon, month" |
| معبد ma'bed* | mabet | tapınak | temple | From the root tap– "to worship." |
| مادی maddi* | maddi | 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 mağdur* | mağdur | kıygın** | wronged, injured | The new word is almost never used. |
| مغلوبیت mağlubiyat* | 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 mahluk | mahluk | yaratık | creature | From the root yarat– "to create." |
| محصول mahsul* | mahsul | ürün | product | The new word actually meant "weed". |
| مخصوص mahsûs* | mahsus | özgü | peculiar | |
| مقصد maksad*, غایه gaye*, هدف hedef* | maksat, gaye, hedef | amaç, erek | goal | |
| معقول ma'kul* | makul | uygun, elverişli | reasonable | From the root uy– "to comply." |
| معنه ma'na* | mana | anlam | meaning | From the root anla– "to comprehend." |
| معنوی manevî* | manevî | tinsel** | moral, spiritual | The Turkish word is exclusively used in the context of philosophy. |
| مانع mani' | mani | engel | obstacle | |
| مصرف masraf* | masraf | gider, harcama | cost | From the root git– "to go, leave." |
| مطبعه matba'a* | 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, استعاره isti'are | mecaz | iğretileme, eğretileme | metaphor | Arabic word almost only used in literature. |
| مجبور mecbur* | mecbur | zorunlu | obligation, obligatory | Both the new and the old words can be used as either a noun or an adjective. |
| مجهول mechul* | meçhul | bilinmeyen | unknown | From the root bil– "to know." |
| مدنی medeni* | medeni | uygar | civil | Borrowed from Uyghur. |
| مدنیت medeniyet* | medeniyet | uygarlık | civilization | From the name of the Uyghur Uygur, who established an advanced civilization in Eastern Turkestan in the tenth to twelfth centuries.[1] |
| مفهوم mefhum | mefhum | kavram | concept | From the root kavra– "to grasp, understand." |
| مکروه mekrıh | mekruh | iğrenç | disgusting | |
| مملكت memleket* | memleket | ülke | country | The old word is used for "one's native region" |
| ﻣﻨﺸﺄ menşe' | menşe | kök | root | |
| مراسم merasim | merasim | tören | ceremony | |
| مساحه mesaha | mesaha | yüzölçüm | area, measure of | From the root ölç– "to measure." |
| مرثیه mersiye | mersiye | ağıt | elegy | |
| مسافه mesafe* | mesafe | uzaklık | distance | From the root uza– "to extend."[1] |
| مثانه mesane* | mesane | sidik kesesi | urinary bladder | |
| مثلا mesela* | mesela | örneğin | for example | |
| مسعود mes'ud* | mesut | mutlu, sevinçli | happy | Arabic word almost never used alone in daily speech, mostly used together with the new word in the saying "mutlu mesut". |
| مسؤولیت mes'uliyet | mesuliyet | sorumluluk | responsibility | |
| مشهور meşhur* | meşhur | ünlü | famous | From the noun ün "fame." |
| مشروبات meşrubat* | meşrubat | içecek | beverage | From the root iç– "to drink." |
| موقع mevki' مكان mekan* | mevki, mekân | yer, konum | location | From the root kon– "to settle."[1] |
| موضع mevzi' | mevzi | bölge | location | From the root böl– "to divide." |
| میدان meydan*, ساحه saha | 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). |
| میل meyl | meyil | eğim, eğilim | inclination | From the root eğil– "to incline." |
| مزار mezar* | mezar | gömüt** | cemetery | From the root göm– "to bury." |
| منطقه mıntıka | mıntıka | bölge | region | From the root böl– "to divide." |
| ملت millet* | millet | ulus | ulus | From the Mongolian noun uluş "confederation of people."[1] |
| مراث miras* | miras | kalıt** | inheritance | From the root kal– "to remain."[1] |
| مسافر misafir* | misafir | konuk | guest | From the root kon– "to settle."[1] |
| مثال misal* | misal | örnek | example | |
| مسكين miskin* | miskin | uyuşuk, mıymıntı | lazy | From the root uyuş– "to numb." |
| معامله mu'amele* | muamele | davranış | treatment, behavior | From the root davran– "to behave." |
| معما mu'amma | muamma | bilmece | puzzle, trivia | From the root bil– "to know." |
| معاصر mu'asır | muasır | çağdaş, güncel | contemporary | |
| معاون mu'avin* | muavin | yardımcı | helper | |
| معجزه mu'cize* | mucize | tansık** | miracle | The new word is almost never used. |
| مغدی mugaddi | mugaddi | besleyici | nourisher | |
| مغالطه mugalata | mugalata | yanıltmaca | deceptive statement | From the root yanılt– "to mislead." |
| مغنی، مغنیه muganni, muganniye | muganni, muganniye | şarkıcı | singer | |
| مغایرت mugayeret | mugayeret | aykırılık | irregularity | |
| مغایر 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." |
| مهاجرت 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 muhaddeb | muhaddep | dış bükey | convex | From the root bük– "to bend." |
| محافظه 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 | |
| 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." |
| مخالفت muhalefet* | muhalefet | karşıtlık | opposition | From the adjective karşı "opposite."[1] |
| مخمن muhammen | muhammen | oranlanan, ön görülen | pre-determined | |
| مخمس muhammes | muhammes | beşgen | pentagon | From the noun beş "five." |
| محاربه muharebe, حرب harb | muharebe, harp | savaş | war | |
| محارب muharib | muharip | savaşçı | warrior | |
| محرر muharrer | muharrer | yazılı, yazılmış | written | From the root yaz– "to write."[1] |
| محرك muharrik | muharrik | kışkırtıcı, ayartıcı | provoker | From the root kışkırt– "to provoke." |
| محاصره muhasara | muhasara | kuşatma | siege | From the root kuşat– "to encircle."[1] |
| محاسبه muhasebe* | muhasebe | saymanlık** | accounting, bookkeeping | From the root say– "to count."[1] |
| محاسبجی muhasebeci* | muhasebeci | sayman** | accountant, bookkeeper | From the root say– "to count."[1] |
| محتمل muhtemel* | muhtemel | olası | possible | From the root ol– "to happen." |
| محتویات muhteviyat | 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."[1] |
| مربع murabba' | murabba | kare | square | A loanword from the French carré. |
| معتدل mu'tedil | mutedil | ılım(lı) | moderate(ly) | |
| موفقیت muvaffakıyyet | muvaffakiyet | başarı | success | From the root başar– "to succeed (in)." |
| مبالغه mübalaga | mübalağa | abartı | exaggeration | From the root abart– "to exaggerate." |
| مجادله mücadele* | mücadele | çaba, uğraş | endeavor | |
| مجرد mücerrit | mücerrit | soyut | abstract | From the root soy– "to strip."[1] |
| مدافعه müdafa'a | müdafaa | koruma | sustain, protect, defend | From the root koru– "to protect." |
| مداخله müdahale* | müdahale | karışma | intervention | From the root karış– "to interfere, meddle with." |
| ملازم mülazım | mülazım | teğmen | lieutenant | From the Old Turkic teğ– "to touch," which Turkish retains as değ–.[1] |
| مدت müddet* | müddet | süre | duration | From the root sür– "to last." |
| مدركه müdrike | müdrike | entelekt | intellect (in psychology) | A loanword from the French intellect |
| مؤدب mü'eddeb | müeddep | uslu | well behaved, demure | From the noun us "intelligence." |
| مؤلفات mü'elleffat | müellefat | (yazılı) yapıt | (written) piece | From the root yap– "to make." |
| مؤلف، محرر mü'ellif, muharrir | müellif, muharrir | yazar | writer | From the root yaz– "to write." |
| مؤمن mü'emmen | müemmen | sağlanmış | secured | From the adjective sağ "alive." |
| مؤنث mü'ennes | müennes | dişil | feminine | |
| مؤسسه mü'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.[1] |
| مؤثر mü'essir | müessir | dokunaklı | touching | From the root dokun– "to touch." |
| مؤسس mü'essis | müessis | kurucu | founder | From the root kur– "to set up."[1] |
| مفكره müfekkire | müfekkire | düşünce gücü | thought capacity | From the root düşün– "to think." |
| مفرد müfred | müfret | tekil | singular | From the adjective tek "single." |
| مفلس müflis | 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 münasebet* | münasebet | ilişki | relation | From the Old Turkic root il– "to tie loosely" and "to touch."[1] |
| منتخب müntehib | müntehip | seçmen | voter | From the root seç– "to choose." |
| مراجعت müraca'at | müracaat | başvuru | application | From the root başvur– "to apply." |
| مركب mürekkeb | mürekkep | birleşmiş, birleşik | ink | From the root birleş– "to unite." |
| مرتب mürrettib | mürettip | dizgici | type setter | From the root diz– "to align."[1] |
| مسابقه müsabaka | müsabaka | karşılaşma | match, competition | From the adjective karşı "opposite."[1] |
| مسامحه müsamaha | müsamaha | hoşgörü | tolerance | From the root gör– "to see." |
| مساوی 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."[1] |
| مستملكه müstemleke | müstemleke | sömürge | colony (exploitee) | From the root sömür– "to exploit."[1] |
| مسوده müsvedde | müsvedde | taslak | draft | |
| مشابه، مماثل muşabbih, mümassil | müşabih, mümasil | benzer | similar | From the root benze– "to resemble." |
| مشابهت müşabehet | 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 müşrik | müşrik | çoktanrıcı | polytheist | |
| مشتق müştak | müştak | türev | derivative | Borrowed from Kazakh, where verbs end not in –mek/–mak, but in –v.[1] |
| مشتكی müşteki | müşteki | yakınan, sızlanan | one who complains, whiner | |
| مشتملات müştemilat | müştemilat | eklenti | attachment, appendage | From the root ekle– "to add." |
| مشترك müşterek | müşterek | ortak | partner | From the noun orta "middle."[1] |
| مشتری müşteri* | müşteri | alıcı, alımcı | customer | From the root al– "to buy."[1] |
| مطالعه mütala'a | mütalâa | düşünce | thought | From the root düşün– "to think." |
| متارکه mütareke | mütareke | antlaşma | armistice | From the noun ant "oath."[1] |
| متعدد müte'addid | müteaddit | birçok | a lot, many | |
| متعفن müte'affin | müteaffin | kokuşuk | malodorous | From the root kok– "to smell." |
| متعهد müte'ahhid* | müteahhit | üstenci** | contractor | |
| متعاقب müte'akib | müteakip | sonra, ardından | after, thereafter | From the adjective arka "behind." |
| متعاليه müte'aliye | mütealiye | deneyüstücülük | transcendentalism | |
| متعلق müteallik | müteallik | ilişkin, ilgili | related (to) | From the Old Turkic root il– "to tie loosely" and "to touch."[1] |
| متعمم müte'ammim | müteammim | yaygınlaşmış, genelleşmiş | something that has widespread | From the root yay– "to radiate."[1] |
| متعارفه müte'arife | mütearife | belit** | axiom | |
| متبقی mütebaki | mütebaki | kalan | remaining | From the root kal– "to remain." |
| متبدل mütebeddil | mütebeddil | değişen, kararsız | one that changes, undecided | From the root değiş– "to change." |
| متبسم mütebessim | mütebessim | gülümseyen, güleç | one that smiles | From the root gül– "to laugh." |
| متجانس mütecanis | 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 müte'essir | müteessir | üzüntülü | sad (person) | From the root üz– "to aggrieve." |
| متفكر mütefekkir | mütefekkir | düşünür | thinker, intellectual | From the root düşün– "to think." |
| متفرق müteferrik | müteferrik | dağınık | untidy | From the root dağıt– "to distribute." |
| متحمل mütehammil | mütehammil | dayanıklı | durable | |
| متحرك müteharrik | müteharrik | devingen, oynar | mobile | |
| محترم 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."[1] |
| متشبث muteşşebbis | müteşebbis | girişimci | entrepreneur | From the root gir– "to enter." |
| متواضع mütevazı' * | mütevazı | alçakgönüllü | humble | |
| متوفی müteveffa | müteveffa | ölü, ölmüş | dead | From the root öl– "to die." |
| متفق müttefik* | müttefik | bağlaşık** | ally | From the root bağla– "to tie."[1] |
| مزایده müzayede | 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 | |
| نصیحت nasihat* | nasihat | öğüt | advice, counsel | |
| نظیر nazır | nazır | bakan | minister | |
| نفس nefes* | nefes | soluk | breath | |
| نفرة nefrat | nefrat | doku | hate | |
| نسیج nesic | nesiç | doku | tissue | |
| نسل nesl* | nesil | kuşak | generation | |
| نتیجه netice* | netice | sonuç | result | From the combination of old Turkic nouns son "end" and uç "latter."[1] |
| نزیف nezif | nezif | kanama | hemorrhage | From the noun kan "blood" |
| نصف nısf | nısıf | yarı(m) | half | From the root yar– "to split."[1] |
| نهایت nihayet* | nihayet | son(unda) | final(ly) | |
| نكاح nikah* | 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."[1] |
| نطق nutk* | nutuk | söylev | speech | Borrowed from Kazakh, where verbs end not in –mek/–mak, but in –v.[1] |
| رفاه refah* | refah | gönenç | prosperity | |
| رغماً ragmen* | rağmen | karşın | despite, in spite of | From the adjective karşı "opposite."[1] |
| رئیس re'is | reis | başkan | president | |
| رأی re'y | rey | oy | vote | |
| رجعت ric'at* | ricat | çekilme | retreat | From the root çek– "to pull."[1] |
| روح ruh* | ruh | tin** | spirit | The Turkish word is almost never used, except in the context of philosophy. |
| رطوبت rutubet* | 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 | |
| صفرا safra* | safra | öd | bile | |
| ساحل sahil* | sahil | kıyı | coast | |
| صاحب sahib* | 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." |
| سیاره seyyare | 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 | |
| سفارت safarat | sefaret | büyükelçilik | embassy | |
| سلامت selamet | selamet | esenlik | health, soundness | |
| سما sema | 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'al | sual | soru | question | From the root sor– "to ask." |
| صلح sulh | sulh | barış | peace | |
| صنع suni' | suni | yapay | artificial | From the root yap– "to make."[1] |
| سكوت sükut | sükût | sessizlik | silence | From the noun ses "voice." |
| شاهد şâhid* | şahit | tanık | witness | From the root tanı– "to recognize." |
| شاعر şa'ir* | şair | ozan | poet | |
| شعير şe'ir | şeir | arpa | barley | |
| شرق şark | şark | doğu | east | From the root doğ– "to be born."[1] |
| شرط şart* | şart | koşul | condition | Coined in 1947 by Nurullah Ataç.[1] |
| شمال şimal | 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.[1] |
| شعاع şu'a' | şua | ışın | ray, gleam | |
| تعلق taalluk | taalluk | ilinti | connection, relation | From the Old Turkic root il– "to tie loosely" and "to touch."[1] |
| طبقه tabaka* | tabaka | katman | layer | From the noun kat "floor." |
| طبيعت tabi'at* | tabiat | doğa | nature | From the root doğ– "to be born." |
| طبیعی tabi'i* | tabii | doğal | natural | From the root doğ– "to be born." |
| تعبير، افاده ta'bîr, ifade* | tabir, ifade | deyiş** | narration | |
| تابعیت tabiiyet | tabiiyet | uyruk | nationality | The word "milliyet" is more commonly used. |
| تحلیل tahlil* | tahlil | inceleme | (laboratory) test (as in medicine) | |
| تخمین tahmin* | tahmin | kestirim** | guess, prediction | From the root kes– "to cut." |
| تعقیب 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."[1] |
| 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 | |
| تصدیق tasdik | tasdik | onay | approve | |
| تصحيح tashîh | tashih | düzeltme | correction | From the adjective düz "even, flat." |
| تصویر tasvir* | tasvir | betimleme | description | |
| طیاره tayyare | tayyare | uçak | airplane | From the root uç– "to fly." |
| توصيه tavsiye* | tavsiye | salık | advice | |
| تعادل te'adül | teadül | denklik | equivalence | From the adjective denk "equal." |
| تعامل te'amül | teamül | tepkime, davranış | reaction, behavior | From the root davran– "to behave." |
| تبسم tebessüm | tebessüm | gülümseme | smile | From the root gül– "to laugh." |
| تبدیل tebdil | tebdil | değişiklik | change | From the root değiş– "to change." |
| تبريك tebrîk* | tebrik | kutlama | congratulate | From the root kutla– "to celebrate." |
| تجلى tecelli | tecelli | belirme | emerge, appear | |
| تجسم tecessüm | tecessüm | görünme | appearance, manifestation | From the root gör– "to see." |
| تجربه tecrübe* | tecrübe | deneyim | experience | From the root dene– "to attempt."[1] |
| تجهیزات techizat* | teçhizat | donanım | equipment | |
| تداوی tedavi* | tedavi | sağaltım** | therapy | |
| تدبیر tedbîr* | tedbir | önlem | precaution | From the root önle– "to prevent." |
| تدریسات tedrіsat | tedrisat | öğretim | teaching | |
| تأثر te'essür | teessür | üzüntü | agony | From the root üz– "to aggrieve." |
| تكامل tekamül | tekâmül | evrim, başkalaşım | maturation, metamorphosis, evolution | |
| تقاعد tekaʻüd | tekaüt | emeklilik | retirement | |
| تكفل tekeffül | tekeffül | yükümlenme | standing surety | |
| تكلیف teklif* | teklif | öneri | proposal | From the root öner– "to propose." |
| تكرار tekrar* | tekrar | yine | again | |
| تلاش telaş* | telaş | tasa, kaygı | worry | |
| تمییز temyiz* | temyiz | yargıtay | Court of Cassation (in modern Turkey) | Borrowed from Chagatai. |
| تناسب tenasüb | tenasüp | uyum | congruity | From the root uy– "to conform." |
| تنبيه tenbih* | tembih | uyarı | warning | From the root uyar– "to warn." |
| ترقی teraḳḳі | terakki | ilerleme | progress | |
| ترجمه tercüme* | tercüme | çeviri | translation | |
| تردد terreddüd* | tereddüt | duraksama | hesitancy | From the root dur– "to halt, stop." |
| ترتیب tertib* | tertip | düzen | order, tidiness | From the root düz– "to align." |
| تأثیر tesir | tesir | etki | effect | From the root et– "to do." |
| تسلی teselli* | teselli | avunma | console | From the root avun– "to console oneself." |
| تشخیص teşhis* | teşhis | tanı | diagnosis | From the root tanı– "to recognize."[1] |
| تشكیلات teşkilat* | teşkilat | örgüt | organization | From the noun örgü "plait."[1] |
| تشكیل teşkil | teşkil etmek | oluşturmak | to constitute | |
| تشرین أول teşrin-i evvel | ekim | October | From the root ek– "to harvest." | |
| تشرین ثانی teşrin-i sani | kasım | November | ||
| تشویق teşvik* | teşvik | özendirme, kışkırtma | (providing) incentive, provocation | |
| تدقیق tedkit* | tetkit | araştırma | research | |
| تولد tevellüd | tevellüt | doğum | birth | From the root doğ– "to be born." |
| تذكار tezkar | tezkâr | anılmaya değer | worth-mentioning | From the root an– "to call to mind."[1] |
| تجارت ticaret* | ticaret | alımsatım | business | |
| عنصر unsur* | unsur | öğe | constituent, element | |
| عنوان unvan* | unvan, ünvan | san | (professional) title | |
| اسلوب üslub* | üslup | biçem** | style | |
| وعد va'd* | vaat | söz | promise (noun) | |
| واقعه vak'a* | vaka | olay | event | From the root ol– "to happen." |
| وقور vakur | vakur | ağır başlı | dignified | The Turkish expression literally means "heavy headed". |
| وصف vasf* | vasıf | nitelik | feature, quality | |
| واسطه vasıta | vasıta | araç | vehicle | |
| وسيع vasi' | vâsi | engin | vast | |
| وطن vatan* | vatan | yurt | homeland | |
| وظیفه vazife* | vazife | görev | task, mission | |
| و ve* | ve | ile | and | From the Old Turkic root il– "to tie loosely" and "to touch."[1] |
| وهم vehm | vehim | kuruntu | apprehension, fancy | |
| ولایت vilayet* | vilayet | il | province | |
| تفسیر tefsir | tefsir | yorum | interpretation, analysis, comment | |
| ضبط zabıt* | zabıt | tutanak | minute of proceeding, trial | From the root tut– "to hold."[1] |
| ضمیر zamir* | zamir | adıl** | pronoun | From the noun ad "noun." |
| زاویه zaviye | zaviye | açı | angle | From the root aç– "to open." |
| ذیقیمت zі-kıymet) | zikıymet | değerli | valuable | The word zikıymet is very rarely used but the word "kıymetli" (also meaning valuable) is used commonly. |
Loanwords of French origin
French words started to infiltrate the Turkish language during Franco-Ottoman alliance, 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 |
| 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* | zıplamak | 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 |
| külot * | don | underpants | culotte |
| kürdan * | ? | tooth pick | cure-dent |
| lenf * | ak kan | lymph | lymphe |
| liste * | dizelge | list | liste |
| lökosit | 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 * | döşenek | 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 * | belirge | 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."[1] |
| برابر beraber* | beraber | birlikte | together | |
| بوسه buse* | buse | öpücük | kiss | |
| جنگ cenk* | cenk | savaş | war | |
| 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."[1] |
| 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* | kurnaz | 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 | |
| نان 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."[1] |
| 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."[1] |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| angarya * | yüklenti | drudgery, forced labor | Greek | αγγαρεία (angareia) | The Turkish word is still unused. |
| endoskopi * | iç görüm ("inside seeing") | endoscopy | Greek (via English) | The Turkish word is less common. | |
| fetüs * | dölüt | fetus | Latin | fetus, foetus | 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 (igemonia) | The Turkish word is more commonly used. |
| İnternet * | Genel Ağ | Internet | English | The Turkish word is still unused. | |
| konsonant | ünsüz | consonant | German[2] | Konsonant | The loanword is now unused. |
| kundura * | ayakkabı | shoe | Italian | condura | The Turkish word is more commonly used. |
| otoban * | otoyol | highway | German | Autobahn | Both the loanword and the Turkish word are used. |
| vokal * | ünlü | vowel | German[3] | Vokal | The loanword is now unused. |
| pezevenk * | dümbük | pimp | Armenian | բոզավագ (bozavag) | The Turkish word is less common. |
See also
Notes
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 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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