B1 · 43 words

Two words for one thing in Turkish

Older loanwords and newer Turkish words with the same meaning — both in use, both correct.

Practise this list

From these 43 words, as many per round as you like — up to all of them: first what is due today, then new ones. First you choose, then you fill the gap, then you write it yourself. Mistakes come back again shortly.

More about this list

For many things Turkish has two words. One is an older loanword, usually from Arabic or Persian (cevap, kelime, ihtimal); the other was built from Turkish roots in the twentieth century or revived from older Turkish (yanıt, sözcük, olasılık). English has something similar in its pairs of everyday and Latinate words, “answer” and “response”, “ask” and “enquire” — but the Turkish pairs mean exactly the same, and both belong to the standard language. Which one you hear depends on the speaker, the situation and the kind of text: newspapers, school books and technical writing often use the newer word, conversation and fixed phrases often the older. Learn both so that you understand both. Some pairs have drifted apart: millet also means “people, folks” in everyday speech, ulus never does.

The words

Verb (4)

yanıtlamakto answerVerbB1

Sorularınızı yarın yanıtlayacağım.I will answer your questions tomorrow.

What: accusative. With the older word: cevaplamak or -e cevap vermek.

istifade etmekto benefit from, to make use ofVerbB1

Kütüphanenin imkânlarından herkes istifade edebilir.Anyone can make use of the library’s facilities.

From what: ablative. The older word, from Arabic; the newer one is yararlanmak.

yararlanmakto benefit from, to make use ofVerbB1

İndirimden yararlanmak için kartınızı gösterin.Show your card to get the discount.

From what: ablative. The newer word; the older one is istifade etmek.

anımsamakto remember, to recallVerbB1

O günü hâlâ çok iyi anımsıyorum.I still remember that day very well.

What: accusative. The newer word; in everyday speech people mostly say hatırlamak.

Noun (34)

Grammar for these: No article, no gender · The plural with -ler and -lar

yanıtanswer, replyNounB1

Mektubuma hâlâ bir yanıt gelmedi.There has still been no reply to my letter.

The newer word; the older one is cevap. Does not soften: yanıtı.

sualquestionNounB1

Size bir sualim olacak.I have a question for you.

An older word from Arabic, rare today; it sounds old-fashioned. The usual word is soru.

kelimewordNounB1

Bu kelimeyi nasıl yazıyoruz?How do you spell this word?

The older word, from Arabic; the newer one is sözcük.

sözcükwordNounB1

Bu sözcüğün iki anlamı var.This word has two meanings.

The newer word, built from söz; the older one is kelime. The k softens: sözcüğü.

ihtimalprobability, possibilityNounB1

Bu akşam yağmur yağma ihtimali var.It might rain this evening.

The older word, from Arabic; the newer one is olasılık.

imkânpossibility, opportunityNounB1

Bu yaz tatile çıkma imkânımız yok.We have no chance of going on holiday this summer.

The older word, from Arabic; the newer one is olanak. The â makes the k before it soft.

olanakpossibility, opportunityNounB1

Şirket çalışanlarına evden çalışma olanağı tanıyor.The company gives its staff the opportunity to work from home.

The newer word; the older one is imkân. The k softens: olanağı.

misalexampleNounB1

Sana bir misal vereyim.Let me give you an example.

The older word, from Arabic; the usual one is örnek. In conversation also “for instance” at the start of a sentence.

meselequestion, matter, issueNounB1

Mesele para değil, zaman.It is not about money, it is about time.

The older word, from Arabic; the newer one for “problem” is sorun.

tümcesentence (grammar)NounB1

Bu tümcede yüklem en sonda.In this sentence the predicate comes right at the end.

The newer word, used mainly in language teaching; in everyday speech people mostly say cümle.

lisanlanguageNounB1

Dedem üç lisan bilirdi.My grandfather knew three languages.

The older word, from Arabic; the usual one is dil.

hikâyestoryNounB1

Babaannem bize her akşam bir hikâye anlatırdı.My grandmother told us a story every evening.

The older word, from Arabic; the newer one, rather for the literary short story, is öykü.

öyküstory, short storyNounB1

Bu kitapta on iki kısa öykü var.There are twelve short stories in this book.

The newer word; the older one is hikâye.

evrenuniverseNounB1

Evrenin ne kadar büyük olduğunu hayal bile edemiyorum.I cannot even imagine how big the universe is.

The newer word; the older one is kâinat.

kâinatuniverseNounB1

Dedem kâinat hakkında kitaplar okumayı severdi.My grandfather liked reading books about the universe.

The older word, from Arabic; the newer one is evren.

bilimscienceNounB1

Kızım bilime ve teknolojiye çok meraklı.My daughter is very interested in science and technology.

The newer word, built from bilmek “to know”; the older one is ilim.

ilimscience, knowledgeNounB1

İlim öğrenmenin yaşı yoktur.You are never too old to learn.

The older word, from Arabic, today mostly in set phrases; the vowel drops before endings: ilmi.

tabiatnature; temperamentNounB1

Dedem tabiatı çok sever, her sabah ormanda yürür.My grandfather loves nature, he walks in the woods every morning.

The older word, from Arabic; the newer one for “nature” is doğa.

istikbalfutureNounB1

Babam her zaman çocuklarının istikbalini düşünür.My father always thinks about his children’s future.

The older word, from Arabic, formal today; the usual one is gelecek.

hürriyetfreedom, libertyNounB1

Kafesteki kuş sonunda hürriyetine kavuştu.The bird in the cage finally got its freedom.

The older word, from Arabic; the newer one is özgürlük. hürriyetine kavuşmak “to be set free”.

milletnation, people; folksNounB1

Maçtan sonra millet sokaklara döküldü.After the match people poured out into the streets.

The older word, from Arabic; the newer one for “nation” is ulus. Only millet also means “people, folks” colloquially.

ulusnationNounB1

Her ulusun kendine özgü gelenekleri vardır.Every nation has its own traditions.

The newer word; the older one is millet.

tecrübeexperienceNounB1

Bu işte on yıllık tecrübem var.I have ten years’ experience in this job.

The older word, from Arabic; the newer one is deneyim.

ihtiyaçneedNounB1

Yardıma ihtiyacın olursa beni ara.If you need help, call me.

What is needed: dative, yardıma ihtiyaç. The older word, from Arabic; the newer one is gereksinim. The ç softens: ihtiyacı.

gereksinimneed, requirementNounB1

Bitkilerin ışığa gereksinimi vardır.Plants need light.

What is needed: dative. The newer word, mainly written; the older one is ihtiyaç.

medeniyetcivilisationNounB1

Anadolu tarih boyunca birçok medeniyete ev sahipliği yaptı.Throughout history Anatolia has been home to many civilisations.

The older word, from Arabic; the newer one is uygarlık.

uygarlıkcivilisationNounB1

Mezopotamya ilk uygarlıkların doğduğu yerlerden biridir.Mesopotamia is one of the places where the first civilisations arose.

The newer word; the older one is medeniyet. The k softens: uygarlığı.

keztime (occasion)NounB1

Bu filmi üç kez izledim.I have seen this film three times.

Three words for “time” in “three times”, all in use and mostly interchangeable: kez, kere, defa. Singular after a number.

keretime (occasion)NounB1

Sana kaç kere söyledim!How many times have I told you!

Very common in speech; also for multiplying: üç kere dört “three times four”.

defatime (occasion)NounB1

Seni iki defa aradım ama açmadın.I called you twice, but you did not answer.

A loanword from Arabic. Set phrases: ilk defa “for the first time”, bu defa “this time”.

hatıramemory; souvenir, keepsakeNounB1

Bu saat dedemden bir hatıra.This watch is a keepsake from my grandfather.

The older word; the newer one is anı.

anımemory (recollection)NounB1

Çocukluğumdan güzel anılarım var.I have lovely memories of my childhood.

The newer word; the older one is hatıra. Not to be confused with an “moment”.

şartcondition, requirementNounB1

Bu iş için ehliyet şart.A driving licence is a requirement for this job.

The older word; the newer one is koşul.

koşulconditionNounB1

Sözleşmenin koşullarını dikkatle okuyun.Read the terms of the contract carefully.

The newer word; the older one is şart.

Adjective (3)

Grammar for these: The adjective comes first and stays the same · Bigger and biggest: “daha” and “en”

mecburicompulsoryAdjectiveB1

Bu toplantıya katılmak mecburi değil.Attending this meeting is not compulsory.

The older word, from Arabic; the newer one is zorunlu. In everyday speech also “forced”: mecbur kaldım “I had no choice”.

umumipublic, generalAdjectiveB1

Parkın yanında umumi bir tuvalet var.There is a public toilet next to the park.

The older word; the newer one is genel.

genelgeneralAdjectiveB1

Bu genel bir kural, istisnaları da var.This is a general rule; there are exceptions too.

The newer word; the older one is umumi.

Adverb (2)

Grammar for these: Adverbs: “-ce”, doubling and intensifying

nispetenrelatively, comparativelyAdverbB1

Bugün hava nispeten serin.It is relatively cool today.

The older word, from Arabic; the newer one is görece.

görecerelativelyAdverbB1

Bu mahalle merkeze göre görece sessiz.This area is relatively quiet compared with the centre.

The newer word; the older one is nispeten.

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This list belongs to Everyday life in Turkey — four lists and 163 words that can also be practised as a whole.

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