30 Unique And Weird Turkish Words

Hello language lovers! Turkish, as a rich and ancient language, is full of weird and wonderful words that sometimes push the boundaries of logic and are sometimes hidden in daily life. Here are 30 unique words that will make you smile, surprise you, and invite you into the depths of Turkish!

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1. Yalabımak

Meaning To shine brightly, to radiate light

Example Sentence

• Turkish Karanlıkta yıldızlar yalabıyordu.
• English The stars were shining brightly in the dark.

Short Dialogue

• A Şu karşıki dağın zirvesine bak, güneş vurmuş yalabıyor!" Look at that mountain peak over there, the sun is hitting it, it's shining!
• B Vay canına, adeta ateş içinde! Wow, it's as if it's on fire!

2. Çıngar

Meaning Noisy fight, commotion, racket

Example Sentence

• Turkish Komşulardan yine bir çıngar sesi geldi.
• English A racket of arguing came from the neighbors again.

Short Dialogue

• A Dün akşam sokakta neler oldu öyle? What happened on the street last night?
• B İki araba küçük bir çarpışma yaptı, ama çıngar çıkarmaya gerek yoktu. Two cars had a minor collision, but there was no need to make such a big fuss.

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3. Zımbırtı

Meaning A small, odd-looking tool whose name you can't remember; a gizmo, a doodad, a thingamajig

Example Sentence

• Turkish Çekmeceyi açtı, içinden türlü zımbırtılar çıktı.
• English He opened the drawer, and all sorts of gadgets and gizmos came out of it.

Short Dialogue

• A Bu zımbırtı da ne? What is this thingamajig?
• B Onun adı mandal, çamaşır asmaya yarıyor! It's called a clothespin, it's for hanging laundry!

4. Mırın kırın etmek

Meaning To whine and make excuses to avoid doing something

Example Sentence

• Turkish Ödevini yap, sakın mırın kırın etme!
• English Do your homework, don't whine and make excuses!

Short Dialogue

• A Haydi, parka gidiyoruz. Come on, we're going to the park.
• B Ama üşüyorum, biraz yoruldum da..." But I'm cold, and I'm a little tired...
• A Yeter, mırın kırın etmeden hazırlan! Enough, get ready without all the whining!

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5. Dırdır

Meaning Constant, annoying, complaining noise; persistent nagging

Example Sentence

• Turkish Sürekli aynı dırdır, dayanamıyorum!
• English The same constant nagging, I can't stand it!

Short Dialogue

• A Odanı topla, ödevini bitir, televizyonu kapat... Tidy your room, finish your homework, turn off the TV...
• B Anne, yeter artık, bu dırdır hiç bitmiyor! Mom, enough already, this nagging never ends!

6. Zıpçıktı

Meaning A worthless, frivolous person who rises quickly and becomes arrogant just as fast; an upstart

Example Sentence

• Turkish O zıpçıktının laflarına aldırma.
• English Don't mind the words of that upstart.

Short Dialogue

• A Yeni müdür kimseyi takmıyor. The new manager doesn't care about anyone.
• B Bırak onu, biraz zıpçıktının biri, alışır. Forget him, he's a bit of an upstart, he'll get used to it.

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7. Külüstür

Meaning An old, dilapidated vehicle or object that surprisingly still works; a rattletrap, a jalopy

Example Sentence

• Turkish O külüstür arabayla dağa tırmanabildik.
• English We managed to climb the mountain in that old rattletrap of a car.

Short Dialogue

• A Bu bisikletle mi gideceğiz? Are we going to go on this bicycle?
• B Evet, bu külüstür hâlâ çok sadık! Yes, this old jalopy is still very loyal!

8. Fingirdemek

Meaning To fidget, to move slightly and restlessly or excitedly while standing in place

Example Sentence

• Turkish Sınav sonucunu beklerken bütün gün fingirdedi.
• English She fidgeted all day while waiting for the exam result.

Short Dialogue

• A Neden yerinde duramıyorsun? Why can't you stay still?
• B Çok heyecanlıyım, fingirdemeden duramıyorum. I'm so excited, I can't help fidgeting.

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9. Şappadak

Meaning Suddenly, unexpectedly, all of a sudden

Example Sentence

• Turkish Lambalar şappadak söndü.
• English The lights went out all of a sudden.

Short Dialogue

• A Konuşurken neden sustun? Why did you go silent while talking?
• B Ne diyeceğimi şappadak unuttum! I suddenly forgot what I was going to say!

10. Cırcır

Meaning 1) Green beans, 2) A noisy, clamorous person

Example Sentence

• Turkish Çocuklar bahçede cırcır gibi bağrışıyordu. / Akşam yemeğinde cırcır (börülce) pişmiş.
• English The kids were shouting like a bunch of noisy crickets in the garden. / We had black-eyed peas for dinner.

Short Dialogue

• A Komşunun çocuğu yine ağlıyor. The neighbor's kid is crying again.
• B Biliyorum, tam bir cırcır o. I know, he's a real noisy one.

11. Hırdavat

Meaning Small hand tools, various small items like screws and nails; hardware

Example Sentence

• Turkish Babam hırdavat çekmecesini düzenliyor.
• English My father is organizing his hardware drawer.

Short Dialogue

• A Tabloyu asmam için bir çivi lazım. I need a nail to hang the picture.
• B Hırdavat kutusunda vardır mutlaka, bak. It must be in the hardware box, have a look.

12. Pırtmak

Meaning (Slang) To run away quickly, to skedaddle, to scram

Example Sentence

• Turkish "Polisleri görünce hepsi pırtıp gitti.
• English When they saw the police, they all skedaddled.

Short Dialogue

• A Yağmur başlamadan hemen pırtalım mı? Should we scram before the rain starts?
• B İyi fikir, hadi kaçalım! Good idea, let's get out of here!

13. Sümüklü

Meaning Slow, sluggish, acting reluctantly

Example Sentence

• Turkish Sümüklü sümüklü yürüme, geç kalacağız!
• English Don't drag your feet, we'll be late!

Short Dialogue

• A Ödevini bitirdin mi? Did you finish your homework?
• B Şey... Henüz değil. Well... not yet.
• A Sümüklü olma, hemen başla! Don't be so sluggish, start right away!

14. Gıcık olmak

Meaning To be annoyed or irritated by someone or something

Example Sentence

• Turkish O yapay gülüşünden gıcık oluyorum.
• English I am really annoyed by her fake smile.

Short Dialogue

• A Niye onunla konuşmuyorsun? Why aren't you talking to him?
• B Bana patronluk taslamasına gıcık oluyorum. I'm really irritated by him acting like he's my boss.

15. Bızdık

Meaning A small, tiny child; a little tike

Example Sentence

• Turkish Parkta oynayan şu bızdıklara bak, ne kadar enerjikler.
• English Look at those little tikes playing in the park, how energetic they are.

Short Dialogue

• A Bu resimde kim var? Who is in this picture?
• B O benim, daha bir bızdıkken çekilmiş. That's me, it was taken when I was just a little tike.

16. Kıkırdamak

Meaning To giggle, to laugh in a low, suppressed manner

Example Sentence

• Turkish Arkadaşının fıkrasına sessizce kıkırdadı.
• English She giggled quietly at her friend's joke.

Short Dialogue

• A Derste ne oldu öyle? What happened in class?
• B Arkadaşım komik bir şey söyledi, kıkırdamaktan kendimi alamadım. My friend said something funny, I couldn't help giggling.

17. Zırıl zırıl

Meaning (Crying) Violently, bawling one's eyes out

Example Sentence

• Turkish Düşüp dizini kanatınca zırıl zırıl ağlamaya başladı.
• English When he fell and scraped his knee, he started bawling his eyes out.

Short Dialogue

• A Bebek neden ağlıyor? Why is the baby crying?
• B Uyandı ve annesini göremeyince zırıl zırıl oldu. He woke up and when he couldn't see his mother, he started bawling.

18. Mıncıklamak

Meaning To squeeze, pinch, or knead gently and repeatedly with the hand

Example Sentence

• Turkish Stres topunu elinde mıncıklayıp duruyor.
• English He keeps squeezing the stress ball in his hand.

Short Dialogue

• A Yanakları neden kıpkırmızı? Why are his cheeks all red?
• B Teyzesi gelip durmadan mıncıkladı da ondan. His aunt came and kept pinching them, that's why.

19. Cıvıtmak

Meaning To act up, to become overly excited and unruly

Example Sentence

• Turkish Çok şeker yiyince çocuklar cıvıtıyor.
• English When they eat too much candy, the kids get all hyper.

Short Dialogue

• A Sınıf neden bu kadar gürültülü? Why is the classroom so noisy?
• B Öğretmen yok, biraz cıvıttılar. The teacher isn't here, they acted up a bit.

20. Fırfır

Meaning A frill, a ruffled or lacy decorative trim on clothing or fabric

Example Sentence

• Turkish Yastıkların hepsinde beyaz fırfırlar var.
• English All the pillows have white frills on them.

Short Dialogue

• A Bu elbisenin fırfırları çok şık durmuş. The frills on this dress look very chic.
• B Teşekkür ederim, ben de çok beğendim. Thank you, I liked them a lot too.

21. Hımhım

Meaning A person who talks through their nose, with a nasal voice

Example Sentence

• Turkish Soğuk algınlığı yüzünden iki gündür hımhım gibi konuşuyor.
• English Because of the cold, she's been talking like she has a stuffed nose for two days.

Short Dialogue

• A Seni telefonda tanıyamadım. I didn't recognize you on the phone.
• B Özür dilerim, burnum tıkalıydı, hımhım olmuştum. Sorry, my nose was blocked, I sounded all nasal.

22. Şıpıdık

Meaning Cute, dainty, and a bit fancy (usually for shoes)

Example Sentence

• Turkish Partiye şıpıdık bir çift ayakkabı aldı.
• English She bought a cute and dainty pair of shoes for the party.

Short Dialogue

• A Bu kadar topuklu ayakkabıyla nasıl yürüyorsun? How do you walk in such high-heeled shoes?
• B Alıştım artık bu şıpıdıklara. I'm used to these dainty shoes now.

23. Pıtrak gibi

Meaning (Springing up) Like mushrooms, very frequently and densely

Example Sentence

• Turkish Şehirde yeni binalar pıtrak gibi bitiyor.
• English New buildings are springing up like mushrooms in the city.

Short Dialogue

• A Bu cafeler nereden çıktı? Where did all these cafes come from?
• B Son bir yıldır pıtrak gibi çoğaldılar. They've been multiplying like crazy for the past year.

24. Tıngır elek, tıngır saç

Meaning Flat broke, penniless (onomatopoeic for having nothing but the sound of empty metal)

Example Sentence

• Turkish İşten atılalı beri tıngır elek tıngır saç kaldık.
• English Since I got fired, we've been flat broke.

Short Dialogue

• A Biraz borç alabilir miyim? Can I borrow some money?
• B Kusura bakma, ben de tıngır elek tıngır saçım. Sorry, I'm flat broke too.

25. Fırdöndü

Meaning 1) A swivel (in fishing tackle), 2) A person who is constantly spinning or moving

Example Sentence

• Turkish Oltanın ipine fırdöndü takmayı unutma. / Çocuk fırdöndü gibi, yerinde durmuyor.
• English Don't forget to attach a swivel to the fishing line. / The kid is like a spinning top, he won't stay still.

Short Dialogue

• A Bu minik parça ne işe yarıyor? What is this little part for?
• B O bir fırdöndü, misinanın kendi etrafında dönüp dolaşmasını engeller. It's a swivel, it prevents the fishing line from twisting around itself.

26. Cıbıldak

Meaning Stark naked, wearing very little clothing (usually for children)

Example Sentence

• Turkish Yazın sıcağında çocuklar cıbıldak dolaşmak istiyor.
• English In the summer heat, the kids want to run around stark naked.

Short Dialogue

• A Biraz üşümedin mi? Aren't you a bit cold?
• B Hayır, ev sıcak, cıbıldak dolaşmak en iyisi. No, the house is warm, it's best to walk around naked.

27. Hızlıca

Meaning Quickly, swiftly

Example Sentence

• Turkish Yağmur başlamadan markete hızlıca uğrayalım.
• English Let's quickly stop by the market before the rain starts.

Short Dialogue

• A Toplantıya yetişebilecek miyiz? Will we make it to the meeting on time?
• B Evet, hızlıca hazırlanırsak. Yes, if we get ready quickly.

28. Pıt

Meaning A small, light sound; a drip; in child language: a little bit

Example Sentence

• Turkish Musluktan su pıt pıt damlıyordu. / Bana bir pıt ekmek verir misin?
• English Water was dripping from the tap. / Can you give me a little bit of bread?

Short Dialogue

• A Sessiz ol, uyuyor. Be quiet, he's sleeping.
• B Pardon, pıt diye bir ses çıkardı. Sorry, I made a little sound.

29. Sıyırık

Meaning (Derogatory) A loose, shameless, unruly woman

Example Sentence

• Turkish O sıyırığın laflarına hiç aldırma.
• English Don't pay any attention to the words of that shameless hussy.

Short Dialogue

• A Niye herkes ondan uzak duruyor? Why is everyone staying away from her?
• B Biraz sıyırık çünkü, dedikodu yapmayı çok sever. Because she's a bit of a loose cannon, she loves to gossip.

30. Zıpzıp

Meaning Bouncy, energetic, lively (usually a child)

Example Sentence

• Turkish Zıpzıp gibi bir çocuk, peşinde koşmaktan yoruldum.
• English He's such a bouncy and energetic kid, I'm tired from running after him.

Short Dialogue

• A Yeğenin nasıl? How is your nephew?
• B Sağ olsun, bir zıpzıp, hiç durmuyor! He's fine, a real live wire, he never stops!

We hope these weird and unique Turkish words have given you pleasure and perhaps even inspired you to add a few to your daily conversation. Language is like a living entity; by using these words, we keep them alive. Until the next post, goodbye!

This blog post was prepared with reference to the Turkish Language Association's Contemporary Turkish Dictionary and usage in colloquial language.

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