Turkish/Lesson Nine - Kinship

Turkish makes a number of distinctions that English does not. As a result, Turkish often has more than one kinship term corresponding to a single English term.

There is more than one word in Turkish for saying uncle, aunt, grand mother etc..

Anne - Mother

Baba - Father

Kardeş - Sibling / Brother or sister younger than you

Abla - Sister older than you

Ağabey (Abi) - Brother older than you

Oğul - Son

Kız - Daughter (also means Girl)

Çocuk - Daughter and son (also means child)

Evlat = Çocuk (Rare)

In Turkish there are three kinds of uncles and three kinds of aunts. Your mother's brother is your dayı, your father's brother your amca. An uncle who is related only by marriage, not by blood, that is, your mother's sister's husband or your father's sister's husband, is your enişte. Similarly, your mother's sister is your teyze, your father's sister your hala. An aunt who is related only by marriage, that is, your mother's brother's wife or your father's brother's wife, is your yenge.

Kuzen - Cousin

Yeğen - Niece/Nephew

Anneanne - Grandmother (Your mother's mother)

Babaanne - Grandmother (Your father's mother)

Dede - Grandfather

Büyük anne - Grandmother

Büyük baba - Grandfather

Eş - Wife or husband

Karı - Wife

Hanım = Karı (Polite)

Koca - Husband

Bey = Koca (Polite)

Kayınpeder (Kaynata) - Father in law (Your wife or husband's father)

Kayınvalide (Kaynana) - Mother in law (Your wife or husband's mother)

Dünür - The father-in-law or mother-in-law of your child

Kayınbirader - brother in law

Baldız - Wife's sister

Bacanak - Wife's sister's husband

Görümce - Your husband's sister or your brother's wife

Elti - Your husband's brother's wife