Ways to say it
| Turkish | IPA |
|---|---|
| havalimanı | /ha.vaˈli.ma.nɯ/ |
| havaalanı | /ha.vaˈa.ɫa.nɯ/ |
Both havalimanı and havaalanı are used to describe a place designated for airplanes.
What does it mean word for word?
The word havaalanı is a compound of hava (air) and alan (area/field). The word havalimanı is a compound of hava (air) and liman (port).
Which one should you use?
While both mean airport, havalimanı is more commonly used for large, international airports, whereas havaalanı can refer to smaller airfields or airports.
How does it change in a sentence?
When using the dative case (to/towards), the final vowel of havalimanı changes to 'a' due to vowel harmony, resulting in havalimanına. To say 'at the airport', the locative suffix -da is added to the end of havalimanı, resulting in havalimanında.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 5 syllables with the stress on the 3rd syllable. The sounds are: /h/ as in [h]ome, /v/ as in [v]ase, /i/ as in cr[ee]k, /m/ as in [m]uch, /n/ as in [n]ot and /ɯ/ somewhat like ribb[o]n.
Did you know?
- The word liman in havalimanı refers specifically to a sea port. Turkish treats the air as an ocean and the airport as a harbor for aircraft.
- While havaalanı can be used for any airfield, the specific term pist is used for the runway, which is a loanword from the French piste.
- The word alan in havaalanı comes from the verb almak, which means 'to take'. It literally describes the area that 'takes' or receives the aircraft.
Examples in context
- Havaalanı ne kadar uzak?How far away is the airport?This sentence is useful for asking about the distance to the havaalanı.Tatoeba #475421 by deyta, translation #578779 by langulo
- O beni havaalanından aldı.He picked me up at the airport.This sentence is useful for describing being picked up at the havaalanı.Tatoeba #10688476 by merveekeskin, translation #10688471 by felidad
- Az önce havaalanına vardım.I've just arrived at the airport.This sentence is useful for stating that you have arrived at the havaalanı.Tatoeba #1612211 by duran, translation #241553 by CK
- İstanbul Havalimanı'na ineceğim.I will land at Istanbul Airport.
- Sabah erken kalkıp havaalanına gideceğim.I will wake up early and go to the airport in the morning.
- 394 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Burak and Merve are planning their travel route.
- BurakHavalimanına nasıl gideceğiz?How will we go to the airport?
- MerveOtobüsle gidebiliriz.We can go by bus.
- BurakHavalimanı otobüsü kaçta kalkıyor?What time does the airport bus leave?
- MerveOtobüs yarım saat sonra kalkıyor.The bus leaves in half an hour.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “airport” translations and entries havalimanı, havaalanı, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
