melek
/meˈlec/
The Turkish word for angel is melek. Wiktionary also lists ferişte.
Meaning: messenger from a deity (noun)
Ways to say it
| Turkish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| melek | /meˈlec/ | |
| ferişte | /fe.ɾiʃˈte/ | archaic |
melek refers to a messenger from a deity. Similar to English, it is often used metaphorically to describe a person who is exceptionally kind or innocent. In informal settings, you can use the form Meleğim to mean "my angel" as a term of endearment. If you are addressing a group of people who are dear to you, you can use Meleğimiz. To tell an individual "you are our angel," use Meleğimizsin.
Which one should you use?
melek is the standard form, while ferişte is an archaic form of the word.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Meleğim, Meleğimiz and Meleğimizsin are informal variations used for endearment. ferişte is archaic.
How do you pronounce it?
/meˈlec/. The /m/ sound is like the [m] in much and the /c/ sound is like the [k] in skew.
Did you know?
- While melek comes from Arabic, the archaic ferişte reveals a Persian layer of history in the Turkish language.
- In some traditional Turkish beliefs, the term melek can be used to describe guardian spirits that protect humans from harm.
- In Turkish, the word melek is also used to describe the concept of a 'perfect' person, but it can be used ironically to describe someone who is being 'too good to be true' or even suspicious.
Examples in context
- O tam bir melektir.She's an absolute angel.This sentence shows how to use melek to describe someone as an absolute angel.Tatoeba #3042391 by Themis06, translation #315919 by Swift
- Tom bir melek değil.Tom is no angel.This sentence uses melek in a negative context to say someone is no angel.Tatoeba #4280628 by duran, translation #3956454 by CK
- Sen bir melek misin?Are you an angel?This sentence uses melek to ask if someone is an angel.Tatoeba #5678982 by duran, translation #5671839 by Hybrid
- Bu resimde bir melek gördüm.I saw an angel in this painting.
- Meleğimizsin. Seni her zaman koruyacağız.You are our angel. We will always protect you.
- 40 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Zeynep and Can are discussing a painting of a spiritual scene.
- ZeynepBu resimdeki melek çok güzel görünüyor.The angel in this painting looks very beautiful.
- CanEvet, kanatları gerçekten etkileyici.Yes, the wings are truly impressive.
- ZeynepSence melekler gerçekten var mı?Do you think angels really exist?
- CanBence kesinlikle varlar.I think they definitely exist.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “angel” translations and entries melek, ferişte, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ferişte, melek, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
