kayısı
/ka.jɯˈsɯ/
The English word apricot is translated into Turkish as kayısı. Wiktionary also lists zerdali.
Meaning: fruit (noun)
Ways to say it
| Turkish | IPA |
|---|---|
| kayısı | /ka.jɯˈsɯ/ |
| zerdali | /zeɾdali/ (from spelling rules) |
The word refers to the fruit of the apricot tree.
Is it said differently in some regions?
While kayısı is the standard word for apricot, zerdali is a synonym often used in certain regional dialects or older literature.
How does it change in a sentence?
To talk about the apricot pit, you combine the noun with the word for seed: kayısı çekirdeği. To describe dried apricots, place the word for dry after the noun to get kayısı kurusu.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 3 syllables, with the stress on the 3rd syllable. The pronunciation is /ka.jɯˈsɯ/. The sounds are like the [c] in core, the [y] in yes, the [s] in send and the middle vowel is somewhat like the vowel in ribb[o]n.
Did you know?
- Turkish cuisine uses kayısı not just in sweets, but also in savory dishes like stews and meat tagines.
- In Turkish culture, kayısı is famously associated with the city of Malatya, which produces a huge majority of the country's apricots.
- In traditional Turkish medicine, kayısı çekirdeği is often consumed for its believed health benefits, rather than being discarded.
Examples in context
- Sami kayısı brendisi içti.Sami drank apricot brandy.This sentence shows how to use kayısı in the context of brandy.Tatoeba #6729952 by deyta, translation #6715551 by OsoHombre
- Hiç kayısı çekirdeği yuttun mu?Have you ever swallowed an apricot pit?This sentence uses kayısı to ask about swallowing a pit.Tatoeba #3935850 by duran, translation #1725460 by Amastan
- Bahçesine üç kayısı ağacı dikti.He planted three apricot trees in his yard.This sentence demonstrates using kayısı when referring to trees.Tatoeba #8574938 by Cumle_Kurucu, translation #8575244 by ET
- Lütfen bir kilo kayısı alabilir miyim?Can I please have a kilogram of apricots?
- 7 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Zeynep and Can are at a local fruit market.
- ZeynepBu kayısılar çok taze görünüyor.These apricots look very fresh.
- CanEvet, bir kilo alalım mı?Yes, shall we buy a kilo?
- ZeynepOlur, canım tatlı bir şeyler istiyor.Okay, I want something sweet.
- CanO zaman hemen taze kayısı alalım.Then let's buy fresh apricots immediately.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “apricot” translations and entries kayısı, zerdali, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Turkish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
