Ways to say it
| Turkish | IPA |
|---|---|
| teyze | /ˈtej.ze/ |
| hala | /hɑˈɫɑ/ |
| bibi | /biˈbi/ |
| eme | /eme/ (from spelling rules) |
| yenge | /ˈjeɲˌɟe/ /jeɲˈɟe/ (vocative) |
teyze is often used as a polite way to address any older woman, even if she is not a relative.
Which one should you use?
Turkish distinguishes between specific types of aunts. teyze refers specifically to a mother's sister, while hala refers specifically to a father's sister. If you are referring to an aunt by marriage, specifically the wife of an uncle, you use yenge. The term bibi is a colloquial form, and eme is also a term for an aunt.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The term bibi is a colloquial way to say aunt. teyze can be used as a polite way to address older women who are not related to you.
How does it change in a sentence?
To say 'his/her aunt', you add the possessive suffix -si to teyze to create teyzesi.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of teyze is /ˈtej.ze/. The first syllable is stressed. The 'j' sound is like the [y] in the English word 'yes', and the 'z' sound is like the [z] in the English word 'zone'.
Did you know?
- Using teyze for an older woman is a cultural norm, but using it for a woman who is too young may be seen as an insult to her appearance.
- The word bibi has roots in Persian, where it was a title of respect used for high-ranking women or ladies of the house.
- If you address a woman much older than yourself as teyze, it signals warmth and social closeness rather than just formal distance.
Examples in context
- Teyzen ne iş yapar?What does your aunt do?This sentence is useful for asking about the occupation of a teyze.Tatoeba #1272475 by duran, translation #17411 by CK
- Hasta teyze iç çekti.The ailing aunt let out a sigh.This sentence shows the use of teyze in a descriptive context.Tatoeba #5697208 by duran, translation #3161178 by Theocracy
- Halamın üç çocuğu var.My aunt has three children.This sentence demonstrates the use of hala for a paternal aunt.Tatoeba #714773 by duran, translation #64930 by CK
- Hoş geldiniz teyze! Nasılsınız?Welcome, aunt! How are you?
- Lütfen sofraya buyurun, teyze.Please, come to the table, aunt.
- Hala, nasılsın?Aunt, how are you?
- 213 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Burak and Selin are talking about family members at a cafe.
- BurakTeyzen bugün gelecek mi?Is your aunt coming today?
- SelinEvet, teyzem saat beşte burada olacak.Yes, my aunt will be here at five.
- BurakTeyzene benden selam söyle.Give my regards to your aunt.
- SelinÇok teşekkür ederim, söyleyeceğim.Thank you very much, I will tell her.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “aunt” translations and entries teyze, hala, bibi, yenge, 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.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bibi, hala, teyze, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
