Ways to say it
| Turkish | IPA |
|---|---|
| çanta | /ˈt͡ʃan.ta/ |
| poşet | /pɔˈʃet/ |
| torba | /toɾ.bɑ/ |
The term refers to a flexible container. Depending on the material and purpose, different words are used: çanta is a general term for bags, poşet specifically refers to a plastic bag and torba refers to larger, heavy-duty containers like sacks or pouches. Related terms include sırt çantası (backpack), el çantası (handbag), valiz (suitcase) and cüzdan (wallet). You might also use çanta askısı to refer to a bag strap.
Which one should you use?
Use poşet specifically for plastic bags. Use torba for larger, often fabric or heavy-duty containers such as sacks or pouches.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the plural 'bags', use çantalar. To express the genitive case 'of the bag', use çantanın.
How do you pronounce it?
çanta is pronounced /ˈtʃan.ta/. The first syllable uses the [ch] sound from the English word 'change' and the second syllable uses the [n] sound from the English word 'not'. The stress is on the first of the two syllables.
When do people say it?
In Turkish supermarkets, you will often be asked if you want a poşet (plastic bag) for your items.
Did you know?
- The term torba yasa refers to a 'bundle law' or 'omnibus bill', where multiple unrelated legal changes are packed into one single piece of legislation.
- The word poşet is a loanword from the French 'pochette', which refers to a small pocket or pouch.
- The word torba is frequently used in traditional contexts, such as torba peynir, where cheese is aged in a cloth bag to drain the whey.
Examples in context
- Bu çantada ne var?What's in this bag?This sentence is useful for asking what is inside a specific çanta.Tatoeba #1259202 by duran, translation #450136 by CK
- Bir çantan var mı?Do you have a bag?This sentence is useful for asking if someone possesses a çanta.Tatoeba #1478594 by duran, translation #1245267 by CM
- Ne ağır bir çanta!What a heavy bag!This sentence is useful for commenting on the weight of a çanta.Tatoeba #2024341 by duran, translation #36013 by CM
- Bir çanta alabilir miyim?Can I get a bag?
- Bir torba isteyebilir miyim?Can I ask for a bag?
- Bu çanta çok şirin, çantacığına bayıldım!This bag is so cute, I love your little bag!
- Nereye giderseniz gidin, lütfen çantanızı gözünüzden ayırmayın.Wherever you go, please don't lose sight of your bag.
- 500 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Burak and Zeynep are preparing to go out.
- BurakÇantan hazır mı?Is your bag ready?
- ZeynepEvet, çantamı aldım.Yes, I took my bag.
- BurakTamam, hadi gidelim.Okay, let's go.
- ZeynepBekle, anahtarımı almalıyım.Wait, I must take my key.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bag” translations and entries çanta, poşet, torba, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries poşet, torba, çanta, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
