Ways to say it
| Turkish | IPA |
|---|---|
| güzellik | /ɟyzellic/ (from spelling rules) |
| hüsün | /hyˈsyn/ |
The term güzellik is the standard and most common way to express the quality of pleasing appearance in Turkish. In poetic or literary contexts, specifically when referring to physical beauty, the term Cemal may be used.
Which one should you use?
güzellik is the standard word for beauty, whereas hüsün is a more formal, literary or poetic term used primarily in classical literature.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express 'the beauty of [something]', the word güzellik changes to güzelliği by taking the third-person possessive suffix and the accusative case suffix.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ɟyzellic/. The /ɟ/ sound is like the [g] in 'argue', the /z/ is like the [z] in 'zone', the /i/ is like the [ee] in 'creek' and the /c/ is like the [k] in 'skew'.
Did you know?
- In colloquial Turkish, güzellik can be used as a slang term for a 'favor'. If someone asks for a güzellik, they are not talking about aesthetics but are asking for a special exception or a helpful gesture.
- In traditional Turkish poetry, the 'beauty' of a beloved is often compared to the 'moon' (ay) or a 'cypress tree' (selvi), rather than the flowers often used in English poetry.
- The word hüsün carries a connotation of 'goodness' or 'virtue' in its original Arabic context, implying that true beauty is tied to moral character.
Examples in context
- O gerçek bir güzellik.She is a real beauty.This sentence is useful for demonstrating the use of güzellik to describe a person.Tatoeba #1267294 by duran, translation #317049 by CK
- O düzenli bir güzellik.She is a regular beauty.Tatoeba #1215705 by duran, translation #311505 by CK
- O, güzellik salonuna gitti.She went to the beauty parlor.This sentence is useful for describing a visit to a beauty salon using güzellik.Tatoeba #3926724 by duran, translation #2520306 by Hybrid
- Bugün bir güzellik yarışmasına katıldım ve birinci oldum!Today, I participated in a beauty contest and won the first prize!
- Ayşe, gerçekten güzellikten anlıyorsun!Ayşe, you truly understand beauty!
- Ne kadar güzel bir kız!She's so beautiful!
- O sadece doğal bir güzelliğe sahip.She just has natural beauty.
- 66 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Emre and Selin are looking at a landscape painting in an art gallery.
- EmreBu tablodaki güzellik inanılmaz.The beauty in this painting is incredible.
- SelinEvet, renklerin güzelliği büyüleyici.Yes, the beauty of the colors is enchanting.
- EmreDoğanın güzelliği beni hep etkiler.The beauty of nature always affects me.
- SelinHaklısın, her şey çok estetik.You're right, everything is very aesthetic.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “beauty” translations and entries güzellik, hüsün, 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 güzellik, hüsün, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
