tombala
/tom.baˈɫa/
In Turkish, the English phrase bingo can be translated as tombala. Wiktionary also lists kazı-kazan and bingo.
Meaning: game of chance (noun)
Ways to say it
| Turkish | IPA |
|---|---|
| tombala | /tom.baˈɫa/ |
| kazı-kazan | /kazɯkazan/ (from spelling rules) |
| bingo | /binɡo/ (from spelling rules) |
The term tombala refers to the game of chance known as bingo. Additionally, the English loanword bingo is used as an informal exclamation in Turkish to express that something has been correctly identified or found.
Which one should you use?
While bingo is understood, tombala is the standard Turkish name for the game. The term kazı-kazan refers specifically to scratch-off games, which are distinct from the bingo game tombala.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
To say 'to play bingo', use the noun tombala followed by the infinitive verb oynamak to form tombala oynamak.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /tom.baˈɫa/. It has 3 syllables, with the stress on the 3rd syllable. The 'm' sound is like the [m] in 'much' and the 'b' sound is like the [b] in 'about'.
Did you know?
- In Turkey, tombala is a traditional staple of New Year's Eve celebrations, where families gather to play multiple rounds together.
- The word tombala is actually a linguistic traveler from Italy. It is derived from the Italian word 'tombola', which originally referred to a lottery or a drawing.
- Unlike the American version, Turkish tombala is often played with a set of physical wooden markers or small beans to cover the numbers.
Examples in context
- Bingo oynamak nine işidir.Bingo is something that grandmothers play.This sentence uses bingo.Tatoeba #4623162 by soliloquist, translation #4298780 by Lepotdeterre
- Bingo!Bingo!This sentence shows the use of bingo as an exclamation.Tatoeba #7670704 by soliloquist, translation #7670706 by soliloquist
- Bu akşam evde tombala oynuyoruz.We are playing bingo at home this evening.
Example conversation
Two friends are planning a social evening at a cafe.
- ElifBu akşam neler yapalım?What should we do this evening?
- MehmetBelki de tombala oynarız.Maybe we could play bingo.
- ElifHarika bir fikir, Mehmet!That is a great idea, Mehmet!
- MehmetO zaman malzemeleri ben getiririm.Then I will bring the supplies.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bingo” translations and entries tombala, 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 tombala, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
