Ways to say it
| Turkish | IPA |
|---|---|
| erkek arkadaş | /eɾcec aɾkadaʃ/ (from spelling rules) |
| sevgili | /sev.ɟiˈli/ |
In Turkish, you use erkek arkadaş to refer to a male partner in a romantic relationship. This specific term helps distinguish a boyfriend from a female friend (kız arkadaş).
What does it mean word for word?
The term erkek arkadaş literally translates to "male friend".
Which one should you use?
While erkek arkadaş is the standard way to specify a "boyfriend", the term sevgili is more romantic and gender-neutral. Sevgili can be translated as "lover", "darling" or "sweetheart" and is used to refer to either a boyfriend or a girlfriend.
How does it change in a sentence?
When expressing possession, you add suffixes to erkek arkadaş. Adding the third-person possessive suffix -ı creates erkek arkadaşı (his/her boyfriend), and adding the second-person singular possessive suffix -ın creates erkek arkadaşın (your boyfriend).
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /eɾcec aɾkadaʃ/. The sounds are similar to the following English sounds: the [t] in "atom" for /ɾ/, the [k] in "skew" for /c/, the [c] in "core" for /k/ and the [sh] in "shoe" for /ʃ/.
Did you know?
- The suffix '-daş' in arkadaş is a common way in Turkish to create words meaning 'one who shares' something with others.
- The term sevgili is derived from sevgi, which means 'love'. Adding the suffix -li transforms the abstract noun into a person who possesses or is characterized by love.
- Because erkek arkadaş literally means 'male friend', Turkish speakers rely heavily on context or tone to distinguish a romantic partner from a platonic friend.
Examples in context
- O onun erkek arkadaşı.That's her boyfriend.This sentence is useful for identifying someone's erkek arkadaş.Tatoeba #2097644 by duran, translation #1357090 by sacredceltic
- Tom erkek arkadaşın mı?Tom is your boyfriend?This sentence is useful for asking if someone is a person's erkek arkadaş.Tatoeba #3068654 by Themis06, translation #3068269 by Hybrid
- Erkek arkadaşın var mı?Do you have a boyfriend?This sentence is useful for asking if someone has an erkek arkadaş.Tatoeba #4837568 by duran, translation #540088 by gracehero
- Benim erkek arkadaşım iş yerinde çok başarılı.My boyfriend is very successful at work.
- 490 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are chatting at a cafe about relationships.
- MehmetSelin, senin erkek arkadaşın nasıl?Selin, how is your boyfriend?
- SelinÇok iyi, o çok komik biri.Very good, he is a very funny person.
- MehmetOnunla ne zaman görüşeceksin?When will you see him?
- SelinBu akşam beraber yemek yiyeceğiz.We will eat together this evening.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “boyfriend” translations and entries erkek arkadaş, sevgili, 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 arkadaş, erkek, sevgili, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
