Ways to say it
| Turkish | IPA |
|---|---|
| cesur | /d͡ʒesuɾ/ (from spelling rules) |
| yürekli | /jyɾecli/ (from spelling rules) |
| cesaretli | /d͡ʒe.saː.ɾetˈli/ |
These terms are used to describe someone who is strong in the face of fear.
What does it mean word for word?
The word yürekli is composed of the root yürek, meaning 'heart' and the suffix -li, meaning 'with' or 'possessing'. It literally translates to 'heart-filled' or 'having heart'.
Which one should you use?
cesur is the most common and direct adjective for 'brave'. In contrast, yürekli often implies a more innate or emotional kind of courage.
How does it change in a sentence?
To transform the adjective cesur into the adverb 'bravely', you can add the suffix -ca to create cesurca. Additionally, the noun form of the adjective cesur is cesaret, which means 'bravery' or 'courage'.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of cesur is /dʒesuɾ/. The sound is similar to the [j] in [j]ump, the [s] in [s]end, the [oo] in c[oo]l and the [t] in the American English pronunciation of a[t]om.
Did you know?
- Turkish has a specific expression yüreği ağzında, meaning 'one's heart is in their mouth'. This is used to describe the opposite of being cesur, specifically the feeling of extreme anxiety or fright.
- In Turkish, calling someone yürekli can be a higher compliment than cesur because it suggests a nobility of spirit rather than just a lack of fear.
- The word cesur is an Arabic loanword, meaning its presence in Turkish is a linguistic footprint of the Ottoman Empire's extensive contact with Arabic-speaking cultures.
Examples in context
- O cesur bir adam.He is a brave man.This sentence is useful for describing a person using cesur.Tatoeba #1256688 by duran, translation #304349 by CK
- O cesur ve dürüst.He's brave and honest.This sentence is useful for combining the adjective cesur with another quality.Tatoeba #2116268 by duran, translation #1773689 by Spamster
- Bence o çok cesur.I think she is very brave.This sentence is useful for expressing an opinion about someone's level of bravery using cesur.Tatoeba #4004826 by deyta, translation #3378004 by CM
- Çok cesur bir karar verdin.You made a very brave decision.
- O, gerçekten çok cesur bir insan.He/she is truly a very brave person.
- Sen gerçek bir yiğitsin.You are a real brave person.
- Bu savaşta gösterdiği yiğitlikle ünlenmiş.He/she became famous with the bravery shown in this war.
- Bugün parkta çok cesaretli davrandın.You acted very bravely in the park today.
- Kendine güvenen biri olarak gözüpek bir karar aldı.He/she made a bold decision as a confident person.
- 171 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Selin and Burak are talking about a firefighter.
- Selinİtfaiyeciler gerçekten çok cesur insanlar.Firefighters are truly very brave people.
- BurakEvet, tehlikeye karşı korkusuzlar.Yes, they are fearless against danger.
- SelinSen de onlar kadar cesur olabilir misin?Could you be as brave as them?
- BurakHayır, ben o kadar cesur değilim.No, I am not that brave.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “brave” translations and entries cesur, yürekli, cesaretli, 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 cesaretli, cesur, yürekli, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
