ekmek
/ecˈmec/
The English word "bread" is translated into Turkish as ekmek. Wiktionary also lists banak and nan.
Meaning: baked dough made from cereals (noun)
Ways to say it
| Turkish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ekmek | /ecˈmec/ | |
| banak | /banak/ (from spelling rules) | |
| nan | /nan/ (from spelling rules) | archaic |
The term refers to baked dough made from cereals.
Which one should you use?
banak is another form of the word, and nan is an archaic term.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word ekmek changes based on its role in a sentence. To indicate a specific piece of bread as a direct object, use the accusative form ekmeği. To indicate possession or an "of" relationship, use the genitive form ekmeğin. To refer to multiple loaves or types of bread, use the plural form ekmekler.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ecˈmec/. The sound /c/ is like the [k] in skew, and the sound /m/ is like the [m] in much.
Did you know?
- In traditional Turkish culture, bread is considered sacred and it is common to see pieces of ekmek placed on windowsills or walls to feed birds.
- In Turkish, the word for bread, ekmek, is an accidental neighbor to the verb 'ekmek', which means 'to sow' seeds in a field.
- The term ekmek is used in the idiom ekmek parası, which literally means 'bread money' but refers to one's livelihood or salary.
Examples in context
- Hiç ekmek var mı?Is there any bread?This sentence shows how to ask if bread is available using ekmek.Tatoeba #4404348 by deyta, translation #4404098 by space_badger
- Ekmek yiyip su iç.Eat bread and drink water.This sentence uses ekmek in an instruction to eat bread and drink water.Tatoeba #8599898 by soliloquist, translation #8598141 by ichawiyen
- Şu adam ekmek yedi.That man ate bread.This sentence uses ekmek to describe an action performed by a man.Tatoeba #1259438 by duran, translation #1047228 by CK
- Bu ekmek çok lezzetli.This bread is very delicious.
- Lütfen bana iki dilim ekmek verir misiniz?Could you please give me two slices of bread?
- Yemekten önce bir simit yedik.We ate a simit before dinner.
- 417 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mehmet and Zeynep are preparing breakfast at home.
- MehmetZeynep, taze ekmek aldın mı?Zeynep, did you buy fresh bread?
- ZeynepEvet, fırından yeni aldım.Yes, I just bought it from the bakery.
- MehmetHarika, biraz ekmek keser misin?Great, can you cut some bread?
- ZeynepTabii, hemen hallediyorum.Of course, I'm doing it right now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bread” translations and entries ekmek, nan, 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 ekmek, nan, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
