kanka
/ˈkan.ka/
The Turkish word for "bruh" is kanka.
kanka can be used as an interjection to express amazement or shock.
Meaning: amazement or shock (intj)
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
kanka is highly informal and is used primarily among close friends.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of kanka is kankalar, which translates to "bruhs" or "bros".
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ˈkan.ka/. The first syllable is stressed. The /k/ sound is like the [c] in "core" and the /n/ sound is like the [n] in "not".
Did you know?
- While kanka means 'bruh' or 'bro', it is frequently used between women to address their female best friends.
- While it sounds like a simple slang term, one theory is that kanka is a shortened form of kankardeş, which literally means 'blood-brother'.
- Using kanka with a boss or an elder in Turkey would be considered a significant social faux pas due to strict hierarchy rules.
Examples in context
- Kanka, şaka mı yapıyorsun?Bruh, are you kidding me?
- Kanka, gerçekten inanamıyorum.Bruh, I really can't believe it.
- Kanka, bu nasıl olabilir?Bruh, how can this be?
Example conversation
Emre tells Elif that he won a huge lottery prize.
- ElifEmre, piyangoyu kazandığını mı söylüyorsun?Emre, are you saying you won the lottery?
- EmreEvet, sonunda başardım!Yes, I finally did it!
- ElifKanka, şaka yapıyorsun herhalde!Bruh, you must be joking!
- EmreValla gerçek, inan bana.I swear it's real, believe me.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry kanka, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries kanka, CC BY-SA 4.0.
