hamam böceği
/haˈmam bø.d͡ʒe.(j)i/
The English word "cockroach" is translated into Turkish as hamam böceği. Wiktionary also lists karafatma.
Meaning: type of insect (noun)
Ways to say it
| Turkish | IPA |
|---|---|
| hamam böceği | /haˈmam bø.d͡ʒe.(j)i/ |
| karafatma | /kaˈɾa.fat.ma/ |
Both hamam böceği and karafatma refer to the insect known as a cockroach.
Which one should you use?
Hamam böceği is the standard term, while karafatma is a colloquial way to refer to the insect.
How does it change in a sentence?
To form the plural "cockroaches", you add the suffix -ler to the second word of the phrase, resulting in hamam böcekleri.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /haˈmam bø.dʒe.(j)i/. The syllable stress is on the 2nd of 4 syllables. The sounds are as follows: [h] as in [h]ome, [m] as in [m]uch, [b] as in a[b]out, [dʒ] as in [j]ump, [j] as in [y]es and [i] as in cr[ee]k.
Did you know?
- The colloquial term karafatma is a curious compound of 'black' and the common female name 'Fatma'.
- The standard name hamam böceği literally translates to 'bath bug', a name likely derived from the insect's tendency to be found in damp, warm environments like traditional Ottoman baths.
- While hamam böceği is the general term for the species, karafatma is often used specifically for the larger, dark Oriental cockroach.
Examples in context
- Hamam böceği yer misin?Would you ever eat a cockroach?The sentence is useful for asking if someone would eat a hamam böceği.Tatoeba #1409075 by duran, translation #954690 by CK
- Çılgın bir hamam böceği gibi koş.Run like a crazy cockroach.The sentence is useful for describing running like a hamam böceği.Tatoeba #5519910 by duran, translation #2861107 by mervert1
- Hamam böceğini sandaletle öldürdüler.They killed the cockroach with a sandal.The sentence is useful for describing how someone killed a hamam böceği.Tatoeba #13899612 by ninefi, translation #13899532 by rul
- 6 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Zeynep and Can are in the kitchen.
- ZeynepBak, orada bir hamam böceği var!Look, there is a cockroach over there!
- CanNerede? Ben hiçbir şey görmüyorum.Where? I don't see anything.
- ZeynepTezgahın altına kaçtı, çabuk yakala!It ran under the counter, catch it quickly!
- CanBu hamam böceği çok hızlıymış.This cockroach is very fast.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cockroach” translations and entries hamam böceği, karafatma, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hamam, hamam böceği, karafatma, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
