Ways to say it
| Turkish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| deli | /deˈli/ | |
| kaçık | /kɑˈt͡ʃɯk/ | informal |
| üşütük | /yʃytyc/ (from spelling rules) | informal |
The terms in this pack are used to describe someone or something that is insane, demented or eccentric. While deli is the standard term for someone who is clinically insane or mad, it is also a commonly used informal term to describe a person, a situation or oneself. If you wish to express astonishment at a level of craziness that implies incredibility, you can use the formal term Akılalmaz. To describe the act of losing one's mind, the common expression aklını kaçırmak is used throughout the country.
Which one should you use?
The forms differ based on the specific type of craziness being described. deli is the neutral, standard term for someone who is clinically insane or mad. In contrast, kaçık is an informal term used to describe someone who is eccentric, quirky or 'a bit off' rather than clinically insane. üşütük is also an informal way to express the concept.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
deli is a standard and commonly used informal term. The words kaçık and üşütük are informal. If you want to describe a person who is an insane or eccentric person as a noun, you can use manyak or zibidi, with manyak being an informal term often used in a lighthearted and jovial manner among friends.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun form for 'madness' or 'craziness' is delilik, and the adverbial form delice means 'crazily' or 'madly'.
How do you pronounce it?
/deˈli/. The 'i' sound is like the 'ee' in cr[ee]k.
Did you know?
- Turkish folklore features the 'deli' as a figure who possesses a hidden, spiritual wisdom that sane people lack, often speaking truths through apparent madness.
- The word manyak is a loanword from the French maniaque. While it means 'maniac', it is often used as a compliment among youth to describe someone exceptionally skilled at a task.
- The informal word üşütük comes from the verb for 'catching a cold'. It implies the person's brain has been chilled, making them act a bit crazy.
Examples in context
- O deli mi oldu?Has she become crazy?This sentence is useful for asking if someone has become crazy using deli.Tatoeba #3087610 by duran, translation #2810282 by Hybrid
- O yaşlı ve deli.She's old and crazy.This sentence is useful for describing someone as old and crazy using deli.Tatoeba #2040711 by duran, translation #1836200 by Spamster
- Tom ne kadar deli?How crazy is Tom?This sentence is useful for asking how crazy a person is using deli.Tatoeba #3630703 by duran, translation #3448978 by CK
- 338 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mehmet and Selin are talking about a neighbor's strange behavior.
- MehmetKomşumuz gerçekten deli mi?Is our neighbor really crazy?
- SelinEvet, o biraz deli.Yes, he is a bit crazy.
- MehmetSelin, bu çok korkutucu.Selin, this is very scary.
- SelinHaklısın, Mehmet.You are right, Mehmet.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “crazy” translations and entries deli, kaçık, 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.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
