Kıbrıs
/kɯbɾɯs/from spelling rules
Cyprus in Turkish is Kıbrıs.
Kıbrıs is the name used for the island or the country of Cyprus.
Meaning: island or country (name)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Istanbul, people commonly say Kıbrıs to refer to Cyprus.
How does it change in a sentence?
Kıbrıs changes with various suffixes: use the dative suffix -a (as in Kıbrıs'a) with verbs like 'to go' or 'to look'. Use the genitive suffix -ın (as in Kıbrıs'ın) to indicate possession. Use the locative suffix -ta (as in Kıbrıs'ta) to indicate being in or at Cyprus. And use the accusative suffix -ı (as in Kıbrıs'ı) when it is the direct object of a sentence.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /kɯbɾɯs/. The /k/ is like the [c] in core, the /ɯ/ is somewhat like the [o] in ribbon, the /b/ is like the [b] in about, the /ɾ/ is like the [t] in American English atom and the /s/ is like the [s] in send.
Did you know?
- The Turkish word Kıbrıs shares an ancient linguistic root with Northwest Semitic languages before it ever entered the Greek or Ottoman Turkish vocabularies.
- Turkish has a specific term Kıbrıslı to describe someone from the island, which functions differently than saying someone is 'Turkish' or 'Greek'.
- Turkish speakers use the term Kıbrıs Türkleri to refer to the distinct cultural identity of Turkish Cypriots, rather than just calling them Turks.
Examples in context
- Cyprus'a Türkçede "Kıbrıs" denir.Cyprus is called "Kıbrıs" in Turkish.This sentence is useful for learning how to translate the name Kıbrıs into Turkish.Tatoeba #4765183 by duran, translation #1815264 by Amastan
- Kıbrıs'a Yunancada "Kypros" denir.Cyprus is called "Kypros" in Greek.This sentence shows how to say that Cyprus is called a different name in Greek using the word Kıbrıs.Tatoeba #4777995 by deyta, translation #1815262 by Amastan
- Kıbrıs, bir Britanya protektorasıydı.Cyprus was a British protectorate.This sentence uses the word Kıbrıs to describe a historical status.Tatoeba #7842264 by Gulo_Luscus, translation #2265285 by MTC
- 13 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing travel plans in a cafe.
- BurakKıbrıs'a gitmek ister misin?Do you want to go to Cyprus?
- MerveEvet, orası çok güzel bir yer.Yes, it is a very beautiful place.
- BurakBiletleri ne zaman alalım?When should we buy the tickets?
- MerveHemen yarın alabiliriz.We can buy them as early as tomorrow.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cyprus” translations and entries Kıbrıs, 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 Kıbrıs, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
