Ways to say it
| Turkish | IPA |
|---|---|
| sevgili | /sev.ɟiˈli/ |
| sevimli | /sevimli/ (from spelling rules) |
The word sevgili is used to describe someone who is loved. When used as a noun, it is the standard term for a boyfriend or girlfriend. Other terms of endearment include the informal canım, which means "my soul" or "my dear" and the informal tatlım, which means "my sweet".
What does it mean word for word?
The word sevgili is derived from the verb sevmek (to love), with the suffix -gi turning it into a noun or adjective meaning "beloved".
Which one should you use?
sevgili refers to someone who is loved, often used for romantic partners or close family. In contrast, sevimli is used to describe a person or thing that is inherently cute, charming or pleasant to look at, such as "cute" or "lovable".
How does it change in a sentence?
To address a romantic partner as "my dear" or "my love", you can add the possessive suffix -im to sevgili to form sevgilim.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /sev.ɟiˈli/. It has three syllables, with the stress on the third syllable. The sounds are similar to the [s] in [s]end, the [v] in [v]ase, the [g] in ar[g]ue and the [ee] in cr[ee]k.
When do people say it?
Depending on the level of intimacy, you might use canım (my soul/my dear) or tatlım (my sweet) among close friends and loved ones.
Did you know?
- While sevgili is used for romantic partners, canım is so common that it is often used between strangers or shopkeepers to be polite, even when no deep affection exists.
- Unlike English, where 'dear' can start a formal letter, sevgili is generally considered too intimate for formal business correspondence in Turkey.
- Turkish has a wide array of 'soul' and 'heart' based terms of endearment, reflecting a cultural tendency to link love with the internal essence of a person.
Examples in context
- O sevgili hayatı için koştu.She ran for dear life.This sentence shows the use of sevgili in the context of a common idiom for dear life.Tatoeba #1488857 by duran, translation #316653 by CM
- Sevgili kız kardeşim, seni seviyorum.I love you, dear sister.This sentence illustrates how to address a sister affectionately using sevgili.Tatoeba #3314373 by deyta, translation #2277612 by Mussie
- Sevgili anneciğim, neden çok üzgünsün?Dear mother, why art thou so sad?This sentence demonstrates using sevgili to address a mother in an affectionate way.Tatoeba #4853981 by duran, translation #4846286 by Hybrid
- Sayın DoktorDear Doctor
- Sevgili Müdürüm,Dear Manager,
- Sevgili Hocam,Dear Teacher,
- Tatlım, nasılsın?Dear, how are you?
- Görüşürüz, tatlım!See you later, dear!
- Merhaba, canım!Hello, my dear!
- Canım, yardımına ihtiyacım var.My darling, I need your help.
- Hoş geldin, aşkım!Welcome, my love!
- Aşkım, bugün seni görmek istiyorum.My love, I want to see you today.
- 32 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Emre and Selin are talking about a mutual friend.
- EmreSelin, sevgili arkadaşımız nerede?Selin, where is our dear friend?
- SelinO şu an evde dinleniyor.He is resting at home right now.
- EmreOnu çok özledim.I missed him very much.
- SelinBen de onu çok seviyorum.I love him very much too.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “dear” translations and entries sevgili, sevimli, 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.
