Allah korusun!
The English phrase 'God forbid' can be translated into Turkish using several expressions, most commonly Allah korusun! Wiktionary also lists Allah muhafaza and Allah göstermesin.
Meaning: don't let it be (intj)
Ways to say it
| Turkish | IPA |
|---|---|
| Allah korusun! | |
| Allah muhafaza | /allah muhafaza/ (from spelling rules) |
| Allah göstermesin | /allah ɟøsteɾmesin/ (from spelling rules) |
| Allah saklasın | /allah saklasɯn/ (from spelling rules) |
| Tanrı korusun | /tanɾɯ koɾusun/ (from spelling rules) |
These phrases are often used as interjections when someone mentions a hypothetical bad situation, such as an accident or an illness.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase Allah korusun literally means 'May God protect'. The phrase Allah göstermesin literally means 'May God not show [it/the situation]'.
Which one should you use?
While Allah korusun is a general way to say 'God forbid', Allah göstermesin is more specifically used when referring to a specific bad event or hardship that one hopes never to experience. Additionally, Tanrı korusun is a more secular or non-religious alternative to Allah korusun, using the word 'Tanrı' (God) instead of 'Allah'.
Did you know?
- The word muhafaza in Allah muhafaza is also used in modern Turkish to describe a 'case' or 'protective cover' for a phone or a piece of equipment.
- In Turkish culture, saying Allah korusun is often accompanied by a gesture of knocking on wood or avoiding the mention of a specific tragedy to prevent it from becoming a reality.
- If you use the phrase Allah saklasın, you are using a verb that also means 'to hide' or 'to keep in a drawer', turning the prayer into a request for God to keep the misfortune tucked away where it cannot be found.
Examples in context
- Allah korusun!God forbid!The sentence is useful for practicing the exclamation Allah korusun!Tatoeba #4791054 by deyta, translation #1184270 by Imp
Sources
- Wiktionary, “God forbid” translations, 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.
