Ways to say it
| Turkish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| kalp | /kalp/ (from spelling rules) | |
| yürek | /jyˈɾec/ | |
| dil | /ˈdil/ | |
| gönül | /ɟøˈnyl/ | poetic |
The translation of 'heart' depends on whether you are referring to the physical organ, courage or emotional feelings. kalp is the standard term for the biological organ. yürek can also refer to the organ but is frequently used metaphorically to mean courage or bravery. For spiritual, emotional or poetic contexts, such as describing desires or the soul, the word gönül is used. The adverbial form gönülden is used to express that something is done sincerely or 'from the heart'.
Which one should you use?
kalp is used in medical or biological contexts to describe the physical organ. In contrast, yürek is often used to represent metaphorical courage. gönül is a specialized term used in a poetic or spiritual sense to describe the heart's emotions and desires.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
kalp is a common and standard formal term for the heart. gönül is specifically noted for its poetic register and is most appropriate in literature or music.
How do you pronounce it?
/kalp/. The /k/ sound is like the [c] in core and the /p/ sound is like the [p] in pan.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use dil to mean heart. In Turkish, dil refers to the 'tongue' or 'language'.
Did you know?
- The phrase gönül almak literally means 'to take the heart' but is used to mean comforting someone or making amends after an argument.
- Because kalp is borrowed from Arabic, it shares its root with words meaning 'to flip' or 'to turn', reflecting the heart's perceived volatility.
- The word gönül describes a conceptual heart that encompasses emotions and desires, a notion for which English has no single equivalent word.
Examples in context
- O kalp için kötü.It's bad for the heart.This sentence uses kalp to discuss something being bad for the physical organ.Tatoeba #1969300 by ozzie, translation #1944875 by linguine
- Üç kalp krizi atlattı.He has lived through three heart attacks.This sentence uses kalp in the context of a medical event, a heart attack.Tatoeba #4514929 by tulin, translation #1179043 by CM
- O canı gönülden yaptı.He put all his heart and soul into it.This sentence uses gönül to show that an action was done with sincerity.Tatoeba #5914798 by duran, translation #42877 by CM
- Lütfen kalbinizin sesini takip edin.Please follow the voice of your heart.
- Yüreğim seninle atıyor.My heart beats with you.
- Gönül verdim sana.I gave my heart to you.
- 195 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Burak and Selin are discussing health at a pharmacy.
- BurakKalp sağlığınız için ne almalıyım?What should I buy for your heart health?
- SelinDoktorum kalp vitaminleri önerdi.My doctor recommended heart vitamins.
- BurakBu ilaçlar kalbe iyi gelir mi?Do these medicines do the heart good?
- SelinEvet, kalp ritmini düzenliyorlar.Yes, they regulate the heart rhythm.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “heart” translations and entries kalp, yürek, dil, gönül, 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.
