demir
/deˈmiɾ/
The English word iron corresponds to the Turkish word demir.
In Turkish, demir is used as a noun to refer to the metal or chemical element Fe and it can also function as an adjective meaning something is made of iron. It is important to note that when referring to the action of passing an iron over clothing, a different word is used.
Meaning: to pass an iron over clothing (verb)
Which one should you use?
While demir refers to the metal itself, the household appliance used to smooth clothing is called ütü. To describe the action of ironing clothes, you must use the verb ütülemek.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/deˈmiɾ/. The sound is like the [m] in much, the [ee] in creek and the [ɾ] sound found in the American English pronunciation of atom.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use demir when they actually mean the verb 'to iron' clothes. Instead, you should use ütülemek.
Did you know?
- While ütülemek means 'to iron', the root ütü can be used in slang to describe a crushing defeat or a total flattening of an opponent in a game.
- The word demir is used in the Turkish idiom demir atmak, which literally means 'to throw the iron' but actually means 'to anchor a ship'.
- The word demir is a cognate of the name 'Timur', a famous historical figure whose name literally means 'iron' in Turkic languages.
Examples in context
- Bana o demir topu ver.Give me that iron ball.This sentence shows how to use demir to describe an object made of iron.Tatoeba #4635612 by duran, translation #2258230 by _undertoad
- Demir ısıyı iyi iletir.Iron transmits heat well.This sentence demonstrates how demir is used when discussing the properties of the metal.Tatoeba #1497588 by duran, translation #278751 by CK
- Bu demirden mi yapıldı?Is it made of iron?This sentence uses demir to ask if an object is made of the metal.Tatoeba #4708342 by duran, translation #2738993 by sharptoothed
- Ütüyü buraya koyar mısın?Can you put the iron here?
- 58 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Zeynep and Emre are discussing laundry chores.
- ZeynepBu gömleği bugün demir yapman gerekiyor.You need to iron this shirt today.
- EmreTamam, hemen demir yaparım.Okay, I will iron it right away.
- ZeynepLütfen dikkatli ol, kumaşı yakma.Please be careful, don't burn the fabric.
- EmreMerak etme, güzelce demir yapacağım.Don't worry, I will iron it nicely.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry demir, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries demir, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
