Ways to say it
| Turkish | IPA |
|---|---|
| aşk | /ˈaʃk/ |
| sevgi | /sev.ɟi/ |
| sevi | /sevi/ (from spelling rules) |
| emre | /emɾe/ (from spelling rules) |
| muhabbet | /mʊ.habˈbet/ /mʊ.abˈbet/ |
| sevda | /sevda/ (from spelling rules) |
The Turkish language distinguishes between various types of love. Use aşk to refer to romantic or passionate love. For general affection, fondness or the stable love felt for family and friends, use sevgi. If you are describing an intense, overwhelming or even obsessive passion, the word sevda is appropriate. For friendly affection or the pleasant companionship shared between people, use muhabbet. The verb sevmek can be used to mean both 'to love' and 'to like' depending on the context.
Which one should you use?
While aşk is specifically for romantic or passionate love, sevgi is a more general term for stable affection. In contrast to these, sevda implies a much more intense or obsessive feeling and muhabbet describes a social, friendly warmth or companionship.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
To say 'to fall in love', use the phrase aşık olmak. Related to these concepts, the verb sevişmek is a euphemism meaning 'to have sex with'.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈaʃk/. The sound /ʃ/ is like the [sh] in 'shoe', and the /k/ is like the [c] in 'core'.
When do people say it?
In Turkish, several terms of endearment are common. Aşkım means 'My love', canım means 'My dear' and güzelim means 'My beautiful'.
Did you know?
- The word sevda originally described a 'black bile' or a form of melancholy in old medical contexts, which explains its connotation of an overwhelming or obsessive passion.
- In Turkish, you do not just 'fall in love', you 'become a lover', as the phrase aşık olmak literally translates to 'to become a lover' or 'to become an admirer'.
- While aşk describes romantic love, the word muhabbet also refers to the actual act of chatting or having a long, friendly conversation.
Examples in context
- O hep aşk istedi.She always wanted love.This sentence is useful for showing the use of aşk.Tatoeba #4756965 by deyta, translation #4515620 by Amastan
- Her şey aşk için.Anything for love.Tatoeba #6030960 by duran, translation #6029391 by Huskion
- Bu bir sevgi işi.This is a labor of love.This sentence is useful for showing the use of sevgi.Tatoeba #8550589 by Ozturkce, translation #8550327 by CK
- Aşkımdan hiç vazgeçmem.I will never give up on my love.
- Torunlarına sevgiyle bakıyor.She looks at her grandchildren with love.
- O, ona aşık oldu.He fell in love with her.
- Delicesine seviyorum seni.I love you madly.
- Aşk dolu kalbim sana ait.My love-filled heart belongs to you.
- Sevgi dolu günler geçirmeniz dileğiyle!Wishing you days filled with love!
- 2022 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about a romantic movie.
- ElifBu filmde çok büyük bir aşk var.There is a great love in this movie.
- MehmetEvet, aşk hikayesi çok etkileyiciydi.Yes, the love story was very moving.
- ElifGerçek aşkı bulmak çok zor.Finding true love is very difficult.
- MehmetHaklısın Elif, ama umut her zaman var.You are right Elif, but there is always hope.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “love” translations and entries aşk, sevgi, muhabbet, sevda, 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.
