Ways to say it
| Turkish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| sevgili | /sev.ɟiˈli/ | |
| oynaş | /ojnaʃ/ (from spelling rules) | |
| âşık | /aːˈʃɯk/ | |
| yar | /jɑɾ/ | |
| manita | /maˈni.ta/ | slang |
While the term can refer to a sexual partner, it is most frequently used to mean a boyfriend, girlfriend or romantic partner. Additionally, sevgili can function as an adjective meaning 'dear' or 'beloved' when addressing someone, such as in the phrase 'My dear friend'.
Which one should you use?
The forms differ significantly in tone and nuance. sevgili is the standard, neutral term for a boyfriend, girlfriend or partner. In contrast, âşık refers more to the state of being 'in love' or to a 'devoted lover' rather than a sexual partner. For a more poetic or archaic sense of a 'beloved', use yar. On the other hand, manita is a slang term used for a romantic partner, similar to calling someone a 'date' or 'hookup' in English. Finally, oynaş is another way to describe a lover.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
sevgili is a neutral and common way to refer to a partner. For an intimate and informal way to say 'my love', you can use Sevgilim. Another very intimate, informal way to say 'my love' or 'my darling' is Aşkım. In literary contexts, yar is used as a poetic term for a beloved and âşık is used in a poetic sense to describe someone who is in love. manita should be avoided in formal settings as it is slang.
How does it change in a sentence?
To indicate possession, such as saying 'his/her lover', you add the third-person possessive suffix -si to the word sevgili, resulting in sevgilisi.
How do you pronounce it?
The word sevgili is pronounced /sev.ɟiˈli/. The first sound is like the [s] in [s]end, the second is like the [v] in [v]ase, the third is like the [g] in ar[g]ue and the final sound is like the [ee] in cr[ee]k. The stress is on the third syllable.
Did you know?
- The term âşık is deeply tied to Sufi mysticism, where it describes a soul longing for the Divine rather than a human partner.
- In traditional Anatolian folk music, the term âşık does not just mean a lover but refers to a specific type of improvisational poet-singer.
- The poetic term yar for a beloved is etymologically linked to the word for a 'steep slope' or 'precipice'.
Examples in context
- Bir sevgilin var mı?Do you have a lover?This sentence is useful for asking if someone has a lover.Tatoeba #4087160 by deyta, translation #1655722 by gleki
- Onun bir sevgilisi var.She has a lover.This sentence is useful for stating that she has a lover.Tatoeba #3268058 by deyta, translation #2752875 by Hybrid
- Onun bir sevgilisi var mı?Does she have a lover?This sentence is useful for asking if she has a lover.Tatoeba #5249976 by deyta, translation #3688337 by tom0483
- O, sevgilisi olmadığından yalnız hissediyor.He/she feels lonely because he/she doesn't have a lover.
- Sevgilim, seni çok özledim!My love, I missed you so much!
- 33 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Merve and Burak are talking about a mutual friend's new relationship.
- MerveCan'ın yeni bir sevgilisi varmış.I heard Can has a new lover.
- BurakGerçekten mi? Kimmiş bu kişi?Really? Who is this person?
- MerveÜniversiteden bir arkadaşıymış.Apparently, it is a friend from university.
- BurakNe güzel, mutlu olsunlar.How nice, I hope they are happy.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “lover” translations and entries sevgili, oynaş, âşık, yar, manita, 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.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries oynaş, sevgili, yar, âşık, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
