alışveriş merkezi
/alɯʃveɾiʃ meɾcezi/from spelling rules
In Turkish, the English phrase 'mall' is translated as alışveriş merkezi. Wiktionary also lists AVM.
Meaning: enclosed shopping centre (noun)
Ways to say it
| Turkish | IPA |
|---|---|
| alışveriş merkezi | /alɯʃveɾiʃ meɾcezi/ (from spelling rules) |
| AVM | /avm/ (from spelling rules) |
The term refers to an enclosed shopping centre. While alışveriş merkezi is the full, formal name, in everyday spoken Turkish and text messaging, people almost exclusively use the abbreviation AVM.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase alışveriş merkezi is composed of alışveriş (shopping) and merkezi (center).
Which one should you use?
alışveriş merkezi is the full term, whereas AVM is the common abbreviation used in practice.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /alɯʃveɾiʃ meɾcezi/. The sound /ɯ/ is somewhat like ribb[o]n, /ʃ/ is like [sh]oe, /v/ is like [v]ase, /ɾ/ is like AmE a[t]om, /i/ is like cr[ee]k, /m/ is like [m]uch, /c/ is like s[k]ew and /z/ is like [z]one.
Did you know?
- Many Turkish AVM buildings include a mosque on site, blending modern consumer architecture with daily religious requirements.
- The word alışveriş is a compound formed from alış (buying) and veriş (selling), essentially defining shopping as the act of 'taking and giving'.
- While AVM is the standard term for a modern mall, Turkey has a centuries-old tradition of the çarşı, an open-air bazaar that serves a similar social function.
Examples in context
- Tom alışveriş merkezine gitti.Tom has gone to the mall.This sentence is useful for showing how to use alışveriş merkezi with a destination suffix.Tatoeba #3443296 by Gulo_Luscus, translation #3442420 by CK
- Alışveriş merkezi terk edilmiş.The mall is deserted.This sentence is useful for describing the state of an alışveriş merkezi.Tatoeba #1486581 by duran, translation #1418611 by Spamster
- Ben alışveriş merkezine gidemem.I can't go to the mall.This sentence is useful for expressing an inability to go to an alışveriş merkezi.Tatoeba #4583813 by duran, translation #1951734 by CK
- Geçen hafta yeni bir alışveriş merkezi açıldı.Last week, a new shopping mall opened.
- Arkadaşlarımızla buluşmadan önce AVM'de alışveriş yapmak istiyoruz.We want to go shopping at the mall before meeting our friends.
- Çarşıya gidelim, yeni dükkanları gezelim.Let's go to the mall and explore the new stores.
- 92 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Elif and Mehmet are discussing where to meet on the weekend.
- ElifHafta sonu alışveriş merkezine gidelim mi?Shall we go to the shopping mall this weekend?
- MehmetOlur, yeni açılan alışveriş merkezi çok büyükmüş.Sure, the newly opened mall is said to be very large.
- ElifO zaman orada buluşalım.Let's meet there then.
- MehmetTamam, saat kaçta orada olmalıyım?Okay, what time should I be there?
Sources
- Wiktionary, “mall” translations and entries alışveriş merkezi, AVM, 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 alışveriş, alışveriş merkezi, merkezi, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
