Ways to say it
| Turkish | IPA |
|---|---|
| yaramaz | /jaɾamaz/ (from spelling rules) |
| haşarı | /ha.ʃaˈɾɯ/ |
| haylaz | /hajˈlaz/ |
These terms describe someone, typically a child, who is behaving badly or misbehaving. While yaramaz is the standard term for general naughtiness, other forms can specify the type of behavior being exhibited.
Which one should you use?
yaramaz is the most common and standard way to describe a naughty child. haşarı implies a more energetic, restless or mischievous type of naughtiness. haylaz often carries an additional connotation of being lazy, idle or avoiding work and responsibilities.
How does it change in a sentence?
As an adjective, yaramaz does not change its form to match plural nouns. For example, yaramaz çocuklar means 'naughty children'.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of yaramaz is /jaɾamaz/. The [y] sound is like the 'y' in [y]es, the [ɾ] sound is like the American English 't' in a[t]om, the [m] sound is like the 'm' in [m]uch and the [z] sound is like the 'z' in [z]one.
Did you know?
- The word haşarı has an unexpected connection to the insect world, as it is derived from the Arabic word for 'insect' or 'small creeping animal'.
- In Turkish, describing a child as yaramaz can sometimes be seen as a compliment to their intelligence or vitality.
- While 'naughty' is usually for children, the word haşarı can describe a wild or even 'lascivious' person, moving much closer to the English word 'naughty' when used for adults.
Examples in context
- Bu çocuk çok yaramaz.This child's very naughty.This sentence is useful for describing a specific child as being very naughty using yaramaz.Tatoeba #5676222 by duran, translation #2268906 by _undertoad
- Tom yaramaz, değil mi?Tom is naughty, isn't he?This sentence is useful for asking for confirmation if Tom is yaramaz.Tatoeba #4146787 by duran, translation #3417082 by CK
- O, yaramaz bir çocuktur.He is a naughty boy.This sentence is useful for identifying someone as a naughty boy using yaramaz.Tatoeba #779338 by duran, translation #370632 by saeb
- O çocuk gerçekten yaramaz. Sürekli evdeki eşyalarla oynuyor.That child is really naughty. He constantly plays with household items.
- 35 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Merve and Mehmet are watching their young nephew play in the garden.
- MerveO çok yaramaz bir çocuk.He is a very naughty child.
- MehmetEvet, sürekli yaramazlık yapıyor.Yes, he is constantly misbehaving.
- MerveMehmet, onu durdurmalısın.Mehmet, you should stop him.
- MehmetHaklısın, çok hareketli.You're right, he is very restless.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “naughty” translations and entries yaramaz, haşarı, haylaz, 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 haylaz, haşarı, yaramaz, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
