hiç
/ˈhit͡ʃ/
The English word 'nothing' is translated into Turkish as hiç or hiç bir şey.
Meaning: not any thing (pron)
Ways to say it
| Turkish | IPA |
|---|---|
| hiç | /ˈhit͡ʃ/ |
| hiç bir şey | /hit͡ʃ biɾ ʃej/ (from spelling rules) |
hiç bir şey is used to negate the existence of any object or thing. For example, to say 'there is nothing', you use the phrase hiçbir şey yok.
Which one should you use?
While hiç can mean 'nothing' in certain idiomatic expressions, hiç bir şey is the standard way to say 'nothing' (not any thing) in a sentence.
How does it change in a sentence?
In modern Turkish, the phrase hiç bir şey is written as two separate words, though it is often treated as a single concept.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈhitʃ/. The [h] sound is like the [h] in [h]ome, the [i] sound is like the [ee] in cr[ee]k and the [tʃ] sound is like the [ch] in [ch]ange.
Did you know?
- The term hiç has been used in Sufi literature to describe a state of spiritual emptiness or the negation of the self.
- In certain contexts or slang, the word şey can be used as a euphemism to refer to a penis.
- The word hiç actually traces its roots back to Persian, showing the deep historical influence of Persian on the Turkish language.
Examples in context
- Hep ya da hiç.All or nothing.This sentence is useful for showing the use of hiç in the idiom 'All or nothing'.Tatoeba #4041784 by tornado, translation #3344474 by arthurf
- O koca bir hiç.He's a nothing, a nobody.This sentence demonstrates how hiç can refer to a person who is a 'nothing'.Tatoeba #8623160 by soliloquist, translation #8622651 by Amastan
- Ya hep ya da hiç.It's all or nothing.This sentence shows the idiomatic use of hiç in the phrase 'It's all or nothing'.Tatoeba #2060251 by duran, translation #562904 by kebukebu
- Hiçbir şey demek istemem.I prefer not to say anything.
- Boşver, çok önemli değil.Forget it, it's not that important.
- Ses etmemek en iyisi.Not making a sound is the best option.
- 1327 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Elif and Emre are talking about their day.
- ElifBugün neler yaptın, Emre?What did you do today, Emre?
- EmreHiç, sadece evde oturdum.Nothing, I just sat at home.
- ElifGerçekten hiçbir şey yapmadın mı?Did you really do nothing?
- EmreEvet, bugün hiç canım istemedi.Yes, I didn't feel like doing anything today.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “nothing” translations and entries hiç, 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 bir, hiç, şey, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
