eski
/esci/from spelling rules
The Turkish word for old is eski.
The word eski is used to describe inanimate objects or abstract concepts that are old, such as an old car or an old joke.
Meaning: of a living being: having lived for relatively many years (adj)
Which one should you use?
There is a strict distinction between describing objects and living beings. Use eski for inanimate objects or abstract concepts, but use yaşlı when referring to the age of a person or an animal.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /esci/. It sounds like the [s] in [s]end, the [k] in s[k]ew and the [ee] in cr[ee]k.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use eski to describe an old person. In English, you might say someone is 'old', but using eski in Turkish to describe a person can imply they are 'worn out' or 'outdated' rather than simply having lived many years. Use yaşlı for people instead.
Did you know?
- To call someone 'old-fashioned' or 'outdated', Turkish speakers use eski kafa, which literally translates to 'old head'.
- While eski is usually for objects, using it with a person can mean they are a 'former' version of something, such as eski sevgilim for 'my ex-girlfriend' or 'ex-boyfriend'.
- While an English speaker might call an 'old friend' an eski dost, in Turkish this can sound like the person is a 'former' friend or even a friend from a 'previous' life.
Examples in context
- Bu eski bir TV.It's an old TV.This sentence shows how to use eski to describe an object.Tatoeba #6359144 by duran, translation #6358442 by CK
- O eski bir kale.That is an old castle.This sentence shows how to use eski to describe a building.Tatoeba #1269620 by duran, translation #67073 by CK
- O eski bir şaka.That's an old joke.This sentence shows how to use eski to describe an abstract concept.Tatoeba #2050818 by duran, translation #1897783 by CK
- eski evOld house
- eski kitapOld book
- eski dostOld friend
- elbise eskidiThe dress got old
- ayakkabılar eskimişThe shoes are worn out
- harap binaRun-down building
- harap arabaBeat-up car
- Bugün müzede çok eski eserler gördüm.Today, I saw many old artifacts at the museum.
- Bu tişört biraz eskidi, artık yeni bir tane almalıyım.This t-shirt is a bit old, I should get a new one now.
- Eski günleri hatırlayıp nostalji yapmak bazen keyifli olabilir.Remembering old times and indulging in nostalgia can be enjoyable.
- 1174 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Burak and Zeynep are talking about a mutual acquaintance.
- BurakBurak Bey çok eski bir dostumdur.Mr. Burak is a very old friend of mine.
- ZeynepOnunla ne zaman tanıştınız?When did you meet him?
- BurakÇocukluktan beri eski dostuz.We have been old friends since childhood.
- ZeynepNe güzel bir arkadaşlık.What a beautiful friendship.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry eski, 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.
