inci
/inˈd͡ʒi/
The English word "pearl" is inci in Turkish.
The term inci refers to the rounded, shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks. You may also encounter the idiomatic expression inci gibi, which is used to describe something that is perfect, flawless or very clean.
Meaning: rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of inci is inciler (pearls). To indicate possession or belonging, use the genitive form incinin (of the pearl). When referring to a specific pearl as a direct object in a sentence, use the accusative form inciyi.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /inˈdʒi/. The sound is similar to the [ee] in cr[ee]k, the [n] in [n]ot and the [j] in [j]ump.
Did you know?
- The word inci is not native to Turkic languages but arrived via Middle Chinese, meaning 'genuine pearl'.
- In Turkish, the phrase inci gibi is commonly used to describe a set of very white and straight teeth.
- Turkish describes the 'mother of pearl' as sedef, using a completely different root than the word for 'pearl'.
Examples in context
- Annem bana inci bir kolye verdi.My mother gave me a pearl necklace.This sentence shows how to use inci in the context of a gift.Tatoeba #1653429 by duran, translation #320807 by CK
- O güzel inci kolyeyi çok seviyor.She likes the beautiful pearl necklace very much.This sentence demonstrates the use of inci to describe a piece of jewelry.Tatoeba #5706463 by duran, translation #311402 by CM
- Bu kadar büyük inci asla görmedim!I've never seen a pearl of such magnitude!This sentence illustrates the use of inci when discussing the size of the object.Tatoeba #5707771 by duran, translation #54732 by CM
- 12 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Elif is showing her jewelry box to Can.
- CanBu kutuda inci var mı?Is there any pearl in this box?
- ElifEvet, içinde bir tane inci var.Yes, there is one pearl inside.
- CanO inci çok parlak görünüyor.That pearl looks very bright.
- ElifTeşekkür ederim, çok değerli bir inci.Thank you, it is a very precious pearl.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pearl” translations and entries inci, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries inci, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
