adet
/ˈɑ.det/
In Turkish, the word for period is adet.
The word adet is used to refer to a menstrual period.
Meaning: interval of time (noun)
Which one should you use?
The word dönem means 'period' in Turkish and is used in formal contexts such as academic settings. The phrase adet kanaması is a more formal or clinical way to say 'menstrual bleeding' or 'period' in Turkish.
How does it change in a sentence?
To say 'my period', you add the possessive suffix '-im' to 'adet' to get adetim.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /ˈɑ.det/ and has two syllables. The stress is on the first syllable.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers may confuse the word adet (period) with its other common meaning, which is 'piece', 'unit' or 'item' in a counting context.
Did you know?
- The word adet is an Arabic loanword that originally meant 'number' or 'amount', which explains why it is used today to count 'pieces' of an object.
- Turkish uses the word dönem for a 'period' of time, but also for a 'semester' in university. Using dönem when referring to a menstrual cycle in a medical context is common, though adet is used in daily life.
- If you tell a shopkeeper you want 'bir adet', they will assume you are asking for 'one piece' of a product rather than referring to a biological 'period'.
Examples in context
- Adetim beş hafta gecikti.My period is five weeks late.This sentence shows how to use the form adet to say my period is late.Tatoeba #5570396 by Lazlord, translation #271887 by jakov
- Onun adet kanaması başladı.She has her period.This sentence uses adet to state that someone has her period.Tatoeba #5130661 by duran, translation #5127380 by Barra
- İlk adetinizi hangi yaşta gördünüz?At what age did you get your first period?This sentence uses adet to ask about the age of a first period.Tatoeba #5311882 by deyta, translation #878232 by corvard
- Geçen dönem nasıldı?How was the last period?
- Tahminen bir saatlik bir süre planlamıştım.I planned for approximately a one-hour period.
- 5 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Selin tells Emre why she is feeling unwell.
- SelinBugün karnım çok ağrıyor çünkü adet dönemimdeyim.My stomach hurts a lot today because I am in my period.
- EmreSana sıcak bir bitki çayı yapayım mı?Shall I make you a hot herbal tea?
- SelinEvet, adet sancıları gerçekten çok zorlayıcı.Yes, period pains are really challenging.
- EmreHemen hazırlıyorum, biraz dinlen lütfen.I am preparing it right now, please rest a bit.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry adet, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries adet, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
