fok
/fok/
The English word 'seal' translates to Turkish as fok.
The term refers to the pinniped animal. While fok can be used on its own, it is very common to use the phrase fok balığı, which literally translates to 'seal fish'.
Meaning: pinniped (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the plural 'seals', use foklar, which is formed by adding the suffix -lar to the word.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /fok/. The sound is similar to the [f] in English 'food' and the [k] in 'core'.
Did you know?
- Although fok is the word for the animal, the Turkish word for a 'seal' used to close a letter or official document is mühür. These two words share no linguistic connection.
- The Turkish word fok is actually a loanword from the French word phoque, which itself traces back to Ancient Greek.
- The Mediterranean monk seal, called Akdeniz foku, is an endangered species and is a symbol of marine conservation in Turkey.
Examples in context
- Kıyıda bir fok balığı vardı.There was a seal on the shore.This sentence shows how to use fok when describing an animal on the shore.Tatoeba #4744767 by deyta, translation #851969 by marloncori
- Atuqtuaq fok balığını çiğ yer.Atuqtuaq eats the seal blubber uncooked.This sentence uses fok in the context of eating seal blubber.Tatoeba #4976481 by duran, translation #4942494 by nonong
- Fok homurdanıyor.The seal is snorting.This sentence illustrates the use of fok when describing the animal's sounds.Tatoeba #12503968 by misi2991, translation #10636238 by AlanF_US
- Lütfen bu belgeyi mührünüzle imzalayın.Please sign this document with your seal.
Example conversation
Burak and Selin are visiting an aquarium.
- BurakBak, şu fok çok büyük!Look, that seal is very big!
- SelinEvet, gerçekten çok görkemli görünüyor.Yes, it looks truly magnificent.
- BurakOnu izlemek çok eğlenceli.It is very fun to watch it.
- SelinKesinlikle, en sevdiğim hayvan bu.Definitely, this is my favorite animal.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “seal” translations and entries fok, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries fok, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
