Ways to say it
| Turkish | IPA |
|---|---|
| yazıklar olsun | /jazɯklaɾ olsun/ (from spelling rules) |
| yazık sana | /jazɯk sana/ (from spelling rules) |
| yazık size | /jazɯk size/ (from spelling rules) |
| yazıklar olsun sana | /jazɯklaɾ olsun sana/ (from spelling rules) |
| yazıklar olsun size | /jazɯklaɾ olsun size/ (from spelling rules) |
Turkish speakers use these expressions to show disapproval or to condemn someone's behavior or character. While some forms express a sense of pity, yazıklar olsun is used as an exclamation to condemn someone's behavior or character.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase yazıklar olsun literally means "let there be shames" or "may shames be upon you", where yazık means pity or shame.
Which one should you use?
The forms vary in strength and target. yazık sana expresses pity or mild disapproval, whereas yazıklar olsun is a much stronger, more emphatic expression of condemnation. You can add pronouns to the emphatic form, such as yazıklar olsun sana or yazıklar olsun size, to specify who is being condemned.
How does it change in a sentence?
yazık sana is a singular, informal way to express pity or shame directed at one person. In contrast, yazık size is the plural or formal version used when addressing multiple people or one person formally.
How do you pronounce it?
/jazɯklaɾ olsun/. The sound /j/ is like the [y] in "yes", /z/ is like the [z] in "zone", /ɯ/ is somewhat like the [o] in "ribbon", /k/ is like the [c] in "core", /ɾ/ is like the [t] in American English "atom", /s/ is like the [s] in "send", /u/ is like the [oo] in "cool" and /n/ is like the [n] in "not".
Did you know?
- In Turkish culture, calling someone's behavior yazık can sometimes be more devastating than a direct insult because it suggests the person has fallen below a basic standard of human dignity.
- In intense emotional arguments, yazıklar olsun can be used as a 'curse' of sorts, implying that the person's conscience will haunt them, rather than just a simple expression of disapproval.
- The word yazık is fundamentally linked to the concept of a mistake or an error, stemming from the ancient Turkic root meaning 'to err'.
Examples in context
- Sana yazıklar olsun Tom.Shame on you, Tom.This example shows how to address a specific person using yazıklar olsun.Tatoeba #8677547 by soliloquist, translation #4501278 by CK
- İkinize de yazıklar olsun.Shame on you both.This example demonstrates how to express shame toward two people using yazıklar olsun.Tatoeba #2776015 by Gulo_Luscus, translation #2648460 by CK
- Yalan söylediğin için yazıklar olsun.Shame on you for lying.This example shows how to link a reason for the condemnation to the phrase yazıklar olsun.Tatoeba #4768395 by duran, translation #4500620 by CK
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Merve is angry at Can because he stole her idea at work.
- MerveFikrimi çaldığın için yazıklar olsun sana!Shame on you for stealing my idea!
- CanTamam, çok özür dilerim Merve.Okay, I am very sorry Merve.
- MerveÖzür dilemen hiçbir şeyi değiştirmiyor.Your apology doesn't change anything.
- CanHaklısın, çok üzgünüm.You are right, I am very sorry.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “shame on you” translations, 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 sana, yazık, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
