nargile
/nɑɾ.ɟi.le/
The English phrase 'shisha' is translated into Turkish as nargile.
The word nargile refers to a water pipe used for smoking flavored tobacco. When you want to say 'to smoke shisha', you use the phrase nargile içmek, combining the noun with the verb içmek, which can mean both 'to drink' and 'to smoke'.
Which one should you use?
While English speakers often use the word 'shisha', nargile is the standard and most common term used in Turkish.
How do you pronounce it?
The word nargile has 3 syllables. The pronunciation is /nɑɾ.ɟi.le/. The /n/ is like the [n] in 'not'. The /ɾ/ is like the [t] in American English 'atom'. The /ɟ/ is like the [g] in 'argue'. And the /i/ is like the [ee] in 'creek'.
Did you know?
- Historically, the nargile was a luxury item associated with the Ottoman court before it became a common staple of public cafe culture.
- Using a nargile in Turkey is often accompanied by the serving of Turkish tea, as the tea is believed to complement the sweetness of the flavored tobacco.
- While English speakers use the word 'shisha' to describe the tobacco itself, in a Turkish context, nargile refers specifically to the device.
Examples in context
- Merhaba, bir nargile içmek istiyoruz.Hello, we would like to smoke a shisha.
- Hey, bir nargile çekecek misiniz?Hey, would you like to smoke a shisha?
- Masada bir nargile var.There is a hookah on the table.
- Yeni bir nargile aldık.We bought a new hookah.
- Nargile içmek ister misin?Do you want to smoke a hookah?
Example conversation
Two friends are sitting at a cafe.
- ElifBurak, nargile sipariş edelim mi?Burak, shall we order a hookah?
- BurakEvet, meyveli bir nargile çok iyi olur.Yes, a fruit-flavored hookah would be great.
- ElifBen de meyveli nargile seviyorum.I love fruit-flavored hookah too.
- BurakO zaman garsonu çağıralım.Then let's call the waiter.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry nargile, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
