Ways to say it
| Turkish | IPA |
|---|---|
| yan | /jan/ (from spelling rules) |
| taraf | /taɾaf/ (from spelling rules) |
yan is used when referring to a physical or spatial side, such as the immediate vicinity of a person or object. taraf is used for more abstract concepts, such as a direction, a political party or a side of an argument.
Which one should you use?
Use yan for the physical or spatial side. Use taraf for an abstract or directional side, such as a side of an argument or a political faction.
How does it change in a sentence?
It is common to add the possessive suffix '-ın/-in/-ün/-ün' after yan to indicate ownership or specific sides. For example, adding the suffix '-ı' to yan creates the third-person singular possessive form yanı, meaning his/her/its side. The phrase yan tarafı can be used in spatial references to indicate a specific side. The reduplicated form yan yana is the standard way to say side by side.
How do you pronounce it?
/jan/. The sound of the 'j' is like the 'y' in [y]es and the 'n' is like the 'n' in [n]ot.
Did you know?
- In Turkish, the phrase yanında (by the side of) is used not just for physical proximity but as the standard way to say someone is 'with' another person.
- When talking about 'sides' of a debate, taraf can be used as a verb taraf tutmak, which literally means 'to hold a side'.
- The word taraf is a loanword from Arabic, whereas yan is an indigenous Proto-Turkic word.
Examples in context
- O hep yanımda kaldı.She always stayed by my side.This sentence shows the use of yan regarding someone's side.Tatoeba #5300251 by deyta, translation #1864532 by kerbear407
- Biz yan yana yürüdük.We walked along side by side.This sentence demonstrates the idiomatic use of yan to mean side by side.Tatoeba #1053022 by duran, translation #263270 by CK
- O diğer tarafa geçti.She has gone over to the other side.This sentence shows how to use taraf when referring to a direction or another side.Tatoeba #5706672 by duran, translation #315928 by CK
- Yanında patates kızartması alabilir miyim?Could I have fries on the side?
- kanepenin sol kenarına otur.Sit on the sofa's left side
- Hangi tarafı tercih edersin?Which side do you prefer?
- 438 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Merve and Can are looking at a wooden table in a store.
- MerveMasanın yan kısmı çok pürüzlü.The side of the table is very rough.
- CanHaklısın, bu yan yüzey hatalı.You are right, this side surface is faulty.
- MerveDiğer yan daha düzgün görünüyor.The other side looks smoother.
- CanEvet, bu yan tarafı kontrol etmeliyiz.Yes, we should check this side.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “side” translations and entries yan, taraf, 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 taraf, yan, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
