Ways to say it
| Turkish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| köle | /cø.ˈle/ | |
| kul | /ˈkʊl/ | |
| tutsak | /tutsak/ (from spelling rules) | |
| karavaş | /kaɾavaʃ/ (from spelling rules) | feminine, historical |
The term köle refers to a person owned by another. This word can be used literally in historical contexts or metaphorically to describe someone who is subservient to an object, habit or emotion, such as being a slave to fashion or money.
Which one should you use?
The choice of word depends on the specific nuance of the situation. köle is the standard and most common word for a slave in general or historical contexts. If you are referring specifically to a captive or a prisoner of war, use tutsak. For religious or archaic contexts, such as being a servant of God or a subject of a ruler, the word kul is used.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has two syllables, with the stress on the second syllable. The first sound is like the 'sk' in the English word skews.
Did you know?
Examples in context
- Tom köle olarak doğdu.Tom was born a slave.This sentence shows how to use köle to describe someone's status at birth.Tatoeba #5772463 by duran, translation #5754473 by CM
- Para için köle olmayın.Don't be a slave to money.This sentence demonstrates the metaphorical use of köle regarding money.Tatoeba #5220429 by deyta, translation #5215200 by CarpeLanam
- Ben senin kölen değilim.I'm not your slave.This sentence shows a personal denial of being someone's köle.Tatoeba #2049729 by duran, translation #1935175 by Spamster
- Osmanlı döneminde birçok yabancı esir olarak alındı.During Ottoman times, many outsiders were taken as slaves.
- O, kendi korkularına köle.She is a slave to her own fears.
- Paraya köle olmayın.Don't let yourself become a slave to money.
- 52 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Burak and Zeynep are discussing a historical movie.
- BurakFilmdeki köle çok acı çekiyordu.The slave in the movie suffered a lot.
- ZeynepEvet, hikayesi çok üzücüydü.Yes, his story was very sad.
- BurakZeynep, o dönemdeki yaşam çok zordu.Zeynep, life in that era was very hard.
- ZeynepHaklısın, kimse öyle yaşamak istemez.You are right, nobody would want to live like that.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “slave” translations and entries köle, kul, tutsak, karavaş, 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 karavaş, kul, köle, tutsak, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
