kar
/ˈkaɾ/
The English word "snow" is translated into Turkish as kar. Wiktionary also lists pük.
Meaning: partly frozen, crystalline state of water that falls from the atmosphere as precipitation in flakes, falling of such flakes, accumulation of them as a white layer (noun)
Ways to say it
| Turkish | IPA |
|---|---|
| kar | /ˈkaɾ/ |
| pük | /pyc/ (from spelling rules) |
kar refers to the crystalline state of water falling from the atmosphere or the white layer of accumulation on the ground. When you want to express the action of snowing, the common phrase used is kar yağmak, which literally means "snow to fall".
Is it said differently in some regions?
The form pük is also a way to say snow.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
To describe the act of snowing as a noun (the snowing), you can use the verbal noun form kar yağması.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ˈkaɾ/. The /k/ sound is like the [c] in the English word "core", and the /ɾ/ sound is like the [t] in the American English word "atom".
Did you know?
- The word kar can also mean 'profit' or 'gain' in a completely different context, such as in the financial term kâr (pronounced almost identically). While written with a circumflex in formal Turkish to distinguish them, they are often confused in spoken speech.
- In Turkish weather reports, you will often hear the term kar lapa lapa to describe snow falling in large, beautiful flakes. It is an onomatopoeic way to describe the rhythmic, soft falling of heavy snow.
- The Proto-Turkic root kār shows that this word has remained remarkably stable in its sound and meaning for thousands of years.
Examples in context
- O kar gibi beyaz.It is white as snow.This sentence uses kar to create a comparison for whiteness.Tatoeba #1261114 by duran, translation #272579 by CK
- Dün kar yağdı mı?Did it snow yesterday?This sentence uses kar to ask about the occurrence of snow.Tatoeba #4058895 by duran, translation #4057613 by CK
- Kar iki gün sürdü.The snow lasted for two days.This sentence uses kar to describe the duration of the snow.Tatoeba #1346127 by duran, translation #45807 by CK
- 675 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Merve and Burak are looking out the window at the weather.
- MerveBak, dışarıda kar yağıyor!Look, it is snowing outside!
- BurakEvet, her yer bembeyaz oldu.Yes, everywhere has become pure white.
- MerveKar topu oynayalım mı?Shall we play snowball fight?
- BurakHadi gidelim, çok eğlenceli olur.Let's go, it will be very fun.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “snow” translations and entries kar, 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 kar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
