oğul
/oˈuɫ/
The English word 'son' is translated into Turkish as oğul. Wiktionary also lists oğlan.
Meaning: a male person in relation to his parents (noun)
Ways to say it
| Turkish | IPA |
|---|---|
| oğul | /oˈuɫ/ |
| oğlan | /oːˈɫan/ |
The term refers to a male person in relation to his parents.
Which one should you use?
While oğul is used for a biological son, oğlan is used to refer to a young boy or a lad. Using oğlan to mean a biological son in a formal family context is a common error, as oğlan primarily describes a boy's age or gender rather than his relationship to his parents.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express 'their son' or 'their sons', the third-person plural possessive suffix is added to the root to form oğulları.
How do you pronounce it?
/oˈuɫ/. The sound /u/ is like the [oo] in the English word 'cool'.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use oğlan when you want to refer to a biological son in a formal family context. Use oğul instead, as oğlan refers more to the subject being a boy.
Did you know?
- In some regional dialects, oğlan is used to refer to a young male animal, such as a goat or sheep, instead of using a specific animal term.
- In traditional Turkish folk songs, the word oğlan is frequently used to refer to a young lover or a handsome young man, regardless of whose son he is.
- If you see the word oğlan in older historical texts, it often refers to a young soldier or a servant, a meaning much broader than just a 'boy'.
Examples in context
- O, en büyük oğul.He's the oldest son.This sentence is useful for identifying a person as the oldest oğul.Tatoeba #1261641 by duran, translation #593283 by CK
- Mary bir oğul doğurdu.Mary gave birth to a son.This sentence is useful for describing the act of giving birth to an oğul.Tatoeba #6112988 by deyta, translation #6112465 by CarpeLanam
- Onların bir oğulları var.They have a son.This sentence is useful for stating that someone has an oğul.Tatoeba #4775842 by deyta, translation #2870285 by Amastan
- 48 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Emre and Merve are talking about family heritage.
- EmreTek oğul olduğum için sorumluluklarım çok.As the only son, I have many responsibilities.
- MerveAilenle aran nasıl?How is your relationship with your family?
- EmreBabam her zaman iyi bir oğul olmamı istedi.My father always wanted me to be a good son.
- MerveEminim sen öyle birisin.I am sure you are such a person.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “son” translations and entries oğul, oğlan, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
