Ways to say it
| Turkish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| hırsız | /hɯɾsɯz/ | |
| uğru | /uːɾu/ (from spelling rules) | |
| harami | /haɾami/ (from spelling rules) | |
| kuldur | /kulduɾ/ (from spelling rules) | regional |
| karak | /kaɾak/ (from spelling rules) | regional |
The term refers to someone who carries out theft. If you are referring specifically to a pickpocket, use Yankesici. While Çapulcu originally means a looter or vandal, it can be used colloquially to refer to a thief in a less serious sense.
Which one should you use?
hırsız is the standard and most widely used term. Other forms include uğru and harami, which also mean thief. kuldur and karak are specific to certain regions or dialects.
Is it said differently in some regions?
kuldur and karak are regional or dialectal terms for a thief.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the plural form, thieves, use hırsızlar.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /hɯɾsɯz/. The /h/ is like the [h] in home, the /ɯ/ is somewhat like the [o] in ribbon, the /ɾ/ is like the [t] in American English atom, the /s/ is like the [s] in send and the /z/ is like the [z] in zone.
Did you know?
- The word uğru shares a common root with the word for 'direction' in Ottoman Turkish.
- The term harami is widely understood across several Middle Eastern languages and often carries a connotation of a highwayman or bandit rather than a simple thief.
- The word harami is a formal or older way to say thief, often carrying a more sinister or literary connotation than the common hırsız.
Examples in context
- Tom hala bir hırsız.Tom is still a thief.This sentence is useful for stating that someone is still a thief.Tatoeba #12073325 by deyta, translation #12073147 by CK
- Hırsız başka ne aldı?What else did the thief take?This sentence is useful for asking what else the thief took.Tatoeba #4300719 by duran, translation #4013135 by CK
- Ben bir hırsız değilim.I'm not a thief.This sentence is useful for denying that you are a thief.Tatoeba #2012221 by duran, translation #1836094 by Spamster
- O kişi bir hırsız.That person is a thief.
- Kalabalık yerlerde yankesicilere dikkat et.Watch out for pickpockets in crowded places.
- Arkadaşımın küçük kardeşi biraz haydutça davranır.My friend's little brother is a bit of a rogue.
- 163 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Merve and Burak are talking about a recent neighborhood incident.
- MerveDün gece mahallede bir hırsız varmış.There was a thief in the neighborhood last night.
- BurakGerçekten mi? Kimse bir şey kaybetti mi?Really? Did anyone lose anything?
- MerveEvet, komşumuzun arabası çalınmış.Yes, our neighbor's car was stolen.
- BurakO hırsız umarım hemen yakalanır.I hope that thief is caught immediately.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “thief” translations and entries hırsız, uğru, harami, 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 hırsız, uğru, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
