ćurka
Latin, feminine
The English word 'turkey' (the bird) is translated into Croatian as ćurka. Wiktionary also lists ćuran and puran.
Meaning: bird in the genus Meleagris (noun)
Ways to say it
| Croatian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ćurka | Latin, feminine | |
| ćuran | Latin, masculine | |
| puran | /pǔraːn/ | Latin, masculine |
| tuka | Latin, feminine |
Which one should you use?
Use ćurka for a female turkey and ćuran specifically for a male turkey. In some contexts, puran is also used to refer to the bird.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The term tuka is a feminine form used to refer to the bird.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The forms ćurka and tuka are feminine nouns, while ćuran and puran are masculine nouns.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use Turska to refer to the bird. Turska refers exclusively to the country Turkey.
Did you know?
- The Croatian word puran may have originated from the word 'peruano' because early Europeans mistakenly believed the birds came from Peru.
- While English speakers use 'turkey' to describe the bird, the Croatian language provides four different noun forms to describe the same species.
Examples in context
- Ove godine planiram putovati u Tursku.This year, I plan to travel to Turkey.
- Ćurka je velika ptica.The turkey is a large bird.
- Ta ćurka je veoma glasna.That turkey is very loud.
Example conversation
Ivan and Ivana are talking about dinner.
- IvanŠto ćemo kuhati za ručak, Ivana?What are we cooking for lunch, Ivana?
- IvanaMislim da je ćurka dobra ideja.I think turkey is a good idea.
- IvanImamo li dovoljno mesa?Do we have enough meat?
- IvanaDa, ćurka je već u hladnjaku.Yes, the turkey is already in the fridge.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “turkey” translations and entries puran, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries puran, tuka, ćuran, ćurka, CC BY-SA 4.0.
