şey
/ˈʃej/
The English filler word 'um' is expressed in Turkish using şey.
şey is an informal filler word used to fill a moment of silence while a speaker is hesitating or searching for the right word, functioning similarly to the English 'uh' or 'uhm'.
How does it change in a sentence?
Unlike most Turkish nouns, şey is an invariable noun and does not take plural suffixes.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ˈʃej/. The sound /ʃ/ is like the [sh] in 'shoe' and /j/ is like the [y] in 'yes'.
Did you know?
- In certain highly informal or vulgar contexts, the word şey can be used as a euphemism for a body part, similar to how English speakers use 'thing' or 'it'.
- The word şey is a linguistic traveler, originating from the Arabic word for 'thing' and passing through Ottoman Turkish.
- Because şey can mean 'thing', Turkish speakers often use it to avoid saying a word that might be considered rude, taboo or too emotional in a given social setting.
Examples in context
- Şey… grubunuza katılabilir miyiz?Um… can we join your group?This sentence shows how to use şey as a filler when asking to join a group.Tatoeba #4845205 by dursun, translation #4844478 by Ishao
- Um, sana hakkında sormak istediğim bir şey var.Um, there's something I want to ask you about.This sentence shows how şey can be used as an English-style filler at the start of a sentence.Tatoeba #5072393 by duran, translation #4717556 by xorgy
- Şey, belki sinemaya gidebiliriz.Um, maybe we could go to the cinema.
- Şey… ismini tam hatırlayamadım.Um… I couldn't quite remember your name.
Example conversation
Emre is trying to remember the name of a movie to recommend to Zeynep.
- EmreZeynep, harika bir film izledim, adı şey…Zeynep, I watched a great movie, the name is um…
- ZeynepHatırlayamadın mı?Couldn't you remember it?
- EmreŞey, şimdi aklıma geldi, adı Yıldızlar.Um, now it came to me, the name is Stars.
- ZeynepTamam, onu izleyeceğim.Okay, I will watch it.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry şey, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries şey, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
