vallah
/vallah/from spelling rules
The English phrase "wallah" is expressed in Turkish as vallah.
Vallah is an interjection used to emphasize that one is telling the truth or to express sincerity. It can also be used to express disbelief, functioning similarly to the English expressions "I swear" or "Honestly".
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is a contraction of the Arabic wa-llāhi, where wa is a particle used for swearing an oath and Allah is God.
Which one should you use?
The form vallah is a colloquial, shortened version of the more standard form vallahi.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Vallah is used in casual, everyday speech and is considered informal. The form vallahi is the more grammatically standard version used in both speech and writing.
How does it change in a sentence?
While vallah is common in colloquial speech, vallahi is the more grammatically standard form used in both speech and writing.
How do you pronounce it?
/vallah/. The /v/ sound is like the [v] in [v]ase and the /h/ sound is like the [h] in [h]ome.
Did you know?
- In Turkish culture, using vallahi too frequently in a single conversation can make a speaker seem less trustworthy, as constant swearing by God may imply they are actually lying.
- The phrase is often paired with 'billahi' to create a double oath, making the speaker's claim even more emphatic.
- Because it is a shortened version of a religious oath, using it very casually in formal settings might be viewed as slightly disrespectful by older or more traditional generations.
Examples in context
- O film, vallahi çok komikti.That movie, I swear, was very funny.
- Vallahi sana yardım edeceğim.I swear I will help you.
- Vallah, sınavı gerçekten geçemedim.I swear, I really didn't pass the exam.
- Vallah, anahtarı evde unuttum.I swear, I forgot the keys at home.
Example conversation
Emre tells Zeynep that he finished his homework.
- EmreÖdevimi bitirdim, vallah!I finished my homework, I swear!
- ZeynepHadi canım, gerçekten bitirdin mi?No way, did you really finish it?
- EmreVallah, bak istersen.I swear, look if you want.
- ZeynepTamam Emre, sana inanıyorum.Okay Emre, I believe you.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Turkish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
