kurt
/ˈkuɾt/
The English word wolf is translated into Turkish as kurt. Wiktionary also lists börü.
Meaning: animal (noun)
Ways to say it
| Turkish | IPA |
|---|---|
| kurt | /ˈkuɾt/ |
| börü | /bøˈɾy/ |
Both terms refer to the animal known as a wolf.
Which one should you use?
While kurt is the standard word for wolf, börü is an archaic or literary term often used in historical or mythological contexts.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the plural form, wolves, use kurtlar. If you wish to say 'to the wolf' using the dative case, use kurda. For the genitive case, meaning 'of the wolf', use kurdun.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ˈkuɾt/. The /k/ sound is like the [c] in core, the /u/ sound is like the [oo] in cool and the /ɾ/ sound is like the [t] in the American English word atom.
Did you know?
- In Turkish, the word kurt is a homonym that also means 'worm' or 'maggot'. The context of the sentence determines whether you are talking about a wild canine or a small larva.
- The archaic word börü refers to the wolf as a sacred symbol in ancient Turkic mythology. It is often associated with the legendary 'Gray Wolf' that guided the early Turks to their homeland.
- The word kurt is used in the common Turkish idiom kurtlar sofrası, which translates to 'the table of wolves'. It describes a cutthroat environment where the powerful prey on the weak.
Examples in context
- O bir kurt mu?Is it a wolf?This sentence is useful for asking if something is a kurt.Tatoeba #4547196 by duran, translation #2549771 by CK
- O yalnız bir kurt.He's a lone wolf.This sentence uses kurt to describe a lone wolf.Tatoeba #5260595 by deyta, translation #3232034 by _undertoad
- Hiç kurt gördün mü?Have you ever seen a wolf?This sentence is useful for asking if someone has ever seen a kurt.Tatoeba #2832886 by duran, translation #241867 by gracehero
- Ormanda bir kurt gördüm.I saw a wolf in the forest.
- 57 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Can and Zeynep are looking at a picture in a book.
- CanBak, burada kocaman bir kurt var.Look, there is a huge wolf here.
- ZeynepKurtlar gerçekten çok korkutucu görünüyor.Wolves look really scary.
- CanEvet, ama aynı zamanda çok zekiler.Yes, but they are also very intelligent.
- ZeynepHaklısın, doğada çok güçlü hayvanlar.You are right, they are very strong animals in nature.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “wolf” translations and entries kurt, börü, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
