Ways to say it
| Turkish | IPA |
|---|---|
| kadın | /kɑˈdɯn/ |
| hatun | /hɑːˈtun/ |
| bayan | /baˈjan/ |
| karı | /kaɾɯ/ (from spelling rules) |
The term woman is used to refer to an adult female person.
Which one should you use?
While kadın is the standard word for woman, bayan is often used as a polite or formal way to address or refer to a woman, similar to 'lady' or 'Ms.' in English. The word hatun is an archaic term for a woman or lady, often associated with historical contexts like the Ottoman or Seljuk periods. The word karı can mean woman, but in modern usage, it is most commonly used as an informal or sometimes derogatory term for 'wife'.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of kadın is /kɑˈdɯn/. The [k] sound is like the [c] in core, the [ɯ] sound is somewhat like the [o] in ribbon and the [n] sound is like the [n] in not.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers should be careful using bayan as a direct translation for woman in all contexts. Because it is a title or honorific rather than a biological descriptor, using it incorrectly can sometimes sound overly formal or slightly old-fashioned.
Did you know?
- The modern formal term bayan was derived from the word bay, which means 'wealthy' or 'gentleman'.
Examples in context
- O bir kadın oldu.She became a woman.This sentence is useful for showing how to use the form kadın to describe someone becoming a woman.Tatoeba #2050518 by duran, translation #1723102 by belgavox
- O sert bir kadın.She's a tough woman.This sentence is useful for showing how to use the form kadın to describe a person's character.Tatoeba #3177775 by deyta, translation #310895 by CK
- O adam bir kadın.The man is a woman.This sentence is useful for showing how to use the form kadın to identify a person's gender.Tatoeba #4840340 by deyta, translation #1098078 by cntrational
- Bu kadın çok başarılı.This woman is very successful.
- Kadınca bir bakış açısıyla dünyayı değerlendirmek önemlidir.It is important to evaluate the world with a woman's perspective.
- Köydeki analar çok çalışkandır.The women/mothers in the village are hardworking.
- 1143 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Elif and Burak are talking about a new neighbor.
- ElifYeni komşumuz bir kadın mı?Is our new neighbor a woman?
- BurakEvet, çok nazik bir kadın.Yes, she is a very kind woman.
- ElifOnu ne zaman göreceğiz?When will we see her?
- BurakBelki yarın uğrar.Maybe she will stop by tomorrow.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “woman” translations and entries kadın, hatun, bayan, karı, 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 bayan, hatun, kadın, karı, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
