Ways to say it
| Turkish | IPA |
|---|---|
| kelime | /celime/ (from spelling rules) |
| sözcük | /søzˈd͡ʒyc/ |
| laf | /ˈlaf/ /ˈɫaf/ |
These terms all refer to a unit of language, but they are used in different contexts. While kelime and sözcük refer to a linguistic unit, the term laf is often used colloquially to refer to 'talk' or 'speech' and can sometimes imply gossip or empty talk. Additionally, the idiomatic phrase laf olsun diye is used to describe doing or saying something just for the sake of it, without any real purpose or substance.
Which one should you use?
kelime and sözcük are the standard terms for a linguistic unit. In contrast, laf is a more colloquial term that refers to 'talk' or 'chat' rather than a specific, discrete word.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the plural 'words', you use kelimeler for the plural of kelime and sözcükler for the plural of sözcük.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of kelime is /celime/. The /c/ sound is like the 'sk' in 'skew', the /i/ is like the 'ee' in 'creek' and the /m/ is like the 'm' in 'much'.
Did you know?
- The term sözcük is surprisingly modern, having been coined by the writer Melih Cevdet Anday in 1958. He created it specifically to provide a purely Turkish alternative to the Arabic-rooted kelime.
- The root söz not only means 'word' or 'speech' but is also the standard word for a 'promise'.
- The diminutive suffix '-cük' in sözcük is quite unusual. In many contexts, this suffix is used to make things sound smaller or cuter, but here it is part of a standard technical term for a word.
Examples in context
- O kelime eski moda.That word is old fashioned.This sentence is useful for describing a specific kelime as being old fashioned.Tatoeba #5371088 by deyta, translation #2595663 by WestofEden
- O bir kelime değil.That's not a word.This sentence is useful for stating that something is not a kelime.Tatoeba #6062044 by deyta, translation #6035820 by mailohilohi
- Bu güzel bir kelime.This is a beautiful word.This sentence is useful for describing a kelime as being beautiful.Tatoeba #6117225 by deyta, translation #6116227 by mailohilohi
- Öğrenciler, lütfen her kelimenin anlamını öğrenin.Students, please learn the meaning of each word.
- Bu sözcüğün nasıl telaffuz edildiğini bilmiyorum.I don't know how to pronounce this word.
- Söz veriyorum, bu sefer geç kalmayacağım.I promise, I won't be late this time.
- 653 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Burak and Selin are studying a Turkish textbook together.
- BurakBu kelime ne demek?What does this word mean?
- SelinO kelime 'kitap' demek.That word means 'book'.
- BurakAnladım, çok teşekkürler.I see, thanks a lot.
- SelinRica ederim, Burak.You're welcome, Burak.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “word” translations and entries kelime, sözcük, laf, 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 kelime, laf, sözcük, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
