Ways to say it
| Turkish | IPA |
|---|---|
| kız kardeş | /kɯz kaɾdeʃ/ (from spelling rules) |
| bacı | /bɑˈd͡ʒɯ/ |
While kız kardeş is the standard way to say sister, it can refer to a sister of any age unless specified otherwise.
Which one should you use?
The phrase kız kardeş can mean a sister in general. To specifically denote that she is a younger sister, you can add the word küçük (small/young) to the phrase, forming küçük kız kardeş.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The word bacı is an alternative form for sister.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express possession, such as 'my sister', you add the possessive suffix -im to the end of the phrase to create kız kardeşim.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /kɯz kaɾdeʃ/. The /k/ sound is like the [c] in core, the /ɯ/ is somewhat like the [o] in ribbon, the /z/ is like the [z] in zone, the /ɾ/ is like the [t] in American English atom and the /ʃ/ is like the [sh] in shoe.
Did you know?
- The word kardeş contains a hidden biological connection, as it is formed by combining the word for 'womb' with a suffix meaning 'companion' or 'sharer'.
- In some Turkish dialects, bacı is used as a term of endearment or solidarity between women who are not biologically related.
- The suffix -daş in kardeş functions similarly to the English suffix '-mate', as seen in words like 'classmate' or 'roommate', denoting someone who shares something with you.
Examples in context
- Kız kardeşin var mı?Do you have a younger sister?This sentence is useful for asking if someone has a kız kardeş.Tatoeba #4304075 by fsmskr, translation #8322826 by CK
- Küçük kız kardeşi evli.His younger sister is married.This sentence is useful for stating that a kız kardeş is married.Tatoeba #8539275 by Spannungsbogen, translation #9868143 by ddnktr
- Küçük kız kardeşim ünlüdür.My younger sister is famous.This sentence is useful for stating that a kız kardeş is famous.Tatoeba #3099322 by duran, translation #2769870 by CK
- 47 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Burak and Elif are talking about their families.
- BurakSenin bir kız kardeşin var mı?Do you have a sister?
- ElifEvet, bir kız kardeşim var.Yes, I have a sister.
- BurakKız kardeşin kaç yaşında?How old is your sister?
- ElifBenim kız kardeşim on yaşında.My sister is ten years old.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “younger sister” translations and entries kız kardeş, bacı, 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 bacı, kardeş, kız, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
