The Words That From German into Turkish!

German Words You Might Already Know

As we said, if you know German, you know about 100 words in Turkish. In fact, you will read some of them below, and you will be surprised. For example, the word “Kuruş” is used in Turkish in the sense of “cent.” Moreover, this word, kuruş, comes from the German word “Groschen.” Actually, Groschen refers to the old silver German coin used for 10 pfennigs. Although this word is not used in modern German, terms like “cent” are commonly used instead.

Some common words are also given in Wikipedia, but you can find kuruş and more in the table below.

I have not written translations of these words. I am sure you will understand them when you read them. Turkish is written as it is read. (In other words, it is officially so! However, it cannot be said in practice that this is the case. 😊)

A Closer Look at Some Words

Let’s analyze some of these words. Here are a few examples of German words that have made their way into Turkish:

• Otoban: It’s not hard to guess the origin of this word! Yes, it comes from “Autobahn.”
• Bira: One of the most popular alcoholic beverages in Turkey is beer. You can find two major brands, Efes and Tuborg, prominently displayed throughout the country. We can clearly see that the word beer comes from the German word “Bier.”
• Doçent: The word “doçent” is derived from the German word “Dozent.” It refers to a university lecturer or instructor. In Turkey, the term is used to describe an academic title for a faculty member who assists in teaching and research at higher education institutions.

Language as a Cultural Mirror

I would like to mention another issue here: Language is actually a mirror of culture.

We took the word beer from German because beer is very important in German culture. Which words from Turkish are in German? Of course, “Döner” and “Joghurt” (written as “yoğurt” in Turkish). Especially after the 1960s, we see that the Turks who migrated to Germany realized the language transfer together with the cultural transfer.

Döner and Ayran

The adoption of “doçent” into Turkish is a testament to the cultural and intellectual exchanges between Turkey and Germany, particularly in the field of education and language learning. As Turkish universities began to adopt modern educational practices in the late 20th century, many German terms found their way into the academic vocabulary, enriching the Turkish language and aligning it with global standards.

Understanding the roots of words like “doçent” not only highlights the connections between languages but also sheds light on the historical relationships that shape our academic institutions today. This is especially relevant for those engaged in Turkish and German Language learning as it showcases the rich interplay between Turkish and German cultures.