Names of relatives in Turkish

In the Turkish language, relatives on the father’s side and on the mother’s side are called differently.

Basic

• aile – family
• anne – mother
• baba – father
• annebaba – parents
• kız – daughter
• oğul – son

Brothers and Sisters

• abla – elder sister
• ağabey / abi – elder brother
• kız kardeş – younger sister
• erkek kardeş – younger brother

Grandparents

• büyük baba / dede – grandfather
• büyük anne / nine – grandmother
• anneanne – maternal grandmother (mother’s mother)
• babaanne – paternal grandmother (father’s mother)

Aunts and Uncles

• hala – paternal aunt (father’s sister)
• amca – paternal uncle (father’s brother)
• dayı – maternal uncle (mother’s brother)
• teyze – maternal aunt (mother’s sister)

Marriage and Spouses

• eş – spouse (husband or wife)
• karıkoca – married couple, spouses
• koca – husband
• karı – wife

Other Relatives

• kuzen – male cousin
• kuzin – female cousin
• torun – grandchild
• kız torun – granddaughter
• damat – son-in-law, groom
• gelin – daughter-in-law, bride
• yeğen – nephew / niece
• akraba – relative

In-laws and Step-family

• kayınana – mother-in-law (husband’s or wife’s mother)
• kayınpeder – father-in-law (husband’s or wife’s father)
• üvey anne – stepmother
• üvey baba – stepfather
• üvey kız – stepdaughter
• üvey oğul – stepson