Common Turkish Idioms Native Speakers Use Every Day
Author
Learning idioms is the fastest way to sound like a native Turkish speaker.
Idioms are expressions that have a figurative meaning completely different from their literal translation.
Turkish people use these phrases constantly in their everyday conversations.
If you only translate these expressions word-for-word, you’ll quickly become confused.
Understanding these phrases will instantly improve your Turkish listening comprehension.
I’ll explain the most common Turkish idioms you’ll hear on the street.
You can practice speaking these phrases today on Talk In Turkish.
Here’s a quick reference table of the idioms we’ll cover in this guide.
| Turkish Idiom | Literal Meaning | Actual Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Etekleri zil çalmak | Skirts ringing bells | To be very excited |
| Göz atmak | To throw an eye | To take a quick look |
| Küplere binmek | To ride the clay jugs | To be furious |
| Kafayı yemek | To eat the head | To go crazy |
| Çam devirmek | To knock down a pine tree | To say something tactless |
| Havadan sudan konuşmak | To talk from air and water | To make small talk |
Table of contents:
Etekleri zil çalmak
This is a very fun idiom that describes a feeling of immense joy.
The literal translation of this phrase is “their skirts are ringing bells”.
In Turkish culture, this visual represents someone shaking or dancing with so much happiness that their clothes make noise.
You’ll use this idiom whenever you’re extremely excited about something.
It’s commonly used when receiving good news or anticipating a great event.
Yeni iş için etekleri zil çalıyor.
Haberi duyunca eteklerim zil çaldı.
Göz atmak
This is one of the most frequently used verbs in daily Turkish life.
The literal translation of this phrase is “to throw an eye”.
It means to take a quick look or to glance at something briefly.
You can use it when you’re browsing items in a store without the intention to buy right away.
It’s also useful when you want someone to quickly review a document for you.
Bu rapora bir göz atabilir misin?
Sadece göz atıyorum, teşekkürler.
Küplere binmek
You’ll hear this idiom when someone is experiencing extreme anger.
The literal translation is “to mount the clay jugs”.
Hundreds of years ago, people used large clay jugs to store food and liquids in their homes.
The phrase paints a funny picture of someone so angry that they climb on top of these large jugs.
It’s the direct Turkish equivalent of “hitting the roof” or “flying into a rage” in English.
Babam kırık pencereyi görünce küplere bindi.
Onu kızdırma, küplere biner.
Kafayı yemek
This idiom is extremely popular among young people in Turkey.
The literal translation of this phrase is “to eat the head”.
Native speakers use this expression to say they’re going crazy or losing their minds.
It can be used in a negative way when you’re highly stressed.
It can also be used in a positive way when something is unbelievably good.
Bu sesten kafayı yiyeceğim.
Bu yemek çok güzel, kafayı yiyorum!
Çam devirmek
This is an essential idiom for describing awkward social situations.
The literal translation is “to knock down a pine tree”.
It means to say something clumsy or tactless that offends someone by mistake.
This is the exact equivalent of the English phrase “putting your foot in your mouth”.
You use it when someone accidentally reveals a secret or makes an inappropriate comment in public.
Toplantıda yine çam devirdi.
Onu söylemek istemedim, tam bir çam devirdim.
Havadan sudan konuşmak
This is a beautiful idiom used to describe casual conversations.
The literal translation is “to talk from the air and from the water”.
It means to make small talk or to chat about unimportant, everyday things.
Turkish people are very social and love to engage in this kind of friendly chatter.
You’ll use this when catching up with a friend over coffee without discussing anything serious.
Kafede oturduk ve iki saat havadan sudan konuştuk.
Bir sorun yok, sadece havadan sudan konuşuyoruz.
