Ten Turkish proverbs heard from older relatives

The idea

Keep the words inside a quoted proverb in their established order; explain the message separately with Yani… (in other words). Damlaya damlaya göl olur pictures drops forming a lake: small amounts accumulate. Ak akçe kara gün içindir instead stresses keeping savings for difficulties; akçe is an old word for money. The aorist in olur or karışır presents a general observation, not a particular future event. Learn unfamiliar forms within these fixed sayings first.

Examples

• Bu söz bana tasarrufu hatırlatıyor.This saying reminds me to save.
• Bence bu işi birlikte yapalım.I think we should do this together.
• Bu atasözünü şimdi daha iyi anlıyorum.I understand this proverb better now.
• Dedem kumbarama baktı: "Damlaya damlaya göl olur."Grandad looked at my money box: “Small savings add up.”
• Babaannem pahalı koltuğu gösterdi: "Ayağını yorganına göre uzat."My paternal grandmother pointed to the expensive armchair: “Live within your means.”
• Annem yamuk düğmeyi gördü: "Acele işe şeytan karışır."Mum saw the crooked button: “Rushing leads to mistakes.”
• Dedem masayı taşımaya geldi: "Bir elin nesi var, iki elin sesi var."Grandad came to help move the table: “Together we can do more than alone.”
• Anneannem boş kavanozu ayırdı: "Sakla samanı, gelir zamanı."My maternal grandmother set the empty jar aside: “Something saved may come in useful later.”
• Babam tartışmayı durdurdu: "Tatlı dil yılanı deliğinden çıkarır."Dad stopped the argument: “Kind words can win over even a difficult person.”
• Teyzem komşudan merdiven istedi: "Komşu komşunun külüne muhtaçtır."My maternal aunt asked the neighbour for a ladder: “Neighbours need each other even for small things.”
• Dedem tamir parasını birikiminden ödedi: "Ak akçe kara gün içindir."Grandad paid for the repair from his savings: “Savings are there for hard times.”
• Annem kardeşime yardımımı hatırlattı: "Ne ekersen onu biçersin."Mum reminded me of my help to my sibling: “Your actions shape what comes back to you.”
• Babaannem örgüsünü eline aldı: "İşleyen demir pas tutmaz."My paternal grandmother picked up her knitting: “Staying active keeps you capable.”

Watch out

Do not answer Ayağını yorganına göre uzat by talking about your feet or bedding: in the armchair scene it means to match spending to your means. Recognising advice does not mean agreeing with it. If the point is unclear, ask Bu söz ne demek?; Haklısın says you think the person is right, not merely that you understood.

Try it yourself

1. Grandad points to my money box and says small savings add up. I put money aside every day: I am doing ___.

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   tasarruf / birikim

   tasarruf / birikim: putting money aside each day makes a growing reserve. The money box makes saving, rather than literal rain or a lake, the relevant meaning.

2. Mum says haste causes mistakes. She means: do not ___; sew the button carefully.

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   acele

   acele: the crooked button is a result of rushing. The warning asks the listener to slow down and sew carefully; it does not predict a literal devil.

3. Grandad says cooperation achieves more. Let us carry the table ___. (alone / together)

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   birlikte / beraber

   birlikte / beraber: the grandfather offers help carrying the table, so the missing word must express joint action. Carrying it alone would contradict his offer.

4. You did not understand a proverb. Ask its meaning, starting with Bu söz.

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   Bu söz ne demek? / Bu söz ne anlama geliyor?

   Bu söz ne demek? / Bu söz ne anlama geliyor?: both ask for the saying’s meaning without claiming to agree with its advice.

Use it today

Choose three family situations from the examples. Say the matching proverb, then explain it in a simple Turkish sentence beginning with Yani. For one situation, ask for the meaning before responding.