Follow the relationship from the person speaking: first identify the parent or spouse, then the relative. You will distinguish four kinds of aunt and uncle and four useful terms for relatives by marriage.
The idea
On your mother’s side, her brother is your dayı and her sister your teyze; on your father’s side, use amca and hala. Marriage creates a different link: a sister’s or aunt’s husband is an enişte, while a brother’s or uncle’s wife is a yenge. Your spouse’s mother and father are your kayınvalide and kayınpeder. These words describe the relationship to you, not a fixed label everyone gives that person.
| Word | Relationship to you |
|---|---|
| dayı | your mother’s brother |
| amca | your father’s brother |
| teyze | your mother’s sister |
| hala | your father’s sister |
| enişte | the husband of your sister or aunt |
| yenge | the wife of your brother or uncle |
| kayınvalide | your spouse’s mother |
| kayınpeder | your spouse’s father |
Examples
- Dayım bugün bizde kalıyor.My maternal uncle is staying with us today.
- Amcam yarın bize geliyor.My paternal uncle is coming to see us tomorrow.
- Teyzem bize çorba getirdi.My maternal aunt brought us soup.
- Halam babamın kız kardeşi.My paternal aunt is my father’s sister.
- Eniştem teyzemin eşi.My uncle by marriage is my maternal aunt’s husband.
- Yengem amcamın eşi.My aunt by marriage is my paternal uncle’s wife.
- Kayınvalidem eşimin annesi.My mother-in-law is my spouse’s mother.
- Kayınpederim eşimin babası.My father-in-law is my spouse’s father.
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Watch out
Do not call your aunt’s husband dayı just because English calls him an uncle: he is your enişte. Nor does enişte mean every kind of brother-in-law. The table covers family relationships; familiar forms of address outside the family are a separate use.
Try it yourself
Your mother’s brother: choose dayı or amca.
Show answer or example answer
dayı
dayı: the route goes through your mother to her brother. Choosing amca would move that relationship to your father’s side.
Your father’s sister: choose hala or teyze.
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hala
hala: the woman is your father’s sister. Teyze would identify a sister of your mother instead.
Your sister’s husband: choose enişte or amca.
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enişte
enişte: the man joins the family through marriage to your sister. Amca would make him your father’s brother, a different relationship.
Your spouse’s mother: choose kayınvalide or yenge.
Show answer or example answer
kayınvalide
kayınvalide: follow the link through your spouse to their mother. Yenge refers to a brother’s or uncle’s wife, so it does not fit this route.
Practice round
Answer questions, then rebuild Turkish sentences and words where available. We keep your score.
Your mother’s brother: choose dayı or amca.
Your father’s sister: choose hala or teyze.
Your sister’s husband: choose enişte or amca.
Your spouse’s mother: choose kayınvalide or yenge.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
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Draw an invented family tree. Choose one person as the speaker and describe four relatives, including two linked by marriage. Then change the speaker and check which labels change.