This B2 word set helps you read short accounts of court proceedings. The examples are invented for language practice; the focus is the meaning and use of words, not instructions for a legal case.
The idea
Learn these nouns with their usual partners: dava açmak means to bring a case, duruşmaya katılmak to attend a hearing, and karar vermek to make a decision. Hukuk names law as a system or field, kanun a statute, and adalet justice. These words belong to the same theme but do not replace one another.
| Turkish | Meaning in this lesson |
|---|---|
| hukuk | law as a system or field |
| adalet | justice |
| kanun | statute; law |
| mahkeme | court |
| dava | court case; lawsuit |
| duruşma | court hearing |
| hâkim | judge |
| avukat | lawyer |
| tanık | witness |
| delil | evidence; piece of evidence |
| karar | decision |
| itiraz | objection |
Examples
- Avukatlar bugün dosyayı inceledi.The lawyers examined the file today.
- Tanıklar olayın ayrıntılarını anlattı.The witnesses described the details of the event.
- Mahkeme bugün kararını açıkladı.The court announced its decision today.
- Bu delil henüz değerlendirilmedi.This piece of evidence has not yet been assessed.
- Karara yazılı olarak itiraz edildi.A written objection was made to the decision.
- Bu kanunun dili oldukça açık.The language of this statute is quite clear.
- Hukuk öğrencileri adalet kavramını tartıştı.The law students discussed the concept of justice.
- Dava dosyasında iki yeni belge var.There are two new documents in the case file.
Read-aloud uses a synthetic Turkish voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.
No Turkish device voice is available. You can still read the text.
Watch out
Do not translate every mention of a trial with duruşma. Dava is the case, duruşma a hearing, and mahkeme the court. Compare dava dosyası (case file) with duruşma tarihi (hearing date): the noun tells you what the information concerns.
Try it yourself
Complete the expression for starting a new case: Avukat yeni bir ___ açtı. Choose dava or duruşma.
Show answer or example answer
dava
dava: dava açmak describes bringing a case. The lawyer begins a case here; duruşma açmak would describe opening a hearing instead.
Name the court session that begins at ten: dava or duruşma?
Show answer or example answer
duruşma
duruşma: the clue is a court session starting at ten. Dava names the case being dealt with, not that particular session.
Complete the sentence: Mahkeme bir ___ verdi. Choose karar or kanun.
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karar
karar: verdi pairs with karar to describe a decision. A kanun is a statute, so it does not fit this expression about the court.
Which word means the evidence examined by the court: tanık or delil?
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delil
delil: the question asks for evidence being examined. Tanık names a person who gives information about an event, not the word for evidence.
Practice round
Answer questions, then rebuild Turkish sentences and words where available. We keep your score.
Complete the expression for starting a new case: Avukat yeni bir ___ açtı. Choose dava or duruşma.
Name the court session that begins at ten: dava or duruşma?
Complete the sentence: Mahkeme bir ___ verdi. Choose karar or kanun.
Which word means the evidence examined by the court: tanık or delil?
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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Write a four-sentence report about an imaginary case using dava dosyası, duruşma, delil and karar. Underline the verb paired with each noun where there is one.