Turkish · 5 phrases · a local category
The Art of the Curse
Turkish's signature move: the curse as a full, rhythmic invocation. Instead of a body part you wish calamity upon the target — "may your hearth go cold," "damn your eyes," a whole road down to hell. Baroque, folkloric, and often — with a laugh instead of a snarl — turned into pure affection.
Allah belanı versin! ah-LAH beh-lah-NUH ver-SEEN Damn you / God curse you Cehennemin dibine kadar yolun var! jeh-hen-neh-MEEN dee-bee-NEH kah-DAR yoh-LOON VAR You can go straight to hell Gözün kör olsun! gur-ZEWN KUR ol-SOON Damn your eyes / serves you right Geber! geh-BER Drop dead / die Ocağın sönsün! oh-jah-UHN surn-SEWN May your family line die out / may your home be ruined