Is "Orta parmak" offensive?

Yes — very. It rates 4/5 on the Punch-o-Meter (Fighting words). aimed at a person, will start something. Read the usage note before you even think about it.

How do you pronounce "Orta parmak"?

This one's a hand gesture — there's nothing to pronounce. The middle finger raised, back of the hand toward the viewer.

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Turkish · Hand Gestures · hand gesture

Orta parmak

Fuck you (the finger)

4/5 Fighting words

aimed at a person, will start something

The gesture

"The middle finger raised, back of the hand toward the viewer"

What your hand is actually doing.

How to use it

The internationally understood middle finger reads exactly as you'd expect in Turkey — a direct, aggressive "fuck you," universal in traffic and arguments. Fighting words in gesture form; among close friends it can be a joke, but flashed at a stranger or another driver it's a real escalation. Turkey has its own homegrown obscene gestures (see the fig sign), but this import needs no translation.

Heard in the wild

Adam yol vermedi, orta parmağı gösterdi.

The guy wouldn't let me merge and flipped me off.

Where it lands

Turkey-wide; universal

Quick answers

What does "Orta parmak" mean?: In Turkish, "Orta parmak" means "Fuck you (the finger)". Literally it's "The middle finger raised, back of the hand toward the viewer". The internationally understood middle finger reads exactly as you'd expect in Turkey — a direct, aggressive "fuck you," universal in traffic and arguments. Fighting words in gesture form; among close friends it can be a joke, but flashed at a stranger or another driver it's a real escalation. Turkey has its own homegrown obscene gestures (see the fig sign), but this import needs no translation.
Is "Orta parmak" offensive?: Yes — very. It rates 4/5 on the Punch-o-Meter (Fighting words). aimed at a person, will start something. Read the usage note before you even think about it.
How do you pronounce "Orta parmak"?: This one's a hand gesture — there's nothing to pronounce. The middle finger raised, back of the hand toward the viewer.

Related in Turkish

'OK' işareti (dikkat!) gesture In some contexts an accusation/insult implying a man is gay — not a safe 'OK' Nah! (yumruk-baş parmak) gesture Up yours! / You'll get NOTHING! / Not a chance in hell Kafayı geriye atma ('cık') gesture No. (a silent, complete 'no') Ayıp! ah-YUHP Shame on you! / That's not on! Kahretsin! kah-ret-SEEN Damn it! / Dammit! Sinir oldum! see-NEER ol-DOOM That pissed me off / I'm irritated

The same idea, elsewhere

Via concepts like "Screw you".

how to say "Screw you" →

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