Turkish · Insults
Eşek
eh-SHEK · /eˈʃec/
Ass / stubborn idiot / rude oaf
2/5 Bar-safe
coarse but friendly; fine among acquaintances
Literally
"Donkey"
Word-for-word — which is rarely what it means.
How to use it
The donkey: stubborn, ill-mannered, thick. "Eşek gibi çalışmak" is to work like a dog (positive-ish), but "eşek" at a person means rude and dense. "Eşşoğlueşek" ("donkey son of a donkey") is the folksy escalation. Mild, sometimes almost fond among friends.
Heard in the wild
Selam bile vermedi, eşek!
He didn't even say hi — what an ass!
Where it lands
Turkey-wide; universal
Quick answers
- What does "Eşek" mean?
- In Turkish, "Eşek" means "Ass / stubborn idiot / rude oaf". Literally it's "Donkey". The donkey: stubborn, ill-mannered, thick. "Eşek gibi çalışmak" is to work like a dog (positive-ish), but "eşek" at a person means rude and dense. "Eşşoğlueşek" ("donkey son of a donkey") is the folksy escalation. Mild, sometimes almost fond among friends.
- Is "Eşek" offensive?
- It's on the mild end — 2/5 (Bar-safe) on the Punch-o-Meter. coarse but friendly; fine among acquaintances.
- How do you pronounce "Eşek"?
- Say it "eh-SHEK" — capitals mark the stressed syllable. In IPA: eˈʃec.
Related in Turkish
The same idea, elsewhere
Via concepts like "You idiot".
- French Con Idiot / dumbass — the single most useful insult in French
- German Arsch Arse / ass — and the second great compound-engine of German
- Greek μαλάκας Asshole / idiot — OR — dude / mate. The single most important word in Greek.
- Italian Stronzo! Asshole! / Bastard!
- Japanese ばか Idiot / dummy / stupid
- Korean 바보 Dummy / silly — the soft, safe, often affectionate 'idiot.'
- Polish debil Moron / idiot — the standard hard 'you idiot.'
- Portuguese Otário Sucker / gullible fool / mug
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