Atasözü: The Verbal Shortcuts of Turkish Wisdom

Grandparents in Turkish series rarely give advice in plain words. Instead they reach for an atasözü, a proverb. Real Turkish speakers do the same: proverbs turn up in family chats, news headlines, adverts and social media. Knowing a handful of the common ones will help you understand a lot of dialogue, and using one at the right moment always makes an impression.

Atasözü and deyim

Atasözü comes from ata (ancestor) + söz (word) + the compound suffix -ü: "the ancestors' word". The plural is atasözleri. An atasözü is a complete sentence that expresses a general truth or piece of advice, and its wording is fixed.

A deyim is an idiom: a fixed phrase with a figurative meaning that usually works as part of a sentence and changes with person and tense. Examples: etekleri zil çalmak (literally "one's skirts ringing bells", to be overjoyed), pireyi deve yapmak ("to make a camel out of a flea", to exaggerate), kulak asmamak ("not to hang an ear", to ignore). You say Etekleri zil çalıyor (she's overjoyed), changing the verb to fit the sentence. You would not change the words of a proverb.

Eleven proverbs worth knowing

• Damlaya damlaya göl olur. Literally: drop by drop, it becomes a lake. Meaning: small amounts add up; keep saving, keep going.
• Rüzgâr eken fırtına biçer. Literally: whoever sows the wind reaps the storm. Meaning: those who cause trouble will face worse consequences.
• Tatlı dil yılanı deliğinden çıkarır. Literally: a sweet tongue draws the snake out of its hole. Meaning: kindness and gentle words achieve more than force.
• Sakla samanı, gelir zamanı. Literally: keep the straw, its time will come. Meaning: don't throw things away; they may be useful one day.
• Bin bilsen de bir bilene danış. Literally: even if you know a thousand things, consult someone who knows. Meaning: always ask for advice.
• Ayağını yorganına göre uzat. Literally: stretch your legs according to your quilt. Meaning: live within your means.
• Üzüm üzüme baka baka kararır. Literally: grapes darken by looking at each other. Meaning: people take on the habits of those around them.
• Komşu komşunun külüne muhtaçtır. Literally: a neighbor needs even his neighbor's ashes. Meaning: everyone needs their neighbors sooner or later.
• Acele işe şeytan karışır. Literally: the devil meddles in hasty work. Meaning: rushing leads to mistakes.
• Dost acı söyler. Literally: a friend speaks bitterly. Meaning: a true friend tells you the uncomfortable truth.
• Ağaç yaşken eğilir. Literally: a tree is bent while it is young and green. Meaning: habits and education are best shaped in childhood.

Grammar point: the aorist and -a -a

Most proverbs use the aorist (geniş zaman), the tense for timeless truths: olur, biçer, çıkarır, kararır, karışır, söyler, eğilir. Others use the plain imperative, giving direct advice: uzat, danış, sakla.

Two proverbs above also show a handy pattern: a verb stem + -(y)a / -(y)e, repeated. Damlaya damlaya means "by dripping and dripping", and baka baka means "by looking and looking". You can use it freely: koşa koşa geldim (I came running), güle güle (literally "laughing laughing", the goodbye said to someone leaving).

Proverbs in real conversations

• Her ay biraz para biriktiriyorum; damlaya damlaya göl olur. I save a little money every month; it all adds up.
• Yavaş ol, acele işe şeytan karışır. Slow down, rushing leads to mistakes.
• Kızma ama dost acı söyler. Don't be angry, but a true friend tells you the truth.
• O kutuyu atma, sakla samanı gelir zamanı. Don't throw that box away; it might come in handy.
• Bu kadar pahalı bir araba alma, ayağını yorganına göre uzat. Don't buy such an expensive car; live within your means.

What you'll notice in dizi

• Grandparents settling an argument with a single proverb.
• "Rüzgâr eken fırtına biçer" as a warning aimed at a scheming character.
• Proverbs used ironically by younger characters to tease their elders.
• Characters quoting only the first half of a proverb and letting the silence finish it.