When you learn Turkish, you'll find 'bacak' is a key word. It means 'leg' and refers to the entire limb from your hip to your foot. You can use it to talk about human or animal legs. For example, 'Uzun bacaklar' means 'long legs'. It's a foundational word for describing people and animals.
§ Understanding 'Bacak' vs. Related Terms
When you're learning Turkish, it's really helpful to know how to use words correctly, especially when there are similar terms. 'Bacak' means 'leg'. It's pretty straightforward, but let's look at how it compares to some other words you might encounter and when to stick with 'bacak'.
§ Bacak: The General Term for Leg
'Bacak' is your go-to word for 'leg' in almost all situations. It refers to the entire limb, from the hip to the foot. Whether you're talking about a human leg, an animal's leg, or even the leg of a piece of furniture, 'bacak' is usually the correct choice.
- DEFINITION
- The lower limb of a human or animal, or a supporting part of an object.
Koşarken bacaklarım ağrıyor. (My legs hurt when I run.)
Kedinin üç bacağı kırılmış. (The cat's three legs were broken.)
Masanın bacaklarından biri sallanıyor. (One of the table's legs is wobbly.)
§ Alternatives and Specific Contexts
While 'bacak' is broad, there are other words for more specific parts of the leg or in different contexts. You need to be aware of these so you don't confuse them.
- Ayak (Foot): This is the very end part of the leg, below the ankle. Don't use 'bacak' when you mean 'foot'.
- DEFINITION
- The terminal part of the vertebrate leg.
Ayaklarım üşüyor. (My feet are cold.)
- Baldır (Calf): This refers to the back part of the leg below the knee. If you specifically mean the calf muscle, you'd use 'baldır'.
- DEFINITION
- The back part of the human leg below the knee.
Koşudan sonra baldırlarım ağrıdı. (My calves hurt after running.)
- Diz (Knee): This is the joint in the middle of the leg. You wouldn't use 'bacak' to refer to just the knee.
- DEFINITION
- The joint between the thigh and the lower leg in humans.
Dizimde bir ağrı var. (There's a pain in my knee.)
§ When to Use 'Bacak'
Always default to 'bacak' when you are referring to the entire leg. If you're talking about a specific part, then use the more precise word. Think of 'bacak' as the umbrella term for the whole limb.
For example, if you're talking about wearing pants, you'd say 'pantolonun bacakları' (the legs of the pants). If you mean your whole leg is tired, it's 'bacağım yorgun'.
Geniş bacaklı pantolonlar moda. (Wide-leg pants are in fashion.)
§ Summary of Usage
To sum it up:
- Use bacak for the entire leg (human, animal, furniture).
- Use ayak for the foot.
- Use baldır for the calf.
- Use diz for the knee.
Keep practicing these distinctions, and you'll get comfortable with them quickly. Good luck!
Exemples par niveau
O, uzun bacaklarıyla hızlı koşuyor.
He runs fast with his long legs.
Kedinin bacakları ince ve çeviktir.
The cat's legs are thin and agile.
Masada üç bacak var, biri kırık.
There are three legs on the table, one is broken.
Bebeğin bacakları henüz çok küçük.
The baby's legs are still very small.
Spor sonrası bacaklarım ağrıyor.
My legs hurt after sports.
Kıyafetin bacak kısmı çok dar.
The leg part of the clothing is very tight.
Köpeğin bacakları çamur içindeydi.
The dog's legs were covered in mud.
Uçak yolculuğunun ilk bacağı sorunsuz geçti.
The first leg of the plane journey went smoothly.
Teste-toi 18 questions
Which of these means 'leg' in Turkish?
'Kol' means arm, 'baş' means head, and 'el' means hand. 'Bacak' means leg.
My leg hurts. Which word would you use for 'leg'?
'Parmak' is finger/toe, 'karın' is stomach, and 'sırt' is back. 'Bacak' is leg.
Which sentence correctly uses 'bacak'?
'Onun bacağı ağrıyor' means 'His/Her leg hurts.' The other sentences are about a book, a table, and drinking water.
The word 'bacak' refers to the arm.
'Bacak' means leg, not arm. The word for arm is 'kol'.
You can use 'bacak' to describe a part of a human body.
'Bacak' is indeed a part of the human body, meaning leg.
If you say 'bacaklarım', you are referring to multiple legs.
The suffix '-larım' indicates plural and possession, so 'bacaklarım' means 'my legs'.
This sentence means 'My legs are very tired.' The possessive 'benim' (my) comes first, followed by the noun 'bacaklarım' (my legs), then the adverb 'çok' (very) and finally the adjective 'yorgun' (tired).
This sentence translates to 'After running, your legs hurt.' 'Koştuktan sonra' (after running) acts as a temporal phrase, followed by 'bacakların' (your legs) and the verb 'ağrıdı' (hurt).
This means 'The table's leg is broken.' 'Masanın' (of the table) is in the genitive case, indicating possession, followed by 'bacağı' (its leg), and then the adjective 'kırık' (broken).
This sentence describes someone starting to walk again with the help of a prosthetic leg. 'Protez bacak' (prosthetic leg) is the subject, followed by 'sayesinde' (thanks to/by means of), then 'yeniden' (again), and finally the verb phrase 'yürümeye başladı' (started to walk).
This sentence talks about legs hurting after a long run. 'Uzun bir koşunun ardından' (after a long run) sets the context. 'Bacakları' (his/her legs) is the subject, and 'inanılmaz ağrıyordu' (were incredibly aching) describes the state.
This sentence describes a dancer adding a captivating atmosphere to the stage using their legs. 'Dansçı' (dancer) is the subject. 'Bacaklarını kullanarak' (using her legs) is the method. 'Sahneye' (to the stage) is the indirect object, and 'büyüleyici bir hava katıyordu' (was adding a captivating atmosphere) is the predicate.
/ 18 correct
Perfect score!
