Meaning
Describing age of a building.
Cultural Background
Many 'eski evler' in Istanbul are being replaced by modern apartments due to earthquake safety laws (Kentsel Dönüşüm). Traditional old Turkish houses often have a 'cumba' (bay window) where women could watch the street without being seen. There is a specific type of melancholy (hüzün) associated with decaying old houses in Turkish literature, famously described by Orhan Pamuk. Even in an 'eski ev', Turkish hospitality (misafirperverlik) remains a priority. The age of the house doesn't matter; the welcome does.
The Person Rule
Never call a person 'eski' unless you mean they are your 'ex' (e.g., eski sevgili). For age, use 'yaşlı'.
Former vs. Old
If you say 'Eski evim', people will assume you mean your 'previous' house, even if it was built last year.
Meaning
Describing age of a building.
The Person Rule
Never call a person 'eski' unless you mean they are your 'ex' (e.g., eski sevgili). For age, use 'yaşlı'.
Former vs. Old
If you say 'Eski evim', people will assume you mean your 'previous' house, even if it was built last year.
Complimenting Houses
If someone lives in an old house, call it 'tarihi' or 'otantik' to be polite. 'Eski' can sometimes sound like you think it's falling apart.
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct word for 'old'.
Bu ___ ev çok güzel. (Hint: It's a house, not a person!)
We use 'eski' for objects like houses. 'Yaşlı' is for people.
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
Select the correct word order.
The order is Adjective + Article + Noun.
Match the Turkish phrase to its English meaning.
Match the following:
Suffixes like -im (my) and -de (in) attach to the noun 'ev'.
Complete the dialogue.
Ayşe: Nerede yaşıyorsun? Ali: ______ bir evde yaşıyorum.
Ali is describing his house, so he uses the adjective 'eski'.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Eski vs. Yaşlı
Types of Houses
Age
- • Eski ev
- • Yeni ev
- • Tarihi ev
Condition
- • Yıkık ev
- • Bakımlı ev
- • Köhne ev
Practice Bank
4 exercisesBu ___ ev çok güzel. (Hint: It's a house, not a person!)
We use 'eski' for objects like houses. 'Yaşlı' is for people.
Select the correct word order.
The order is Adjective + Article + Noun.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Suffixes like -im (my) and -de (in) attach to the noun 'ev'.
Ayşe: Nerede yaşıyorsun? Ali: ______ bir evde yaşıyorum.
Ali is describing his house, so he uses the adjective 'eski'.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsYes! 'Eski erkek arkadaşım' is the standard way to say 'my ex-boyfriend'.
It's neutral. However, if the house is very beautiful, 'tarihi ev' is a better compliment.
The opposite is 'yeni ev' (new house).
You can say 'çok eski bir ev' or 'yıllanmış bir ev'.
Not always. It can simply mean 'from the past' or 'former'.
Yes, 'eski araba' (old car) is very common.
Many associate them with 'mahalle' culture, which emphasizes close-knit community ties.
Yes, 'eski evler' (old houses).
It's a more emphatic, slightly negative way to say 'shabby' or 'dilapidated'.
No, for food that is no longer fresh, use 'bayat'.
Related Phrases
Yeni ev
contrastNew house
Eski arkadaş
similarOld friend
Tarihi bina
specialized formHistorical building
Ev sahibi
builds onLandlord / Homeowner
