When you're just starting out in Turkish, understanding simple descriptive words like 'garip' (strange) can really help you talk about things around you. Think of 'garip' as a way to say something is unusual, odd, or not what you expected. It's a handy word to have when you want to describe something that catches your attention because it's a bit different.
For example, if you see a very oddly shaped building, you could say it looks 'garip'. Or, if you hear a strange sound, you might describe it as 'garip'. It’s a versatile word that helps you express mild surprise or curiosity about something out of the ordinary.
Alright, let's talk about 'garip'. This word is super common in Turkish, and you'll hear it a lot. It means 'strange' or 'odd'. Simple enough, right? But like many words, it has nuances that are good to know.
- Turkish Word
- garip (adjective)
- Pronunciation
- gah-reep
- CEFR Level
- A2
- Definition
- strange, odd, peculiar, unusual; also, sometimes unfortunate or sad in an unexpected way.
§ Basic Usage of Garip
Most of the time, 'garip' is used just like 'strange' in English. It describes something that is not normal or expected. It can be used for things, situations, or even people.
Bu çok garip bir durum.
This is a very strange situation. (bu: this, çok: very, bir: a, durum: situation)
O garip ses neydi?
What was that strange sound? (o: that, ses: sound, neydi: what was it)
§ 'Garip' with a hint of sadness or pity
Here's where 'garip' gets a little more interesting. Sometimes, 'garip' can also carry a feeling of pity, loneliness, or unfortunate circumstances. It's not just 'strange' but 'strange' in a way that makes you feel a little sad for someone or something.
Onun durumu biraz garip geldi bana.
His/her situation seemed a bit unfortunate/sad to me. (onun: his/her, durumu: situation, biraz: a little, geldi: came, seemed, bana: to me)
In this context, 'garip' implies that the situation is not just unusual, but also perhaps a bit sad or difficult, evoking sympathy.
Sahilde garip bir adam oturuyordu.
A solitary/unfortunate-looking man was sitting on the beach. (sahilde: on the beach, bir adam: a man, oturuyordu: was sitting)
Here, 'garip' could mean 'strange' in appearance, but it could also suggest he looked forlorn or alone.
§ Similar words and when to use them
While 'garip' is versatile, there are other words you can use depending on the exact shade of 'strangeness' you want to convey. Knowing these will make your Turkish sound more natural.
Tuhaf:
This is probably the closest synonym to 'garip' when you mean simply 'strange' or 'odd' without any emotional undertone. It's very common and interchangeable with 'garip' in many contexts, especially for things or situations that are peculiar or unexpected.
Bu tuhaf bir koku var.
There's a strange smell. (bu: this, bir koku: a smell, var: there is)
Acayip:
This word also means 'strange' or 'weird', but it often implies a higher degree of strangeness, something truly extraordinary or bizarre. It can also be used to emphasize. Think 'really strange' or 'super weird'. It's a bit stronger than 'garip' or 'tuhaf'.
Ne acayip bir fikir!
What a weird/crazy idea! (ne: what a, bir fikir: an idea)
Anormal:
This is a more formal or scientific term, directly meaning 'abnormal'. You'd use this when something deviates from the norm or standard, often in a more objective sense. Less for casual everyday 'strange' and more for something clinically or statistically unusual.
Anormal davranışlar sergiliyordu.
He was exhibiting abnormal behaviors. (davranışlar: behaviors, sergiliyordu: was exhibiting)
§ When to use 'garip'
Use 'garip' when:
You mean 'strange' or 'odd' in a general sense, for things, events, or people.
You want to hint at a sense of pity, loneliness, or unfortunate circumstances alongside 'strangeness'. This is its unique flavor.
While 'tuhaf' is often interchangeable for simple 'strange', 'garip' adds that extra layer of potential emotional depth. 'Acayip' for more intense weirdness, and 'anormal' for clinical abnormality.
Keep practicing, and you'll get a feel for 'garip' and its friends in no time!
Fun Fact
The word 'garip' has cognates in other Turkic languages and also in Persian, reflecting its widespread use and adoption across various cultures due to historical interactions with Arabic.
Examples by Level
Bu çok garip bir durum.
This is a very strange situation.
Garip sesler duyuyorum.
I hear strange noises.
Dün garip bir rüya gördüm.
I had a strange dream yesterday.
Bu garip bir fikir olabilir.
This might be a strange idea.
O biraz garip bir insan.
He is a bit of a strange person.
Garip bir koku var burada.
There is a strange smell here.
Garip şeyler oluyor.
Strange things are happening.
Bu garip bir his.
This is a strange feeling.
Bu kadar garip bir durumla daha önce hiç karşılaşmamıştım.
I have never encountered such a strange situation before.
Onun garip davranışları herkesi şaşırttı.
His strange behavior surprised everyone.
Rüyada garip şeyler görmek bazen normaldir.
Seeing strange things in dreams is sometimes normal.
Bu garip hikaye beni çok etkiledi.
This strange story affected me deeply.
Otelde kaldığımız oda biraz garip kokuyordu.
The room we stayed in at the hotel smelled a little strange.
Yeni komşularımızın garip alışkanlıkları var gibi görünüyor.
Our new neighbors seem to have strange habits.
Dün gece duyduğum garip sesler beni uykumdan uyandırdı.
The strange sounds I heard last night woke me up from my sleep.
Bu garip tesadüf hayatımı değiştirdi.
This strange coincidence changed my life.
How to Use It
Garip is used in many situations to mean strange, but can also mean odd, weird, bizarre, curious or uncanny depending on the context.
Garip is an adjective. Make sure to use correct adjective order, e.g., garip bir olay (a strange event) or bu garip (this is strange). Also, it is common for learners to overuse garip. While common, Turkish has other words to mean strange that may be better to use, like acayip or tuhaf.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Imagine a **gar**age that is very **ip**sy-turvy and strange. **Garip**!
Visual Association
Picture a 'garip' (strange) looking sheep in your mind. The sheep has three eyes and is purple.
Word Web
Challenge
Create a sentence using 'garip' to describe something unusual you saw today. For example: 'Bugün yolda garip bir şapka takan bir adam gördüm.' (Today I saw a man wearing a strange hat on the road.)
Word Origin
Arabic
Original meaning: foreign, strange, unusual
SemiticCultural Context
In Turkish culture, 'garip' can sometimes carry a connotation beyond just 'strange' or 'odd'. It can also imply a sense of being 'lonely' or 'helpless', especially when used in expressions like 'garip kalmak' (to be left alone/helpless). This emotional depth adds a layer to its usage that is important for learners to grasp. Sometimes, something 'garip' might evoke a feeling of pity or sympathy.
Test Yourself 36 questions
Bu hikaye çok ___ .
The story is very 'strange'.
Dün gece rüyamda ___ şeyler gördüm.
I saw 'strange' things in my dream last night.
Onun bu kararı bana çok ___ geldi.
His decision seemed very 'strange' to me.
Bu kıyafet biraz ___ değil mi?
This outfit is a bit 'strange', isn't it?
O, her zaman ___ fikirleri olan biridir.
He is someone who always has 'strange' ideas.
Bu evin yapısı çok ___ .
The structure of this house is very 'strange'.
This is a very strange situation.
Why are you acting so strangely?
There was a strange smell.
Read this aloud:
Bu film çok garip.
Focus: ga-rip
You said:
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Read this aloud:
O garip bir fikir.
Focus: fi-kir
You said:
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Read this aloud:
Burası garip bir yer.
Focus: ye-r
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Bu hikayede gerçekten çok ___ şeyler oluyor.
The sentence implies something unusual is happening in the story. 'Garip' (strange) fits this context best. 'Güzel' (beautiful), 'doğru' (correct), and 'büyük' (big) do not make sense in this context.
Dışarıdan ___ bir ses geldi, ne olduğunu anlayamadık.
The phrase 'ne olduğunu anlayamadık' (we couldn't understand what it was) suggests the sound was unusual or strange. 'Garip' (strange) is the best fit. 'Net' (clear), 'yüksek' (loud), and 'hoş' (pleasant) don't align with the inability to understand the sound's origin.
Onun bu ___ davranışları herkesi şaşırttı.
The word 'şaşırttı' (surprised) indicates that the behaviors were unexpected or unusual. 'Garip' (strange) is the most appropriate word to describe these surprising behaviors. 'Normal' (normal), 'beklenen' (expected), and 'olağan' (usual) are antonyms to the intended meaning.
Rüyamda çok ___ bir yer gördüm, hiç gitmediğim bir yerdi.
The phrase 'hiç gitmediğim bir yerdi' (it was a place I'd never been to) suggests the place in the dream was unfamiliar and perhaps unusual. 'Garip' (strange) is the best fit here. 'Tanıdık' (familiar) and 'bildik' (known) are opposite in meaning. 'Güzel' (beautiful) doesn't capture the unfamiliar aspect as well.
Bu olayın nasıl olduğunu açıklamak oldukça ___. Kimse anlam veremiyor.
The sentence states 'Kimse anlam veremiyor' (Nobody can make sense of it), implying the event is unusual or difficult to explain. 'Garip' (strange) perfectly describes this situation. 'Kolay' (easy), 'açık' (clear), and 'mantıklı' (logical) are contrary to the context.
O elbise sana biraz ___ durmuş, sanki senin bedenin değil gibi.
The phrase 'sanki senin bedenin değil gibi' (as if it's not your body) suggests the dress looks unusual or ill-fitting on the person. 'Garip' (strange/odd) describes this best. 'Yakışmış' (suited/fit well) and 'uygun' (suitable) are the opposite. 'Dar' (tight) describes a specific fit issue, but 'garip' encompasses a broader sense of looking unusual.
The speaker is curious about the ending of a strange story.
Someone's strange behavior surprised everyone.
They met by a strange coincidence.
Read this aloud:
Bu garip durumu nasıl açıklarsın?
Focus: Ga-rip
You said:
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Read this aloud:
Çok garip bir rüya gördüm bu gece.
Focus: Rü-ya
You said:
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Read this aloud:
Garip bir olay yaşadık geçen hafta.
Focus: O-lay
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Aşağıdaki cümlelerin hangisinde 'garip' kelimesi mecazi anlamda kullanılmıştır?
'Garip gelmek' deyimi, bir şeyin kişiye tuhaf veya olağandışı görünmesi anlamına gelir ve burada mecazi bir kullanımdır.
Edebiyatta 'garip' akımının temel özelliklerinden biri aşağıdakilerden hangisidir?
Garip akımı (Birinci Yeniler), şiirde ölçü, uyak ve edebi sanatlar gibi geleneksel ögeleri reddederek, serbest nazım ve günlük dili savunmuştur.
'Garipsemek' fiilinin en yakın anlamı hangi seçenekte verilmiştir?
'Garipsemek', bir şeyi veya bir durumu tuhaf bulmak, yadırgamak anlamına gelir.
'Garip' kelimesi sadece nesneler için değil, kişiler veya durumlar için de kullanılabilir.
'Garip' kelimesi, hem somut hem de soyut kavramlar için, yani nesneler, kişiler veya durumlar için kullanılabilir. Örneğin, 'garip bir adam' veya 'garip bir olay'.
Türk Dil Kurumu'na göre 'garip' kelimesinin yalnızca olumsuz bir çağrışımı vardır.
'Garip' kelimesi genellikle 'tuhaf, olağandışı' anlamlarıyla olumsuz bir çağrışım yapsa da, bazen 'ilginç' veya 'farklı' gibi nötr veya hafif olumlu bağlamlarda da kullanılabilir.
Orhan Veli Kanık, Melih Cevdet Anday ve Oktay Rifat Horozcu, 'Garip' şiir akımının önemli temsilcilerindendir.
Orhan Veli Kanık, Melih Cevdet Anday ve Oktay Rifat Horozcu, Garip akımının kurucuları ve en önemli temsilcileridir.
What to do in this strange situation.
He claimed he heard strange sounds at night in the forest.
His strange behavior surprised everyone.
Read this aloud:
Bu kadar garip bir olay daha önce hiç yaşamadım.
Focus: garip
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Garip bir tesadüf eseri tanıştık.
Focus: tesadüf
You said:
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Read this aloud:
Onun bu garip tavırlarına bir anlam veremiyorum.
Focus: tavırlarına
You said:
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/ 36 correct
Perfect score!
Related Content
More general words
aksine
B1on the contrary, conversely
aktarmak
B1to transfer, to convey
aktif
B1active
akıbet
C1The end, result, or outcome of a situation
akıl
A2mind, intellect, wisdom
algılamak
B2To perceive, sense, or comprehend something
alternatif
B1An option or choice other than the present
alçak
B1low, base, mean
ana
B1main, primary, chief
aniden
B1suddenly, abruptly
