turco
“turco” means “Turkish” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
Turkish
Also: Ottoman
📝 In Action
Me encanta el café turco porque es muy fuerte.
A1I love Turkish coffee because it is very strong.
Compramos una alfombra turca preciosa para el salón.
B1We bought a beautiful Turkish rug for the living room.
La economía turca ha crecido mucho este año.
B2The Turkish economy has grown a lot this year.
Turkish
Also: Turk
📝 In Action
El turco es un idioma que suena muy diferente al español.
A2Turkish is a language that sounds very different from Spanish.
Aquel hombre es un turco que vive en mi barrio.
B1That man is a Turk who lives in my neighborhood.
Ella habla turco con fluidez porque vivió en Estambul.
B2She speaks Turkish fluently because she lived in Istanbul.
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: turco
Question 1 of 3
Which is the correct way to say 'The Turkish teacher' (referring to a man)?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Turkish word 'Türk,' which passed into Medieval Latin as 'Turcus' before reaching Spanish.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'turco' offensive in Latin America?
It depends on the context and tone. While often used affectionately or neutrally to describe Arab-descendants, some may find it imprecise or reductive since it labels many different cultures under one name.
How do I say 'Turkish' for a feminine noun?
Simply change the 'o' to an 'a' to get 'turca.' For example: 'comida turca' (Turkish food).
Should I capitalize 'turco' when writing about the language?
No. In Spanish, names of languages are never capitalized (e.g., español, inglés, turco).