Proverbs are short but powerful expressions that aim to convey a message of wisdom, truth, and morality. They stem from collective experience and are widely popular sayings, that can be rhythmic at times. The Turkish language has its fair share of proverbs that cover many different situations. The theme of ‘absence’ is one that evokes especially memorable sayings in the language.
Kel ölür sırma saçlı olur, kör ölür badem gözlü olur.
Literal Translation
When a bald person dies they are remembered with golden hair, and when a blind person dies they are remembered with almond eyes.
Explanation
Even though someone may have been perceived in a negative light during their life, when they are lost, their value is understood and they are remembered as better than they actually were.
Vocabulary
Kel: Bald
Ölmek: To die
Saç: Hair
Sırma saç: Golden hair
Olmak: To be
Kör: Blind
Badem: Almond
Göz: Eye
Badem Göz: Almond shaped eye (used to complement one’s beautiful eyes)
Use
Ali: Çok iyi bir adamdı, ruhu şad olsun. (He was a great man, may he rest in peace.)
Ayşe: Kel ölür sırma saçlı olur, kör ölür badem gözlü olur.
Note: Be careful with this proverb as it might offend some people if used inappropriately.
Kedi olmayan yerde fareler cirit atar.
Literal Translation
Mice crowd into the places where there is no cat.
Explanation
Similar to the proverb “when the cat is away, the mice will play” in English, this proverb is used to explain that people will naturally take advantage of the absence of someone in authority to do as they like, especially breaking rules.
Vocabulary
Kedi: Cat
Olmak: To be
Olmayan: Not / Nonexisting / Missing
Yer: Place
Kedi Olmayan Yer: The place where there is no cat
Yerde: In a place
Fare: Mouse
Fareler: Mice
Cirit atmak (an idiom): To swarm, to run wild
Use
Ali: Anne babaları tatile gider gitmez, çocuklar evde bir parti düzenlediler. (As soon as their parents left for holiday, the kids threw a party at home.)
Ayşe: E tabi, kedi olmayan yerde fareler cirit atarmış. (Duh! When the cat’s away, mice will play.)
Gözden ırak olan gönülden de ırak olur.
Literal Translation
Away from the eyes, away from the heart.
Explanation
The equivalent is the English proverb “out of sight, out of mind”. When someone is far away, we forget about them completely or we don’t remember them as often and thus we don’t love them as much as we did before.
Vocabulary
Göz: Eye
Gözden: From the eye
Irak: Away (literal meaning the country Iraq)
Olmak: To be
Olan: who is
Gönül: Heart
Gönülden: From the heart
De / Da: Too
Use
Ali: Sanırım onu eskisi kadar özlemiyorum. (I think I don’t miss her as much as I did before.)
Ayşe: Gözden ırak olan gönülden de ırak olur derler. (They say out of sight, out of mind)
Kambersiz düğün olmaz.
English Translation
A wedding is not complete without a jester
Explanation
This proverb is a double-edged sword. You can use it to convey two different messages so it would be wise to use it cautiously. The first usage means when someone important does not participate in a gathering, it is no fun. The second usage, on the other hand, is a tad bit burlesque and used to imply that someone is involved with everything, especially the stuff that they should not be involved with in the first place. You can pair it up with an eye-roll to accompany your passive aggressive ridicule.
Vocabulary
Kamber: Jester, Clown
Kambersiz: Without a jester
Düğün: Wedding, Feast, Celebration
Olmaz: There is not
Use
Usage #1:
Ali: Bizimle geliyor musun? (Are you coming with us?)
Ayşe: Kambersiz düğün olur mu hiç? (Of course I am.)
Usage #2:
Ali: Mehmet’in burada ne işi var? (What is Mehmet doing here?)
Ayşe: Kambersiz düğün olur mu hiç? (Ugh, he pokes his nose into everything.)
Let us know in the comments below the Turkish proverbs of absence you know of! Check out other Turkish 101 pieces, to improve your Turkish skills in a fun way.
