When I first started watching Hindi films, I noticed right away that there are many common words in Hindi and Turkish. This has been one of the factors that made me want to watch more Hindi films and aspire to learn Hindi. I don’t think that there is a resource for these common words online, so here it is!
I looked up the origin of these Turkish words in Turkish etymology and the origin of most of them is Farsi (Persian). I think the commonality is due to the Moghul influence on Hindi/Urdu and the Persian influence on Ottoman Turkish. A small number are Arabic in origin.
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Hindi | Turkish |
| 1 | Tamanna (desire) | Temenni (desire) |
| 2 | Hawa (wind) | Hava (air) |
| 3 | Parda (curtain) | Perde (curtain) |
| 4 | Paneer (cheese) | Peynir (cheese) |
| 5 | Rushwat (bribe) | Rüşvet (bribe) |
| 6 | Handaan (family) | Handan (all extended family) |
| 7 | Sine (chest) | Sine (chest/heart) |
| 8 | Ajnabi (stranger) | Ecnebi (foreigner) |
| 9 | Kismat (destiny) | Kısmet (fate / destiny) |
| 10 | Rab (God) | Rab (God) |
| 11 | Mohabbat (love) | Muhabbet (loving conversation) |
| 12 | Tareef (flattery) | Tarif (to describe) |
| 13 | Izzat (respect/honor) | İzzet (respect/honor) |
| 14 | Arzoo (desire) | Arzu (desire) |
| 15 | Alvida (goodbye) | Elveda (goodbye) |
| 16 | Ziyaada (more/a lot/too much) | Ziyade (enough/more) |
| 17 | Dard (fear) | Dert (cause of worry) |
| 18 | Farq (difference) | Fark (difference) |
| 19 | Saf (clean/innodent) | Saf (naïve/innocent) |
| 20 | Hafta (week) | Hafta (week) |
| 21 | Aitraaz (objection) | Itiraz (objection) |
| 22 | Qurbaan (sacrifice) | Kurban (sacrifice) |
| 23 | Fadaa (to sacrifice) | Feda (to sacrifice) |
| 24 | Asumaan (sky) | Asuman (female name) |
| 25 | Rang (color) | Renk (color) |
| 26 | Wadi (valley) | Vadi (valley) |
| 27 | Hasrat (longing) | Hasret (longing) |
| 28 | Esaas (understand/understanding) | Esas (real/reality) |
| 29 | Waqt (time) | Vakit (time) |
| 30 | Taraf (way/side) | Taraf (way/side) |
| 31 | Chehra (face) | Çehre (face) |
| 32 | Haq (right) | Hak (right) |
| 33 | Dua (prayer) | Dua (prayer) |
| 34 | Kyun ki (because) | Çünkü (because) |
| 35 | Shikayat (complaint) | Şikayet (complaint) |
| 36 | Insaan (human) | İnsan (human) |
| 37 | Farz (duty) | Farz (religious duty) |
| 38 | Waqeel / Waqalat (lawyer, permission to act on your behalf) | Vekil / Vekalet (lawyer, permission to act on your behalf) |
| 39 | Jaan (life) | Can (life) |
| 40 | Adaa (manner) | Eda (female’s manner) |
| 41 | Khabar (news) | Haber (news) |
| 42 | Mulaqaat (meeting) | Mülakat (interview) |
| 43 | Maalum (know/knowing) | Malum (known) |
| 44 | Ehm (great/important) | Ehemmiyet (importance) |
| 45 | Jannat (heaven) | Cennet (heaven) |
| 46 | Safar (journey) | Sefer (journey) |
| 47 | Subaah (morning) | Sabah (morning) |
| 48 | Parishaan (upset/ruined) | Perişan (upset/ruined) |
| 49 | Qafi (very/very much/a lot) | Kafi (enough) |
| 50 | Varis (Urdu) (children) | Varis (inheritor) |
| 51 | Vadaa (promise) | Vade (promise) |
| 52 | Donya (world) | Dünya (world) |
| 53 | Insaafi (fairness) | İnsaf (mercy / justice) |
| 54 | Shahir (city) | Şehir (city) |
| 55 | Dastan (story) | Destan (story/tale) |
| 56 | Sırf[1] (only/just) | Sırf (only) |
| 57 | Shohrat (fame / glory) | Şöhret (fame) |
| 58 | Zameendar[2] (wealthy) | Zemindar? |
| 59 | Taaqıt (strength) | Takat (strength) |
| 60 | Sharafat (honor) | Şerafet (honor) |
| 61 | Kitaab (book) | Kitap (book) |
| 62 | Lakin (but) | Lakin (but) |
| 63 | Shayari (poetry) / Shayar (poet) | Şiir (poetry)/ Şair (poet) |
| 64 | Azaadi (liberation) | Azad (to be liberated) |
| 65 | Nazaqaat (gentleness) | Nezaket (gentleness) |
| 66 | Jaanim (dearest) | Canım (my life) |
| 67 | Majburi (obligation) | Mecburiyet (obligation) |
| 68 | Hayaal (thought) | Hayal (daydream) |
| 69 | Jawab (answer) | Cevap (answer) |
| 70 | Istifaa (resignation) | Istifa (resignation) |
| 71 | Shahid (perhaps/male name) | Şahit (perhaps) |
| 72 | Nazar (glance/sight/eyes/evil eye) | Nazar (evil eye) |
| 73 | Deewana (crazy/besotted) | Divane (crazy) |
| 74 | Parwana (moth) | Pervane (fan/that which goes around) |
| 75 | Afsana (famous story) | Efsane (famous story/myth) |
| 76 | Mazboot (serious) | Mazbut (respectable) |
| 77 | Mustaqbil (career) | Müstakbel (upcoming) |
| 78 | İlaaj (solution) | İlaç (medicine) |
| 79 | Amanat (belonging) | Emanet (to leave in the care of) |
| 80 | Mulk (Urdu) (country/nation) | Mülk (property/country/nation) |
| 81? | Nishaani (symbol) | Nişan (engagement) |
| 82 | Jahannam (hell) | Cehennem (hell) |
| 83 | Usuli (principles) | Usul (method) |
| 84 | Har (every) | Her (every) |
| 85 | Kanoon (law) | Kanun (law) |
| 86 | Jasoos (spy) | Casus (spy) |
| 87 | Watan (homeland) | Vatan (homeland) |
| 88 | Adalat (court) | Adalet (justice) |
| 89 | Sukoon (peaceful) | Sükunet (peacefulness) |
| 90 | Shart (condition) | Şart (condition) |
| 91 | Siyasat (Urdu) (politics) | Siyaset (politics) |
| 92 | Hukumat (state) | Hükümet (government) |
| 93 | Qurshundum[3] (Telugu) (gun/pistol) | Kurşun (bullet) |
| 94 | Sheesha (glass) | Şişe (glass bottle) |
| 95 | Shay (thing)/ Har shay (everything) | Şey (thing) / Herşey (everything) |
| 96 | Zarurat (necessary)/ Zaroor (def.) | Zaruriyet (necessary) |
| 97 | Biradar (Urdu) (brother) | Birader (brother) |
| 98 | Dost (friend) | Dost (friend) |
| 99 | Iradaa (decision) | İrade (conviction self-control) |
| 100 | Kiraadar (tenant) | Kiracı (tenant)/ Kira (rent) |
| 101 | Sahi-salamat | Sağ-selamet |
| 102 | Khayal (thought/dream) | Hayal (day-dream) |
| 103 | Qadam-qadam (step by step…along the way) | Adım-adım (step by step…along the way) |
| 104 | Daamaad (son-in-law) | Damat (son-in-law) |
| 105 | Qursee (chair) | Kursi (stand in front of room/chair as in govt. position) |
| 106 | Dawa (medicine) | Deva (solution / remedy) |
| 107 | Niyat (intent) | Niyet (intent) |
| 108 | Ibadaat (worship) | İbadet (worship) |
| 109 | Taqdeer (destiny) | Takdir (respect/appreciate) |
| 110 | Dil (heart) | Dil (tongue/language) |
| 111 | Kitaab (book) | Kitap (book) |
| 112 | Qayb (missing) | Kayıp (lost/missing) |
| 113 | Tareeq (date) | Tarih (date) |
| 114 | Barabar (perfect) | Beraber (together) |
| 115 | Fayda (benefit) | Fayda (benefit) |
| 116 | Barbaad (destroyed/ruined) | Berbat (ruined) |
| 117 | Admi (man) | Adam (man) |
| 118 | Bahar (outside +mountains) | Bahar (spring) |
| 119 | Diwaar (wall) | Duvar (wall) |
| 120 | Jehb (pocket) | Cep (pocket) |
| 121 | Badan (body) | Beden (body) |
| 122 | Janwara (animals) | Canavar (monster) |
| 123 | Latifa (joke) | Latife (to joke sweetly) |
| 124 | Mahalla (neighborhood) | Mahalle (neighborhood) |
| 125 | Umeed (hope) | Ümit (hope) |
| 126 | Dastoor (opportunity) | Destur (permission / request for way) |
| 127 | Tasalli (consolidation) | Teselli (consolidation) |
| 128 | Wafaqaa (loyalty) | Vefakat (loyalty) |
| 129 | Hasaab (calculation) | Hesap (calculation / bill at the rest.) |
| 130 | Adat (habit) | Adet (tradition) |
| 131 | Tawa (pan) | Tava (pan) |
| 132 | Mubarak ho (congratulations) | Mübarek olsun (congratulations [religious connotation]) |
| 133 | Shorba (soup) | Çorba (soup) |
| 134 | Shaqil (face) | Şekil (shape/image) |
| 135 | Paree (fairy) | Peri (fairy) |
| 136 | Khatir (for the sake of) | Hatır/Hatrına (for the sake of) |
| 137 | Qabil (capable) | Kabiliyet (capability/skills) |
| 138 | Istimaal (to use) | Suistimal (to take advantage of) |
| 139 | Gunaah (crime) | Günah (sin) |
| 149 | Paydah (birth) | Peydahlamak (birth out of wedlock) |
| 150 | Tarqan (heartbeat) | Tarkan (male name) |
| 151 | Faqeer (poor/beggar) | Fakir (poor) |
| 152 | Nateeja (result) | Netice (result) |
| 153 | Aitraaz (objection) | İtiraz (objection) |
| 154 | Laash (corpse) | Leş (corpse) |
| 155 | Dushman (enemy) | Düşman (enemy) |
| 156 | Dafa (number of times) | Defa (number of times) |
| 157 | Bahane (excuse) | Bahane (excuse) |
| 158 | Avaaz (voice) | Avaz (voice, Imam’s teaching) |
| 159 | Hissa (part, piece of) | Hisse (part, piece of legal ownership) |
| 160 | Jurm (crime) | Cürüm (crime) |
[1] Interestingly, there is an “I” sound in Hindi, just as in Turkish.
[2] Zameendar comes from zameen, meaning land, so zameendar literally means “landowner”, thus wealthy.
[3] The only Telugu word I have come across which is similar to Turkish. Also the Telugu outcry “abooo” There is also a similar Turkish outcry “aboooo / appooo” In meaning it is similar to “arre” or “aiyyo” but is socially less acceptable, especially in more formal situations.
BollyReview 
Superb article ! I wasn’t aware of all the similar words between both languages. For the moment I’ve been checking similar words between turkish and french. There are a lot !
Brother, the words and language you mentioned above is Urdu that is rebranded as Hindi after partition. Word Urdu itself is Turkish word, and main language of pakistan. Since India is bigger country so people know it most as Hindi language. Actual words and vocabulary used in Indian movies is Urdu in majority.
I think you miss the point here…our current language in both india n.pakistan is influenced by the history of erstwhile north n north west india ( unfortunately called pakistan now).. we had a thousand year of central Asian influence because of attacks from Turks, afghans, persians, n.mongols ( a sub branch of mongols) .muslim rule came to india in the 12th century with the slave dynasty , followed by Afghans, n then mughals who had a mix of mongols n central asians..turks were a great influence in early muslim ruled courts, n then persians during the time of mughals..I understand turks derive their language from Persian n urdu is similarly derived from a mix of persian, turkish, n native languages..please note the even during the time of last mughal emperor, urdu was not an official language…we had poets like ghalib n zauk, but despite that urdu was never an official language…hindustani, which u call hindi now was a popular language by the 19th century n that’s why there is similarity between.both..but urdu is similar yet very different from hindi..hindi has a lot of influence of native old indian languages like sanskrit as well..its 7nfortunate that urdu is loosing its base n may be an extinct language in a 100 years as even Pakistanis dont speak proper urdu
very well explained dear 😊🙏
This is the most illogical comment once can give. Sanskrit has its roots from central Asia/Syria. Quoting hindi has lot of influence of native old indian languages is a joke. Yes, Hindi, Sanskrit are all migrated to India by invaders and traders. They are never indigenous to India. Southern most Indian languages are INDIGENOUS coz they survived from the migration and attacks. Hindi is indeed derived from Urdu, Persian, Turkish, Arabic and other central Asian Languages. Current form of Hindi is less than mere 200 years old and its in infancy stage. Promoting Hindi across India is equivalent to promoting Hindi. Hind == Urdu.
Origin of Urdu was from INDIA.
And first of all, you should also understand that if you exist, it is also because of India In 1947, the foundation of your Pakistan was laid by cutting it from a part of India.
absolutly right i was thinking the same thing these indians do it on purpose hindi is a different language turkish is different urdu is a mixture of both and INDIANS tend to use urdu many times hence turkish
Eshk (love) in Hindi and Ashk (love) in Turkish
I also noticed same similarity, as I recently started watching Hindi movies, after having watched a lot of Turkish movies.
I also noticed same thing when i was watching a turkish serial ask lafdaanlamza . I noticed the word spoken by murat is duneya(world) and is same in hindi it is duniya (world) also some words which majorly i noticed is that a slight difference between e,a, i which slightly change the pronounciation rest meaning is same
While watching Turkish serials i heard “intikam(revenge), shakkar(sugar), kubul(accept), ashik(lover), kofte(a dish),harkisi(everyone),halwa(sweet dish),dariya(sea),
Zamana(time/period), garib(poor), jawab(answer),
Zor(pressure), taza(fresh), ayna(mirror), masum(innocent), bulbul (nightingale),sada(simple),
Hichki(hiccups), alvida(farewell), adat(habit)
Jinaza(funereal), akkal(brain/mind), zalim(savage)
Razi(accept),hazir(available), sham(evening)
Gul(rose), ishara(signal), Asli(real), bichara(helpless)
Zamin(floor), yani(namely), tarafdar(supporter)
Uss taraf(that side), anar(pomegranate), falana(so and so), hakikat(truth), janavar(beast), laziz(tasty),
Mal(goods)” Indians commonly use them
Um, Ishk/Eshk is love in Urdu. Pyaar is love in Hindi…
Ishq** is actually arabic, and Persians and turks adopted it from Arabs. And also, the word “pyaar” is used in urdu too. Example: meh tumse pyaar karta hoon. All the words that are on that list are not derived from sanskrit, they are either derived from Persian or arabic – (meaning they are not Pakistani nor Indian). My point is you can’t say any of these words are specifically urdu because urdu-speakers lent these words from other languages. Urdu is a mix of all these languages, including hindi..
Insha Allah = God’s Willing, in both Hindi and Turkish
That’s again in Urdu, not Hindi…
Chiabouk (“let’s go” in Hindi) and Chiabouk (“hurry up” in Turkish)
Doushman (Enemy) – same word in Hindi and Turkish
It’s “DUSHMAN” in hindi
Shatru in hindi : dushman
But use mostly dushman in india.
Most words from arab not hindi
You are correct
Mainly from Persian and a bit from Arabic
HINDI HAS PERSIAN WORDS AND ALL OF THESE ARE PERSIAN WORDS AND THE SAME PERSIAN WORDS ARE IN TURKISH AND BOTH ARE INDO EUROPEAN OR WHITE RACE LANGAUGES
These are all actually all Urdu, not Hindi. It’s just assumed they are Hindi because they are used in all Bollywood movies.
Great list! If you allow me to make a remark, most words are from Arabic. The commonality stems from Arabic. It is in all likelihood due to the expansion of the Muslim empire, to Persia, Turkey, India, etc. The language of the Quran is Arabic, thus many none Arabic speaking inherited Muslims still inherited words from the Arabic language. I noticed some words in Hindi stem from Persian. I think like someone mentioned Hindi is a version of Urdu. As for why words like Dost and Perishan and Dard are the same in Hindi/Urdu and Turkish, I am still confused!
I’m really shocked. I’m a native Arab speaker and most of these words that have been mentioned in this article are original Arabic words. I already know that there is many Arabic words in Turkish because I used to watch ERTUGRUL series, and I noticed the word DUSHMAN in a Hindi song which means enemies, the same meaning in Turkish, then I googled it to find the similarities between Turkish and Hindi, and I just found out that Arabic is the backbone of these similarities.
Actually these are not hindi words actually these are urdu words borrowed from Arabic
InshaAllah is Arabic: in sha’ Allah: If wills God
The word Taaqıt (strength) has Turkish equivalent: takat being used in the same sense
Azaadi (freedom) is also being used especially the adjective form Azaad (free ) The prefix of the word Azaadi, and Turkish word Özgürlük “öz” “az” are etimologically the same meaning “self”. I think Teselli (consolidation) is incorrect. It should have been solace. Istimaal (use) is rather being used in the negative sense in Turkish Language meaning “misuse”. Handaan (family)is used in the sense of dynasty royal family (hanedan) . Mülakat means interview. Varis means inheritor.
I have been learning Turkish and watching turkish TV shows for a while now and I swear I was going to write a post about this! Its uncanny how similar some words are. I think its because many hindi/urdu words originate from arabic and turkic family of languages.
Another one to add to the list.. CAYI and CHAI for tea 🙂
It’s just “çay” dear. Your mother tongue is Hindi?
oops my bad, yup çay. My mother tongue is Telugu but I understand Hindi as well. Is Turkish your mother tongue?
I also noticed some words like ‘jahannum’ (hell) spoken by hayat to the taxi driver when I was watching a Turkish show ask laftan anlamez.
I also noticed some words like ‘jahannum’ (hell) spoken by hayat to the taxi driver when I was watching a Turkish show ‘ask laftan anlamez’.
Great post
Hindi is derived from the ancient language of Sanskrit not Arabic
However there is influence from Arabic and Persian origins, but mainly Sanskrit
Bro I’m going to end this confusion by this comment
Sanskrit is a mother of all languages or hindi Is a modern or mixed up Sanskrit so that’s why it is similar to Turkish or Turkish is also originated from Sanskrit.
This is BS !!
Sanskrit is NOT the mother of all languages. You know nothing about linguistics. Just in India itself you have e.g. the Dravidian languages (Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam, Tamil, Tulu, …) that are not related at all to Sanskrit. Yes, there are loanwords from Sanskrit, just like Hindi / Urdu have borrowed from English, Arabic and several other languages.
Farsi / Persian and Sanskrit have the same origin, that’s why they have a lot in common.
I suggest you read this :
https://scroll.in/article/737715/fact-check-india-wasnt-the-first-place-sanskrit-was-recorded-it-was-syria
Sanskrit is originated from Syria. Hindi is developed for slaves. There ends the confusion. Proclaiming language from other land is the shameless act synonyms to calling a stranger as your mom.
It’s really what I was searching for, thanks for sharing!
Guys Urdu and Hindi are the same language spoken as they were one language at one point (for all the people saying this came from Urdu not Hindi).
I recommend watching these videos on a clear history of the languages these words came from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxSd7p1i_TA&t=504s Hindustani video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZtlDNcbeE8 Persian video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJRQRD6LAmY&t=397s Turkish video
Add hisaab and kitaab as well :). I am watching a Turkish show, and it’s so nice that I can understand so many words and don’t have to depend not the subtitles alone. Lovely!
Hello,nice share.
You may add nafrat and nefret meaning hate in your list.
I researched similarities between Punjabi & Persian and found exactly the same words and a lot more. My mother tongue is Punjabi (derived from Panj & Aab, Persian for 5 water bodies) and we have many common words with Persian, and I am convinced Punjabi, Urdu and modern Hindi are influenced by Persian and not Turkish. I first noticed this while reading The Kite Runner, which is based in Afghanistan, where the protagonist spoke Afghani Persian, and the writer used many Persian words that resembled Punjabi/Urdu/Hindi.
In the Punjab region till 500 years ago Persian was spoken by the feudal lords and also the learned lot, whereas Urdu was born in the baracks of the army and modern Hindi was born out of Khari Boli around Delhi. The similarities between Punjabi/Urdu/Hindi with Arabic fall flat when compared with Persian.
I started watching Turkish series and heard words like hindi. My mind felt like it was hearing things but thank you for this article. Now I know the similarities.
A lot of those words are originally Arabic. I noticed this first when I was watching a Turkish movie and I could understand many words because they are similar to Arabic, most are of Arabic roots and few are of Turkish roots. Then I was just watching Lion, and I saw a lot of similarities, both between Hindi and Arabic and Hindi and Turkish. A lot of words in the above list are originally Arabic.
The word aaina in hindi (mirror) is also similar to ayna in turkish
topkek absolute state of northies
The language “Hindi” as we know today is actually a mix of the local languages and the languages brought over by the invading muslims from west asia. For many of the words listed in the above table there are correspondng original words in most Indian languages, for instance “aaina” the word for mirror – is actually darpan in the old local North indian language, “duniya” for world we call “sansaar” or “jagath”, similarly “laash” (corpse) is “shav” for us, and so on.
What you are comparing in this table are actually forms of the same word which has been adopted in India but whose phonetics have been transformed over time, due to the influence of the regional intonation / phonetic inclinations. So no surprise 🙂 !!
Very well researched and complied! Thank you very much!
Good compilation! I was watching a Turkish drama Another Self on Netflix and realized that there are a lot of similar sounding words. That’s what brought me to your blog. Another word I noticed yesterday was ‘Hargis’ which means ‘ (not ) at all’ and ashika/e which seems to mean ‘my love ‘ in Turkish and I could understand it because Ashiq means lover in Hindi/Urdu. I also noticed a lot of similarity between Arabic and Hindi/Urdu