Skip to main content
Ottoman Turk

Ottoman Turk

1 7.8
A Turkish person who belonged to Osman I's ruling family that founded the Ottoman Empire
  • noun
translation icon : turco otomano
  • In 1821, the Greeks revolted against the Ottoman Turks, who had ruled the country since 1460.

Examples

  • The battle between the Serb forces of Prince Lazar and the Ottoman Turks was at the time perceived as either a pyrrhic victory for the Turks or indecisive.

    Academic text (1997)
  • For it may be supposed that, under a regime like that of the Ottoman Turks, so long as a subject kept the peace and paid his taxes, it would be a matter of perfect indifference to his rulers what he believed, how he worshipped, or what language he spoke.

    Academic text (1997)
  • As far as I know, the Palestinian people do not view themselves as descendants of the Ottoman Turks.

    Blog text (28)
  • All the countries in that system shared a common European culture that distinguished them sharply from the Ottoman Turks and other peoples.

    Academic text (1999)
  • The modern era started in 1453 when Constantinople fell to the Ottoman Turks.

    Academic text (2017)
  • Starting in the 14th century, the Ottoman Turks created a vast Muslim empire, in which Jews were an accepted and integral part of the fabric of society.

    Academic text (2010)
  • In 1419, when the Ottoman Turks arrived, they recognized the town's strategic location on a major north-south communication route and made it the capital of their new province of Albania.

    Academic text (2009)
  • In 1453, the Ottoman Turks captured Constantinople, marking the end of the Byzantine Empire.

  • The Ottoman Turks ruled large parts of Europe and Asia for centuries, profoundly influencing the regions' cultures.

  • During the 19th century, various nationalistic movements emerged in response to the rule of the Ottoman Turks.

Synonyms

Turk
vsOttoman Turk
144 5.0

A person from Turkey or whose family comes from Turkey

is tied to Osman I's tribal dynasty rather than to the modern nation
Ottoman
vsOttoman Turk
1 7.7

A member of the Turkish ruling family or any person from their empire

refers specifically to people descending from the tribe founded by Osman I
Osmanli
vsOttoman Turk
1 9.9

A person from the Ottoman Empire descended from Osman I

is used more generally for any person of that dynastic background

Surface Forms

Ottoman Turk singular
Ottoman Turks plural

Morphology

Ottoman + Turk

The meaning is directly compositional: 'Ottoman' (relating to the Ottoman dynasty/empire) + 'Turk' (a Turkish person) yields a Turkish person associated with the Ottoman polity. This is a straightforward, language-independent compound and would be understood by a B1 learner who knows both constituents.

Etymology

Ottoman Turk comes from the name 'Osman', a leader whose followers were called Ottomans, so an Ottoman Turk was a Turk who belonged to his group. That's why today it refers to a member of the Turkish people from the Ottoman Empire.