çanak

Çanak is a Turkish noun meaning a shallow, often rounded container used for holding and serving food. In everyday Turkish, çanak refers to a bowl or dish at the dining table, typically larger than a teacup or dipping bowl. It can be used for soups, stews, salads, meze, or other dishes, and is often paired with a separate plate (tabak) for bread.

Çanak can be made from various materials, including ceramic, porcelain, glass, metal, wood, or plastic. Sizes range from small dessert bowls to larger serving bowls. In traditional settings, çanak çömlek refers to earthenware pots and bowls made from clay, used for cooking and serving, with many regional styles across Anatolia. These clay vessels are valued for heat retention and flavor development in slow-cooked dishes.

Linguistically, çanak is widely used across Turkish dialects to denote a bowl or dish. The word is related to similar terms in other Turkic languages and is often encountered in compound phrases, such as çanak çömlek (earthenware pottery). In everyday usage, çanak contrasts with tabak (plate) and kase (bowl) in Turkish, though overlaps occur in casual speech.

Culturally, çanak remains a common everyday item in Turkish households and in traditional hospitality, where meals may be served in multiple bowls on a shared table. It also appears in regional craft and culinary contexts emphasizing ceramic or metal serving ware.