Cük

Cük is a Turkish derivational suffix used to form diminutives and convey smallness, familiarity, or affection. It is not a stand-alone word but part of a family of diminutive endings in Turkish. The suffix commonly appears in two phonological sets, written as -cık / -cuk and -çık / -çuk, with the choice determined by the stem’s final sounds and vowel harmony. Together these forms produce words that feel smaller or more intimate, such as evcik (little house) or gülücük (a small smile).

Usage and function: The cük family attaches to nouns and some adjectives to create diminutive or endearing meanings. It can appear in simple words or in compound forms, and it is frequent in informal speech, children’s language, and affectionate contexts. The suffix helps expand expressive nuance without introducing a new base word.

Examples: Common examples include evcik (little house), kitapçık (small book), gülücük (a small smile), and kutucuk (a small box). The exact form (whether -cık/-cuk or -çık/-çuk) depends on the phonological context of the stem, following Turkish vowel harmony and consonant patterns.

Origin and relations: The diminutive suffixes -cık/-cuk and -çık/-çuk are well-established in Turkish and appear across related Turkic languages, such as Azerbaijani and Kazakh, with similar functions and adaptations. They are part of a broader Turkish system of derivational suffixes that modify meaning and nuance.

See also: Turkish diminutives, Turkish grammar, Turkic morphology.