Güzellik

Güzellik is a Turkish noun meaning beauty; formed from the adjective güzel, which means beautiful, with the noun suffix -lik to denote a quality or state. In Turkish, güzellik can refer to the beauty of a person, an object, a landscape, or an idea, and appears in everyday speech, literature, criticism, and art.

Historically, ideas of güzellik have been shaped by Ottoman court culture, Persian and Arabic literary influences, and later Western modernity. Traditional aesthetic ideals emphasized proportion, harmony, and refinement, while contemporary conceptions often highlight individuality, health, and self-expression.

Beauty standards are culturally contingent and interact with social norms, gender expectations, media, and consumer culture. In Turkey, as elsewhere, the beauty industry, cosmetics, fashion, and celebrity culture influence perceptions of güzellik, raising discussions about representation, inclusivity, and body image.

Philosophically, güzellik intersects with aesthetics as the study of taste, perception, and form. Turkish literature and visual arts have long engaged with beauty as both an ideal and a social phenomenon that motivates creation and interpretation.