Gayret

Gayret is a Turkish noun meaning effort, endeavour, or exertion. It denotes the act of trying hard or making a sustained attempt to achieve a goal. The related verb is gayret etmek, meaning to exert oneself or to make an effort, and the adjective gayretli describes someone as diligent or zealous.

Etymology and origins are rooted in the broader Semitic and Persian-influenced vocabulary that entered Turkish, with the sense of exertion carried from historical Arabic usage such as juhd (جهد). In modern Turkish, gayret preserves the core idea of striving and perseverance, used in a wide range of contexts.

Usage in Turkish spans everyday speech and formal discourse. It can refer to personal effort, team or organizational endeavours, education, work projects, or community initiatives. Common phrases include gayret göstermek (to make an effort) and gayretli çalışmalar (diligent work). The term is often employed to emphasize perseverance and sustained work rather than innate talent.

Cultural significance centers on values of diligence, perseverance, and self-improvement within Turkish-speaking communities. It appears in educational rhetoric, political statements, and public life as a reminder that progress is driven by consistent effort. While primarily a Turkish word, it is occasionally found in names or titles in Turkish contexts, but it retains its general meaning of work and perseverance.

See also: effort, diligence, perseverance.