Gerçek

Gerçek is a Turkish term with several related senses. As a noun, it means reality, truth, or a fact—what actually exists or has occurred. As an adjective, it means real or genuine, not fictional or artificial. The related noun gerçeklik denotes the state or quality of being real, i.e., reality, while forms such as gerçekçi mean realistic.

In everyday usage, gerçek is employed to distinguish what is true or actual from appearances, beliefs, or rumors. For example, phrases like “Bu haberin gerçek olduğuna inanıyorum” (I believe this news is real) or “Gerçekler ortaya çıktı” (The facts came to light) illustrate its use. Expressions such as “gerçeğe uygun” (in accordance with reality) and “gerçeğe aykırı” (contrary to reality) are common in formal and informal language.

In philosophy, gerçeklik (reality) is a central topic within ontology and epistemology, addressing the nature of existence and the conditions under which statements are true. Turkish also uses hakikat as a cognate term meaning truth, often with a more literary or religious nuance.

Cultural and linguistic notes: Real and authentic concepts conveyed by gerçek permeate Turkish media, law, and journalism to emphasize factual accuracy and evidence. The term frequently appears in idiomatic expressions and everyday discourse to assert or question the veracity of information, objects, or claims.