Kesme

Kesme is a Turkish word rooted in the verb kesmek, meaning to cut. As a noun, it generally denotes a cut, incision, or the act of cutting, and it appears in various domains where the idea of separation or slicing is relevant. The exact sense depends on context and accompanying words.

In typography and orthography, kesme işareti, often simply called kesme, refers to the apostrophe. It governs certain Turkish spelling rules, such as indicating omitted letters in loanwords or separating suffixes from foreign proper nouns and abbreviations. Its use is codified to preserve legibility and distinguish between elements in written Turkish.

In Turkish cuisine, kesme denotes a type of noodle or pasta made by cutting dough into thin strips or small squares. Kesme çorbası is a traditional soup that features these handmade noodles, highlighting a characteristic preparation method in which components are cut into pieces before cooking.

Beyond these, kesme can appear in other compound terms to describe a break, cut, or division within a process—again with the precise meaning defined by the surrounding terminology. The word is a common, versatile element in Turkish vocabulary, reflecting the core idea of cutting or separating.

Etymology traces kesme to the Turkish root kes- (to cut), with use attested since Ottoman times and continuing in contemporary Turkish. Related terms include kesme işareti (apostrophe) and kesme çorbası (cut-noodle soup).

---