Kramiye

Kramiye is a Turkish term that denotes a monetary prize or bonus—a one-time payment awarded in addition to regular salary as recognition for achievement, service, or success in a task. It has been used in both civilian and military contexts, particularly in historical periods, and sometimes to refer to winnings or windfalls.

Etymology and usage notes: The word is related to the broader Turkish term ikramiye, which also means a grant or gratuity. In Ottoman and early Republican Turkish, kramiye appeared in official language to indicate a lump-sum reward or prize money. In contemporary Turkish, ikramiye is the more common form for such gratuities, while kramiye survives mainly in older texts, regional usage, or specific institutional phrasing as a variant.

Context and distinctions: Kramiye generally refers to a one-time payment separate from base salary, unlike regular salary increases or long-term benefits. It can apply to military, civil service, or other official contexts, and may also appear in discussions of prize money or winnings from competitions in historical sources. In modern everyday language, the term ikramiye is preferred, with kramiye appearing chiefly in archival material or formal historical descriptions.

See also: ikramiye, ödül, prim.