Mecazi

Mecazi is a Turkish term meaning figurative or metaphorical language. It describes expressions in which the intended meaning is not the literal sense of the words but a sense derived from metaphor, symbolism, or allegory. The word comes from the Arabic maqāz (مجاز) meaning metaphor or figurative speech and entered Turkish through Persian and Ottoman scholarly usage.

In Turkish linguistics and literature, mecazi usage is common in poetry, prose, religious discourse, and everyday speech. It enables the expression of abstract ideas such as love, fate, or virtue by likening them to tangible images. Examples include phrases like kalbinin kırık (the heart is broken) or gökyüzü ağlıyor (the sky is crying), where the surface words express emotional or symbolic meaning rather than physical reality. A key distinction is often drawn between mecazi meanings and hakiki (literal) meanings, with context and cultural knowledge guiding interpretation.

In Islamic theology and Qur’anic interpretation, mecazi tevil refers to figurative interpretation of verses that describe God or divine attributes in a non-literal way to avoid anthropomorphism. This approach coexists with other hermeneutical methods and has been the subject of scholarly debate within different traditions.

Beyond religious usage, mecazi is a central concept in rhetoric and poetics, encompassing various non-literal figures of speech such as metaphor, metonymy, and synecdoche. It serves as a foundational device for conveying complex ideas and imagery in a compact, expressive form.