Nöbet

Nöbet is a Turkish noun meaning a period of duty or a guard watch, as well as the person who bears that duty. It can also denote the act of taking turns to perform a task or to guard something. In everyday language, nöbet is used for scheduled shifts and for the duty holder themselves.

In workplaces and public services, nöbet defines continuous coverage: gece nöbeti (night shift), gündüz nöbeti (day shift); nöbet değişimi or devir teslim describes the handover between duty holders. The term is widely used in healthcare, policing, security, emergency services, and correctional facilities. Examples include nöbetçi doktor (on-call doctor), nöbetçi ebe (on-call nurse), or nöbetçi eczacı (on-call pharmacist). Hospitals often organize rounds or hours around a nöbet sistemi.

In non-professional settings, nöbet can describe rotating duties within a community, dormitories, or organizations, such as students taking turns for building watch or maintaining shared spaces. The phrase nöbetleşe görevi or nöbetleşe çalışma refers to a system of alternating duties.

Etymology traces to Ottoman Turkish, with roots in older Turkish and related to guarding or waiting one’s turn; the word is used across Turkish-speaking contexts and has cognates in several regional languages. The concept emphasizes continuity of service and collective responsibility, as well as the succession of duty through time.