Ondokuz

Ondokuz is the Turkish word for the number nineteen. It is formed from on (ten) and dokuz (nine). In standard Turkish, numbers from 11 to 19 are typically written as two words (for example, on bir, on iki), but when used as part of names or titles, the form may appear capitalized and treated as a single element within a proper noun, such as Ondokuz Mayıs.

The term has cultural and historical associations in Turkey, most notably with the date May 19, 1919, which marks the beginning of the Turkish War of Independence. That date, 19 Mayıs, is commemorated nationwide as Youth and Sports Day. The combination of nineteen and May is commonly used in place names and institutions to honor that historical reference.

Notable usage includes Ondokuz Mayıs University, a public university in Samsun, Turkey. The institution bears the name to reflect the historical date and its national significance. Samsun is a city on the northern Black Sea coast of Turkey, and the university is a major higher education center in the region. Beyond educational institutions, Ondokuz may appear in other toponyms or organizational names that draw on the same date-based symbolism.