Tutku

Tutku is a Turkish noun meaning intense passion, ardor, or craving. It refers to a powerful emotional drive that can motivate behavior and choices. Depending on context, tutku can have positive connotations, such as creative dedication or deep commitment, or negative ones, such as obsession or compulsive desire.

In Turkish, the adjective tutkulu describes someone or something marked by such fervor. The term appears across everyday speech and formal writing alike, and it is common in discussions of art, science, sports, relationships, and personal development when the emphasis is on intensity rather than mere interest.

In literature and philosophy, tutku is a frequent theme in examinations of human motivation, moral responsibility, and the balance between passion and reason. The concept is also used in psychology and cultural analysis to distinguish intense desire from more moderate preference or rational choice.

Translations for tutku include passion, ardor, craving, fervor, and sometimes obsession, depending on nuance. The word is of Turkish origin and remains primarily used within Turkish language, though it is encountered in discussion of Turkish culture in English-language texts.