Yükseliler

Yükseliler is a Turkish term that literally means “the uplanders” or “people of the highlands.” It is not a formal ethnonym or a registered political group; rather, it functions as a descriptive label used to refer to inhabitants of mountainous or highland areas, particularly within Turkey, where many settlements are located inland in upland regions.

Etymology and scope: The word derives from the verb yükselmek (to rise or ascend) with the suffix -i forming a noun indicating a group associated with a place, plus the plural suffix -ler. In historical or literary Turkish, yükseliler can appear as a generic designation for people living at higher altitudes rather than a fixed community or identity.

Usage: Yükseliler is used in everyday language, regional journalism, folklore, and regional narratives to evoke inhabitants of inland highlands. It does not correspond to a single ethnicity; highland areas across Turkey are home to diverse populations, including Turkish, Kurdish, Zazaki-speaking, and other communities, depending on the locality. The term emphasizes geography—highland domicile—over a specific cultural or political affiliation.

Cultural and historical context: In literature and oral traditions, the term may convey associations with mountain life, such as pastoralism, agriculture adapted to rugged terrain, and the social memory of inland regions. The connotation of yükseliler is typically neutral and highly context-dependent, varying with the speaker’s purpose, tone, and the regional setting.