atadan

Atadan is a Turkish expression meaning “from ancestors” or “inherited from forebears.” It is used to describe customs, traits, or practices that are transmitted through generations, signaling historical continuity and cultural heritage.

The form comes from ata, meaning “ancestor,” plus the ablative suffix -dan, yielding “from the ancestor/ancestors.” In use, atadan often appears as part of fixed phrases or compounds rather than as a standalone term.

Common constructions include atadan kalma gelenekler (traditions handed down from ancestors) and atadan kalma huylar (habits inherited from forebears). The related adverbial phrase atadan beri, meaning “since time immemorial” or “for generations,” is also widely used to emphasize long-standing continuity.

In modern Turkish, atadan is primarily found in descriptive, literary, or formal contexts, such as discussions of culture, history, or heritage. It tends to occur in phrases that emphasize lineage and the transmission of values, rather than in everyday casual speech.

See also: ata (ancestor), gelenek (tradition), kalıtım (inheritance).