denizci

Denizci is a Turkish noun and adjective meaning seaman or mariner. In everyday Turkish, it refers to a person who works at sea, including sailors aboard merchant ships, naval vessels, or other seafaring crews. The term can be used collectively to describe maritime workers such as deckhands, engineers, officers, and other crew members, though specific ranks are usually named with more precise terms (for example, kaptan for captain, mühendis for engineer).

The word derives from deniz, sea, with the occupational suffix -ci indicating a person connected with or performing a particular activity. As a result, a person who works at sea may be described as a denizci, and the word can also appear in compound forms or as a surname (Denizci), reflecting historical associations with maritime work.

In modern Turkish, denizci appears in literature, journalism, and everyday speech as a general descriptor for seafaring people. It is related to denizcilik, the broader field of maritime affairs and navigation, and to related terms such as gemi (ship), balıkçı (fisherman), dalgıç (diver), and kaptan (captain). The concept encompasses individuals serving in national navies, coast guards, merchant fleets, fishing fleets, or recreational sailing.

See also: Denizcilik, Deniz Kuvvetleri, Gemi, Kaptan, Balıkçı.