düz

Düz is a Turkish adjective meaning flat, level, or even. It is used to describe surfaces, terrain, and geometric forms, and it can carry a sense of straightness or directness in some contexts, such as the expression düz söyle, meaning to say something plainly or directly.

Common derived forms include düzlük, which denotes flatness or a plain, and the related adjective düzgun, meaning proper or regular. The word appears in various compound terms, for example düz yol (straight road) and düz arazi (flat terrain).

In toponymy, düz is a frequent element in Turkish place names that indicate flat landscapes. The best-known example is Düzce, a city and province in northwestern Turkey, whose name reflects the region’s terrain. Other localities also incorporate düz as a descriptor of geography.

Etymologically, düz belongs to the core Turkish lexicon related to flatness and straightness and has cognates in other Turkic languages. Its meaning and usage are widespread in everyday Turkish, influencing related terms and phrases that describe surfaces, landforms, and directness in expression.