fal

Fal is a Turkish term meaning fortune-telling or omen. In Turkish and other Turkic languages, el falı (palm reading) and kahve falı (coffee cup reading) are common folk practices used to gain insight into a person’s present and future. The word fal derives from Persian and Arabic roots related to omen or forecast, and it sits within a broader tradition of divination in the region.

Practitioners, known as falcı, interpret signs such as palm lines, shapes formed by coffee grounds, or tea leaves to offer predictions or guidance. Readings are often social, conducted in cafes or homes, and may address relationships, work, health, or personal prospects. While fal is widely recognized in Turkey and neighboring areas as a cultural pastime, its methods are not scientific, and interpretations vary among practitioners. In modern media, fal occasionally appears in fiction or travel writing, reflecting its cultural resonance.

FAL is also an acronym used in other contexts. The most notable is Fusil Automatique Léger, a Belgian-designed selective-fire battle rifle chambered for 7.62x51mm NATO and produced from the 1950s onward. It achieved widespread use and became a symbol of many postwar Western-aligned forces. The uppercase form FAL is distinct from the Turkish term fal; they are not etymologically related, though they share the same letter sequence in English.