ilgi

Ilgi is a Turkish noun that means interest, attention, or concern. It can refer to intellectual curiosity as well as emotional or practical care about someone or something. In everyday and formal Turkish, ilgi appears in a range of common expressions and compounds.

Typical usages include ilgi göstermek (to show interest or concern), ilgi çekmek (to attract attention), ilgi alanı (area of interest or field of study), and ilgi duymak (to feel interest). The related adjective ilgili means related or relevant, and ilgisiz or ilgisizlik describe indifference or lack of care. The verb ilgilenmek means to take an interest or to be concerned about something.

Ilgi also appears in phrases that describe attractiveness or appeal, such as ilgi çekici (interesting or appealing). In discourse about learning or media, ilgi can be used to discuss audience attention or public interest. In medical or educational contexts, ilgi is often paired with verbs and adjectives to specify the level of attention or concern required or shown.

Etymology of ilgi is not definitively settled. The word is well established in modern Turkish and has long appeared in Ottoman Turkish, with possible influences from Persian through historical contact, though a precise origin is not universally agreed upon. The term is cognate in other Turkic languages, such as Azerbaijani, where ilgi carries a similar meaning of interest or attention.

In summary, ilgi is a versatile Turkish noun central to expressing attention, interest, and concern, with a broad set of related forms and common usage in both informal and formal language.