mecaz

Mecaz is a rhetorical figure in Turkish language and literature that involves using a word or phrase beyond its literal meaning. In mecaz, the intended sense is figurative and is understood from context, cultural convention, or association rather than from the word’s strict dictionary sense. Mecaz is commonly used to express abstract ideas, evoke imagery, or compress meaning in poetic and rhetorical texts.

There are two widely discussed subtypes of mecaz. Mecaz-ı ma’nî refers to a shift in meaning where a word is used to convey something other than its literal sense, such as using an organ to denote feelings or qualities (for example, speaking of the heart to signify emotions). Mecaz-ı lafzî (also described as figurative expression) concerns the form or expression itself being figurative, often in the sense of attributing human qualities or actions to things not literally capable of them, or using conventional phrases in a non-literal way. In practice, these categories overlap with other figures of speech such as metaphor, metonymy, and personification.

Mecaz has a long history in Turkish literature, with roots in classical Arabic and Persian literary theory. It remains active in modern Turkish, appearing in poetry, prose, journalism, and everyday speech. Analysts study mecaz to understand how authors signal irony, emotion, or nuance, and how figurative language shapes interpretation and aesthetic effect. While its use enriches expression, mecaz relies on shared linguistic and cultural knowledge, making interpretation contingent on context and audience.

See also: metaphor, metonymy, figurative language, Turkish rhetoric.