talih

Talih is a term used in Turkish and several South Asian languages to denote fate, destiny, or fortune. In Turkish, talih functions as a common noun for luck and appears in expressions about both good and bad fortune; the related adjective talihsiz means unlucky. In Urdu and other Persian-influenced contexts, talih similarly refers to one’s destiny and is widely found in poetry, storytelling, and everyday speech when discussing the fortunes that shape a person’s life.

Etymology and linguistic context

The word talih has circulated across languages influenced by Persian and Arabic, entering Turkish and the Indian subcontinent through historical contact. In these languages it has largely retained a core semantic field centered on destiny and luck, though idiomatic usage varies by region and genre.

Cultural usage

In Turkish culture, talih features in proverbs and daily language about luck, chance, and the forces that affect outcomes. A well-known idiomatic expression is talih kuşu, literally “the bird of fortune,” used to describe someone perceived as unusually lucky. In Urdu literature and poetry, talih appears as a motif for fate and the unpredictable turns of life, reinforcing cultural notions that personal outcomes are shaped by factors beyond individual control.

Modern usage

Today, talih remains a common concept in everyday speech, literature, and media across Turkish-speaking and Persian-influenced communities. It is often contrasted with notions of effort or merit, underscoring cultural interest in the balance between luck and personal agency.

See also: Fate, Destiny, Luck, Qadar (Arabic/Persian concept of divine will), Taqdeer (Urdu/Hindi term for destiny).