tanr

Tanr is a term that most commonly refers to the Turkish word tanrı, meaning “god” or deity. The unaccented form tanr is not standard Turkish orthography but may appear in non-diacritic texts, ASCII renditions, or OCR results where diacritics are omitted. In ordinary Turkish writing, the word is tanrı with the dotless ı.

Etymology and historical context: The Turkish tanrı derives from the older Turkic root tängri, associated with the sky or heavens and the ancient Turkic and Mongolic concept of a supreme deity. This root is connected to the historical name Tengri (or Tangri), a sky god prominent in Central Asian mythologies. Over time, tanrı evolved into the modern Turkish noun for a deity and has influenced related terms in various Turkic languages.

Usage and forms: In Turkish, tanrı is a singular noun; the plural is tanrılar. The word appears in religious and secular contexts to denote a deity in general or in reference to the supreme god of a given tradition. Derived expressions include tanrısal (divine or god-like) and tanrısız (godless). Common phrases include Tanrı, aşkına (for heaven’s sake) or tanrım (my God), though the exact usage can vary by register and region. While Allah is the primary term for God in Islamic contexts, tanrı is frequently used as a generic or cross-religious term for deity in Turkish.

Cultural context: The root of tanrı is linked to the ancient concept of Tengri/Tangri, a sky god central to many Turkic and some Mongolic belief systems. In modern Turkish, tanrı retains its general sense of “god” and is not limited to any single religious tradition, though religious speakers may prefer Allah when referring specifically to the Muslim God.

See also: Tengri, Tengriism, Turkish language, Allah.