tecrübe

Tecrübe is a Turkish noun meaning practical knowledge or skill gained through direct involvement in events, activities, work, or life. It denotes knowledge acquired through practice and testing, often valued as evidence of capability. In everyday and professional use, tecrübe can describe someone’s track record or level of competence, as in phrases like tecrübesi var (has experience) or tecrübesiz (inexperienced). It is commonly used with modifiers such as iş tecrübesi (work experience) or yaşam tecrübesi (life experience).

Etymology and origins: tecrübe originates from Persian tajribe (تجرِبة), meaning trial or experience, and is related to Arabic tajriba (تجربة). The word entered Turkish through Ottoman Turkish and has been part of the modern Turkish lexicon since the early modern period, retaining its core sense of tested, practical knowledge.

Usage and nuances: tecrübe is often contrasted with deneyim, another Turkish word for experience. While they are closely related and sometimes interchangeable, tecrübe tends to emphasize practical, demonstrated know-how gained through action, whereas deneyim can have a broader sense of accumulated life events or general experience. Common collocations include tecrübe kazanmak (to gain experience), tecrübe etmek (to experience or undergo), and tecrübe sahibi (an experienced person).

In modern Turkish, tecrübe remains a standard term across professional, educational, and everyday contexts, reflecting the value placed on proven capability and practical understanding earned through real-world involvement.