tulpan

Tulpan is a term with several related uses in language and culture. In some languages, notably Swedish, tulpan denotes the flower known in English as the tulip. The form tulpan also appears as a transliteration of the Russian word тюльпан (tyul'pan), used to refer to the same bulbous ornamental plant.

Tulpan is best known internationally as the title of a 2008 Kazakh feature film directed by Sergey Dvortsevoy. The film follows a young man who returns from naval service to the Kazakh steppe and aspires to make a life as a shepherd, seeking to marry a woman named Tulpan. Noted for its observational style, naturalistic performances and depiction of rural nomadic life, the film received positive reviews on the international festival circuit and drew attention for its portrayal of the social and environmental realities of contemporary steppe communities.

Beyond botany and cinema, tulpan appears in various proper names and cultural references, including publications, artworks and place names in regions where variants of the word for “tulip” are used. Usage typically reflects linguistic variation and cultural associations with the tulip as an ornamental and symbolic flower.