yok

Yok is a Turkish word used to indicate absence or negation, roughly translating as "there is not" or "none." It functions as an existential negation, contrasting with var, the verb that means "there is" or "exists." In everyday Turkish, yok signals that something does not exist or is not present.

Usage and examples

Yok is typically paired with nouns to express absence: for example, "Bir şey yok" means "There is nothing," and "Evde kimse yok" means "There is nobody at home." It can also stand alone as a brief response meaning "No" or "There isn’t," as in answering a question with "Yok." In questions formed with var mı? or ne var? a negative reply would often be yok, emphasizing the lack of existence or presence.

Etymology and cognates

Yok is a long-established negation particle in Turkish, part of a broader Turkic heritage. Cognate forms appear in other Turkic languages, such as Uzbek yo‘q and Kazakh жоқ, reflecting a shared historical root across the language family.

In use and meaning

Beyond its core meaning, yok appears in numerous idioms and colloquial expressions. Phrases like "Yok artık" convey surprise or disbelief, roughly equivalent to "No way" or "You don’t say." The word’s versatility—signaling absence, negation, or emphatic denial—makes it a staple in both formal and informal Turkish speech.

See also

Var (Turkish for “exists”) and Değil (not). See also Turkish negation particles and Turkish language fundamentals.