IN GREEK
κλειδί
kleidi
key
IN TURKISH
kilit
kilit
lock
WEAR THE WORD
κλειδί in blue ink and kilit in red, on a T shirt, a tote or a mug.
THE RECORD
- LENT BY, BORROWED BY
- Greek to Turkish
- STARTED IN
- Ancient Greek
- CATEGORY
- Household
- HOW THE MEANING DRIFTED
- Greek κλειδί is a key; Turkish kilit is a lock.
- NOTES
- Nişanyan traces Turkish kilit through Persian kilīd to Ancient Greek κλείς, key; Greek κλειδί is the native descendant.
COMMENTS
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SOURCES
- Nişanyan Sözlük (checked online)
Etymologies are checked against the dictionaries and studies listed. An entry is stamped settled only when both the Greek and the Turkish side have been checked. Research for this ledger was compiled with AI assistance and reviewed by the editors.
HOW TO CITE THIS ENTRY
Gold, K. (ed.) (2026) ‘κλειδί / kilit’, entry 108, Defter ή Tefteri: a ledger of shared Greek and Turkish words. https://defteritefteri.com/en/w/108-kleidi/. Accessed [day month year].