IN GREEK
σκάλα
skala
stairs; ladder; landing or quay
IN TURKISH
iskele
iskele
quay; pier; scaffolding
WEAR THE WORD
σκάλα in blue ink and iskele in red, on a T shirt, a tote or a mug.
THE RECORD
- LENT BY, BORROWED BY
- Greek to Turkish
- STARTED IN
- Latin (via Greek)
- CATEGORY
- Places
- HOW THE MEANING DRIFTED
- Greek ordinarily means steps or a ladder whereas Turkish primarily denotes a pier or scaffolding.
- NOTES
- Sources disagree on direction: this entry gives Greek to Turkish, the Nişanyan check gives Shared from a third language. For the editors to settle.
COMMENTS
An editor reads every comment before it appears.
SOURCES
- Rona & Dedes (2007), Languages in Contact: Greek Loanwords in Turkish, Journal of Turkish Studies 31/II, p. 185 makale.isam.org.tr
- 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) ‘σκάλα / iskele’, entry 329, Defter ή Tefteri: a ledger of shared Greek and Turkish words. https://defteritefteri.com/en/w/329-skala/. Accessed [day month year].