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Karagoz

2 stages from Ottoman Turkish to English.

Today it means the traditional Turkish shadow-puppet theatre, named after its main character

Where does the word "karagoz" come from? It comes from Ottoman Turkish Karagöz, adopted directly into English (1800s).

1
Stage 1 of 2
Karagöz
Ottoman Turkish · 1500s-1600s
"black-eyed (a puppet hero)"
'black eye', the rough everyman who trades insults with the pompous Hacivat; legend makes them builders of a Bursa mosque
2
Stage 2 of 2
Karagöz
English · 1800s
"Turkish shadow theatre"
described by Western visitors to Ramadan-night performances in Istanbul; UNESCO listed the tradition in 2009
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Karagoz’s story begins in Ottoman Turkish: Karagöz meant “black-eyed (a puppet hero).” 'black eye', the rough everyman who trades insults with the pompous Hacivat; legend makes them builders of a Bursa mosque. It reached English by 1800s as Karagöz. Described by Western visitors to Ramadan-night performances in Istanbul; UNESCO listed the tradition in 2009. Today, karagoz means the traditional Turkish shadow-puppet theatre, named after its main character.