If a guy who I´ve just met calls me "my dear" is that a term of affection. We have only really started to get to know each other.

Thanks ")

Run!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!     it can be a little weird because many turkish men think if you are talking to them means that they have a chance. A few will say this in an endearing way especially if they are much older than you ( father image ) but if they are your equal ( in age ) I would ask them to not say this. Especially if you are felling uncomfortable with it. It is like one foot in the door. If they are not trying to flirt with you they will never say this.

Well, ´canım´ in Turkish is used more frequently and casually than ´dear´ in English. So it could be affection. But it could also be freindliness or flirting. Even it could be this guy calls everyone that.

very funny. many Non Turkish men and many women think the same.

So does he like me?")

hard to say it could mean he is trying to mark his territory or possessions like a tom cat so that no other tom cat will come around.

Canim word is not that bad when used in Turkey. Unless its "yavrum" "bebeğim"

So is it a good thing or a bad thing??

I think if they can speak english  or you turkish and you can communicate well enough to have an argument where you both understand and don´t need a translator - that you can ask the person what they mean when they say this. Are they saying in writing/text or with actual face to face contact. If it is in text/email/chat  it is most likely a possesive canim ( like the tom cat ) meaning he likes you. If it is in person and he is saying to everyone it is just a respectful show of empathy of the people around him. Like " dear be a good girl and go get me a tea."  or" dear lady  or dear auntie come sit with us and share some time "

good thing bad thing depends on your motives too!

Hi,

I´m new here - I also wondered about the word "canim". I am a guy and have a Turkish colleague, a girl who is 10 years younger than me. We have a close working relationship and are good friends. (We both live and work in Scandinavia.) Being a Scandinavian myself, I have tried to learn a little Turkish because I think it is a bit funny to see her face when I use Turkish words. I sometimes have called her "canim" or "güzelim", and she didn´t seem to mind. Like I wrote I am 10 years older than her so, I thought that it was probably obvious that it was in a "big brotherly" way that I used it, but maybe I am wrong. Maybe I have been disrespectful - I don´t know what the ladies out there think?

/P

I am pretty sure what you are doing when you call her dear or my beauty is fine because as you say you have a daily working relationship and are using it as a term of endearment. It is when young single girls are meeting turkish boys and they start to say this that it is more like a territory marker to keep other young men away.

Thanky very much peyote - I understand what you mean, point taken. Just wanted a woman´s opinion!

/P