I don´t seem to get the hang of this sentence which appears in a story:-

>´Erkek olan sözünü inkar etmez!´<

Does it have a colloquial meaning?

Thanks.

Tazx1

It translates to

 Thank you ... this is exactly what I also thought.  But, it seems a very literal translation which does not make much sense!  I am sure this is a ´Colloquial´ expression which has a specific meaning.

Is there a native speaker willing to comment?

Tazx1

It is actually not "promise"

Man does not deny his words. Whatever he says, he does that, he doesn´t change his mind, his idea.

I think, it is similar to "man of his word."

 Agree.

The important thing here is the use of Erkek olan.

It is like the poem "If" by Rudyard Kipling that says  if you can do such and such (e.g. keep your head when all around are losing theirs) then you are a man.

The sentence isn´t referring to any man. It is a definition of what a man is.

Literally: The one who is a man is one who doesn´t deny his word.

Free: A real man keeps his word. A man is one who keeps his word.

 Thank you Faruk Bey.  This translation is very apt, ne kard guzel.  Tam Anladim. 

Tazx1

 Thank you Marionin.  Where were you hiding till now.  Thank you for an excellent explanation ... as always.

Tazx1

 I have all sorts of hiding places!

My bookshop has lots of tall shelves in its depot I can hide behind.... just to name one of the places. But I had better not tell you them all or you will be able to come and find me.

"erkek" here does not necessarily mean "male". It is used to signify a certain level of moral/ethical dignity, which would not allow one to deny or go back on his/her word.

Ladies can also attain this high level of dignity; ladies of this quality are often described in Turkish as "cok erkek kadin",  which does not refer to any lack of feminism on the part of that lady.

So that´s where you were!