Turkies or Turkeys: Which Spelling Is Correct?

Have you ever wondered whether it’s turkies or turkeys? You’re not alone.

Many people search for this because they’re confused about the correct spelling of this common word.

It’s easy to mix up, especially if you learned English in different countries or saw both spellings online.

A turkey is a large bird that people eat, especially during holidays like Thanksgiving.

But the word is often misspelled as turkies, and using the wrong spelling can make your writing look unprofessional.

This guide will explain everything about turkies or turkeys, including the correct spelling, history, and tips for proper usage.

By the end, you’ll be confident whether you’re writing emails, social media posts, or school assignments.

We’ll cover the origin of the word, British vs American spelling, common mistakes, everyday examples, Google Trends data, and FAQs.

You’ll also find tables and comparison charts to make things crystal clear.

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Turkies or Turkeys – Quick Answer

Quick Answer:
The correct spelling is turkeys.

Examples:

• I bought two turkeys for Thanksgiving.
• Wild turkeys roam the forest near my house.

Note: The spelling turkies is incorrect and should be avoided in formal and informal writing.

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The Origin of Turkies vs Turkeys

The word turkey has an interesting history. It comes from the 16th century, when Europeans thought the bird came from Turkey, the country. The bird itself is native to North America, but traders from Turkey brought similar birds to Europe. Over time, people started calling the bird turkey.

Key Points:

• 16th century: Word first recorded.
• Named after Turkey (the country).
• The plural is formed by adding -s, not -ies.

Examples:

• Early English texts: I saw a turkey in the market.
• Modern usage: We roasted three turkeys for the festival.

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British English vs American English Spelling

Both British and American English use turkeys. There is no variation like turkies in standard English.

Comparison Table:

Aspect	British English	American English
Singular	turkey	turkey
Plural	turkeys	turkeys
Common Misspelling	turkies	turkies
Notes	Standard spelling only	Standard spelling only

Tip: Always use turkeys to avoid mistakes.

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Which Spelling Should You Use?

US Audience: Use turkeys.
UK/Commonwealth Audience: Also use turkeys.
Global Audience: Stick to turkeys.

Advice: Turkies is never correct, so avoid it in school work, emails, blogs, and social media.

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Common Mistakes with Turkies or Turkeys

Many people make these mistakes:

1. Writing turkies instead of turkeys.
2. Using turkeys (missing the e).
3. Confusing the word with Turkey the country.

Corrections:

• Wrong: I bought three turkies. → Correct: I bought three turkeys.
• Wrong: He saw many turkeys in the forest. → Correct: He saw many turkeys in the forest.

Tip: Remember: Plural = turkeys, not turkies.

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Turkies or Turkeys in Everyday Examples

Emails:

• Correct: I’m buying two turkeys for our team dinner.
• Incorrect: I’m buying two turkies for our team dinner.

News Articles:

• Correct: Wild turkeys are increasing in city parks.

Social Media:

• Correct: Thanksgiving is here! Roast those turkeys!

Formal Writing:

• Correct: The population of turkeys in North America has grown steadily.

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Turkeys or Turkies – Google Trends & Usage Data

Google Trends shows that turkeys is searched far more often than turkies, especially in the US around Thanksgiving (November). The UK also searches mostly for turkeys, usually for recipes.

Table – Keyword Comparison:

Keyword	Average Monthly Searches	Popular Regions	Notes
turkeys	90,000+	US, UK, Canada	Correct, highly used
turkies	1,000+	Minor searches	Incorrect, avoid using

Insight: Stick to turkeys for accuracy and SEO.

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FAQs

1. Is turkies correct?
No, the correct spelling is turkeys.

2. Why do people write turkies?
It’s a common mistake because of the y → ies rule for plurals, but it doesn’t apply here.

3. How do you pronounce turkeys?
It’s pronounced: /ˈtɜːrki/

4. Can turkey mean the country?
Yes, but context matters. Turkey the bird is different from Turkey the country.

5. How do you use turkeys in a sentence?
Example: We saw many turkeys in the park today.

6. Is turkies ever acceptable in informal writing?
No, it’s best to avoid it completely.

7. What is the plural form of turkey?
Turkeys – just add s, never ies.

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Conclusion (

In short, the only correct spelling is turkeys.

Writing turkies is a common mistake, but it should be avoided in all forms of communication.

Understanding this difference helps students, bloggers, content writers, and anyone using English to write clearly and professionally.

Always remember: in emails, social media, essays, or news articles, stick to turkeys.

This small attention to spelling shows accuracy and credibility. Knowing the origin of the word also makes it easy to remember:

it comes from the country Turkey, but the plural is turkeys, not turkies.

Use this knowledge when writing, speaking, or teaching English. Share it with friends or colleagues to help them avoid common mistakes.

Consistent use of turkeys improves your writing, makes content easier to read, and keeps your communication professional.

Now you’ll never be confused again between turkies or turkeys!

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