Tradition: Turkish Mythology
Alternative Names: Gelinler (plural)
Category: Ghost

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The Myth

Gelin means “bride” in Turkish and is sometimes associated with stories of female ghosts who were brides in life. These spectral figures are connected with local legends of tragedy, in which a bride’s story ends in sorrow and her presence remains associated with the place where the tragedy occurred.

The Gelin is not a specific supernatural being with one established appearance or set of powers. Rather, the name is associated with tragic bride figures who appear in local ghost stories. The details of their appearances and hauntings vary between legends, and the word itself simply means “bride” rather than “ghost.”

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Sources

“Gelin.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed October 15, 2026. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gelin

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