I was a nerd growing up, and I’m a little antisocial and awkward.
Louis C K
Have you ever used the word “awkward” in your speech or writing? Etymologically, the word “awkward” comes from the Norwegian language. It is a 14th century word (from Old Norse “afugr” meaning “turned backwards, contrary or wrong”). “Awk” means “back”. The ending “-ward” expresses “direction” and means “toward” as in the word “backward” (i.e., towards the back). Do you know that the word “awkward” has multiple meanings? 1) The word “awkward” means “causing difficulty or inconvenience”. 2) It also means “lacking skill or grace” in performance, movement, or manner. 3) graceless or unpolished in expression; 4) hard to manage or handle particularly because of shape; 5) socially uneasy and uncomfortable; unsure and constrained in manner; 6) difficult to deal with (especially causing embarrassment or annoyance). Here are some examples in context:
Example 1. They managed to build the little house at an awkward moment.
Example 2. Victor was too awkward with the guitar pick to play the tune.
Example 3. She has always used an awkward writing style in her essays.
Example 4. It was such an awkward parcel to carry that he requested urgent help from his friends.
Example 5. We had awkward moments in the discussion and needed some encouraging guidance.
Example 6. John needed attitudinal training because he was extremely awkward and reserved at meetings.
Example 7. Her remarks on the present status of our company put us in an awkward position.
The word awkward can be translated into Turkish as sakar, hantal or beceriksiz or acemi. Example 1. O kadar sakar bir çocuktu ki yürürken ayakkabı bağlarını birbirine kolaylıkla dolaştırabilirdi. [He was such an awkward boy that he could interlace his shoelaces while walking.] Example 2. Jack saatlerce süren sınavdan sonra kendini oldukça hantal hissediyordu; günler sonra bile, sürekli hantal olduğu hissine kapılıyordu. [Jack started feeling awkward after the exam which lasted for hours.] Example 3. Çok beceriksizdi, her konuşmasında mutlaka ciddi bir pot kırardı ya da sınıftaki dolaplara çarpardı. [She was as awkard as a bull in a China shop and she usually committed a serious faux pas in her speeches or knocked into the lockers in the classroom.] Example 4. Nasıl olur da bu askeri tatbikata böyle acemi bir birlik (takım) gönderirler. [How come they have sent such an awkward team to this military exercise.]
Note. You may use the popular translation tools to see the word awkward in action and see (most probably) the verbatim translations into other languages. Literal translations may not work at times: For example, awkward age (not acemi yaşı but ergenlik) awkard team (not hantal takım but acemi takımı).
Regards. Enjoy acquiring more. 😊