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Learn How to Pronounce Mimar Sinan | YouPronounce.it

How to Pronounce Mimar Sinan

Quick Answer: In Turkish, the name "Mimar Sinan" is pronounced [miːˈmaːɾ siˈnan].
(Listen to the audio below for the stress and intonation)

Meaning and Context

Mimar Sinan, often venerated as Sinan the Great, was the preeminent chief Ottoman architect and civil engineer for the Sultans Suleiman the Magnificent, Selim II, and Murad III during the 16th century. His prolific career, spanning approximately fifty years from the 1530s until his death in 1588, defined the zenith of Ottoman architecture, synthesizing Byzantine, Persian, and Islamic traditions into a distinctly Ottoman classical style. Appointed as the head of the imperial architects in 1539, Sinan oversaw an extensive building program across the empire, leaving an indelible mark on the skylines of Istanbul, Edirne, and beyond. His masterpieces, such as the Süleymaniye Mosque in Istanbul (completed in 1557) and the Selimiye Mosque in Edirne (completed in 1574), are celebrated for their monumental yet harmonious proportions, innovative structural engineering, and masterful use of light and space. His vast portfolio, which includes hundreds of confirmed structures like mosques, bridges, aqueducts, madrasas, and caravanserais, cemented his legacy as a pivotal figure in architectural history and a cornerstone of cultural heritage from the Ottoman Golden Age.

Common Mistakes and Alternative Spellings

The primary name, "Mimar Sinan," is consistently spelled as such in modern Turkish, with "Mimar" meaning "architect" and functioning as an honorific title. The most common alternative is simply "Sinan," often preceded by the epithet "the Great" or "Koca Sinan" in Turkish, which translates to "Grand Sinan" or "Sinan the Elder." A frequent error, particularly in older non-Turkish texts, is the spelling "Mimmar Sinan," with a double 'm'. This is considered an archaic or incorrect transliteration. Another occasional typo is "Minar Sinan," substituting an 'n' for the second 'm', likely due to phonetic confusion. When referencing his works, it is important to distinguish him from later or unrelated figures named Sinan. In Western scholarly contexts, he is uniformly referred to as "Sinan," ensuring clarity from the architectural title.

Example Sentences

A tour of Istanbul is incomplete without appreciating the architectural genius of Mimar Sinan, whose Süleymaniye Mosque complex dominates the city's historic peninsula.

Scholars often debate whether the Selimiye Mosque in Edirne, with its soaring single-dome design, represents Mimar Sinan's true masterpiece and the apex of Ottoman architectural engineering.

As the Chief Imperial Architect, Mimar Sinan applied innovative solutions to complex structural challenges, evident in the sturdy yet elegant aqueducts and bridges he designed to supply water to distant communities.

Modern architects still study the proportional harmony and spatial flow in the plans of Mimar Sinan's smaller mosques, such as the Şehzade Mosque.

The extensive biographical treatise, Tezkiretü'l Bünyan, provides invaluable insights into the projects and professional life of Mimar Sinan as recorded by his contemporaries.

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