20.07.2026 00:01
The "shared culture" debates between Turkey and Greece, which occasionally spill over onto social media, have now been dominated by the watermelon. Users from the two neighboring countries, who have previously clashed over delights such as baklava, cacık, döner, and Turkish coffee, have once again faced off due to a Greek influencer's claim about the origin of the word "watermelon." The influencer, appearing on camera with a watermelon in hand, went viral with the outburst, "Stop stealing our words, neighbor!"
A new chapter has been added to the years-long food and cultural heritage debates between Turkey and Greece. The 'whose is it?' polemic, previously sparked over delights like baklava, cacık (tzatziki), döner, coffee, dolma, and moussaka, has moved to social media. This time, the topic isn't a dish, but a watermelon.
A Greek influencer, known for his entertaining videos on social media, stepped in front of the camera holding a giant watermelon and made humorous remarks aimed at his Turkish followers.
"KARPOUZI MY BOY, KARPOUZI"
Claiming that the Turkish word 'karpuz' comes from Greek, the influencer shook the watermelon and said:
"In Turkey, you call this 'karpuz.' But in Greece, we call it 'karpouzi.' Karpouzi my boy, karpouzi! Okay? Stop stealing our words, neighbor!"
Occasionally using Turkish words throughout his speech, the influencer's video was shared thousands of times in a short period.
BAKLAVA, TZATZIKI, DÖNER: THE LIST GOES ON
Similar debates between Turkey and Greece have previously occurred over many foods and drinks. The origins of items like baklava, cacık (tzatziki), döner, Turkish coffee, dolma, sarma, moussaka, and simit frequently become a topic of discussion on social media and international platforms between the two countries.
This time, however, the center of the debate is not a dish, but the word 'karpuz' used in daily life.
SOCIAL MEDIA DIVIDED
The Greek influencer's post quickly became a hot topic for both Turkish and Greek social media users. While some users viewed the video as humorous content, others argued that the cultural similarities between the two countries are natural, bringing different perspectives to the discussion. The playful post starting over the watermelon quickly went viral, garnering thousands of comments and shares.