efe.

From Ottoman Turkish افه. Three origins have been proposed. The most likely origin, according to Nişanyan is that the word is a derivation of Old Turkic ebe, Old Turkic ece et cetera, from infantile speech, while a Greek origin is tempting, says Nişanyan, cultural exchange lacks explanation. Otherwise, from Greek έφηβος (éfivos, “adolescent”) from Ancient Greek ἔφηβος (éphēbos, “adolescent”). In the sense of brave, a clipping of efendim (Ancient Greek αὐθέντης (authéntēs)) used among the Zeybeks to address each other, then to describe the Zeybeks, then to describe their perceived qualities.