Peshtemal: meaning, origin and how it differs from hammam towel and fouta
Peshtemal, peştemal, pestemal, hammam towel, fouta, Turkish towel – many names are used for very similar towels. A peshtemal is the traditional Turkish bath towel: large, flat-woven, usually made of cotton and with fringes on the short sides. In this guide you'll learn what the term means, where the peshtemal comes from, which spellings exist, how it differs from fouta, pareo and terry, and how to recognise a well-made towel.
Contents10
- What is a peshtemal?
- Origin: from the hammam into everyday life
- Peshtemal, pestemal, hammam towel: the spellings
- Peshtemal or fouta: what's the difference?
- How it differs from pareo, sarong and terry
- What you can use the towel for today
- How to recognise a good peshtemal
- Our peshtemals
- Conclusion
- Frequently asked questions
What is a peshtemal?
"Peştemal" is the Turkish word for the towel traditionally used in the hammam, the Turkish bath. The "ş" is pronounced like "sh", so roughly "pesh-te-mal". Because the letter is missing from many keyboards, the spelling peshtemal has become established internationally. In German most people simply say Hamamtuch, in English "Turkish towel" or "hammam towel". As a rule, they all mean the same towel.
Typical features of the towel:
- Flat weave: no terry loops, but closely and smoothly woven threads.
- Large format: about 180 × 100 cm is common – enough to wrap yourself up completely.
- Fringes: on both short sides, often hand-knotted.
- Woven-in patterns: stripes, diamonds or other motifs are created during weaving, not printed on.
- Low weight: much lighter than a terry towel of the same size.
Origin: from the hammam into everyday life
The peshtemal has been part of bathing culture in what is now Turkey for centuries and was already an integral part of visiting the hammam in the Ottoman Empire. Bathers wrapped themselves in it – for privacy, as a cover on the warm stone and for drying off. In the warm, humid air of a hammam, a light, quick-drying towel was more practical than a heavy one.
The name is often traced back to the Persian "puštmāl", which roughly translates as "back towel". Traditionally the towels were often red with simple dark or light stripes; different regions developed their own colours and patterns. They were woven on hand looms – a craft that still exists today. We explain in detail how the towels are made in our article on production on old looms.
Today you'll come across the towel far beyond the hammam: in the sauna, on the beach, when travelling and at home.
Peshtemal, pestemal, hammam towel: the spellings
If you search for the towel, you'll come across many variants. The most important at a glance:
| Term | Language / origin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Peştemal | Turkish, original spelling | traditional hammam towel |
| Peshtemal | common international transliteration | the same towel |
| Pestemal, peştamal | simplified or regional variants | the same towel |
| Hamamtuch, Hammamtuch | German | the same towel |
| Turkish towel, hammam towel | English | the same towel |
| Fouta, futa | North Africa, especially Tunisia | very similar flat-woven towel |
Peshtemal or fouta: what's the difference?
The fouta is the North African counterpart, best known from Tunisia. It is also flat-woven, usually made of cotton and has fringes. In shops the two terms are often used interchangeably. The main difference lies in origin and tradition: the peshtemal comes from Turkish hammam culture, the fouta from the Maghreb. There is a great variety of patterns and formats on both sides, so you can't always tell whether a towel in a shop is sold as a fouta or a peshtemal.
For you as a buyer, the name is therefore less important than the quality: material, density of the weave and finish of the fringes. Light bath towels exist in many bathing traditions around the world, by the way – from the hammam to the Finnish sauna to the Japanese onsen. Our overview of bathing cultures around the world shows how different these cultures are.
How it differs from pareo, sarong and terry
- Pareo and sarong: These are not towels for drying off but wrap clothing – often made of thin viscose or cotton. A hammam towel can also be tied as a pareo, but it is first and foremost a bath towel.
- Terry: Terry has loops that absorb a lot of water and feel fluffy, but are heavy and take a long time to dry. The Turkish bath towel is thinner, lighter and dries faster.
- Microfibre: Synthetic towels are also light but feel different. The classic hammam towel is made of natural fibres, usually cotton.
What you can use the towel for today
What was practical in the hammam has remained so in everyday life: the towel is light, takes up little space and dries quickly. The most common uses:
- Sauna: as a cover on the bench – at 180 cm long you lie completely on it – and for wrapping up in the relaxation room.
- Beach and lake: sand shakes off the smooth weave easily, and after swimming the towel is dry again quickly.
- Travel: folded, it fits into hand luggage and replaces a bath towel, scarf and light blanket.
- At home: as a bath towel, sofa throw, tablecloth or picnic blanket.
- In the hammam: still wrapped around the hips or body, just as in the past.
From our experience at the Meri Sauna, a hammam towel dries in about 30 minutes in the sun and in around 60 minutes indoors – one of the reasons why flat-woven towels are so popular in the sauna.
How to recognise a good peshtemal
Whether at a bazaar on holiday or online – these points help you assess it:
- Material: Does it say 100 % cotton? Blends aren't bad, but they are different.
- Weave: Hold the towel up to the light. An even, dense weave is a good sign.
- Pattern: Is it woven in or just printed? Woven-in patterns are usually visible on both sides.
- Fringes: Are the knots firm and even? Small differences are normal with handwork.
- Weight and size: These should be clearly stated. Our towels in the 180 × 100 cm format weigh between approx. 270 g and approx. 470 g depending on the model.
- Care instructions: A reputable seller states temperature and drying.
You'll find more tips for buying locally in our article on hammam towels from Turkey.
Our peshtemals
We call them hammam towels – but they are peshtemals. A few examples with verified details from the product descriptions:
- SULTAN hammam towel: approx. 180 × 100 cm, approx. 270 g, 100 % OEKO-TEX certified cotton, made by traditional handcraft on the Aegean coast of Turkey, hand-knotted fringes.
- Colombia hammam towel: according to the product details 180 × 95 cm, approx. 450 g, hand-woven from OEKO-TEX certified cotton, made in Turkey.
- Mini hammam towel Diamant: the small format at approx. 90 × 45 cm with a diamond pattern, also from the Aegean coast.
You'll find all models in our hammam towels collection.
Related reading: How hammam towels are made: from yarn and loom to fringe · Hammam towel patterns explained: stripes, rhombus, diamond, herringbone & more · Hammam towel from Turkey: how to spot good quality on holiday
Conclusion
A peshtemal is the traditional Turkish hammam towel: flat-woven, usually made of cotton, with fringes and woven-in patterns. Peştemal, peshtemal, pestemal and hammam towel all mean the same towel; the fouta is its North African relative. Material, weave and finish matter more than the name – then the towel is a light, versatile companion in the sauna, on the beach and at home.
Frequently asked questions
How do you pronounce peştemal?
The "ş" is pronounced like "sh", so roughly "pesh-te-mal".
Is a peshtemal the same as a hammam towel?
Yes. Peştemal is the Turkish name, hammam towel the English term for the same towel.
Is a fouta a peshtemal?
Not quite: both are flat-woven towels with fringes, but the fouta comes from North Africa and the peshtemal from Turkish hammam culture. In shops the names are often mixed up.
How big is a peshtemal?
About 180 × 100 cm is common. But there are also small formats such as 90 × 45 cm and large ones up to XXL.
How do I wash a peshtemal?
For our models at 30 °C, without fabric softener, and air dry. All the details are in our guide to washing hammam towels.
Personally written by Martin – founder of BeachAndSteam and sauna operator at Lake Kulkwitz for more than 18 years.