In this study, the investigation of the kinetics of Soma-Isiklar lignite in water vapor and inert atmosphere (nitrogen) was presented. The samples were pyrolyzed at different temperatures in the nitrogen and steam atmospheres. From the calculated kinetic parameters (k(m), k(0), and E-A), some assumptions of coal-water interaction were suggested. With the help of these assumptions, an attempt was made to explain the effect of the pyrolysis atmosphere and temperature on the char yields during pyrolysis of the lignite.