A short Turkish phrasebook for travelers

The official language of Turkey is Turkish. It is what local people speak, what street signs and cafe menus are written in. In the tourist areas almost everyone knows some English, and plenty of people speak Russian, so you will not run into much of a language barrier there.

It is a different matter for anyone who does not intend to spend the whole holiday inside a hotel. If you rent an apartment or a villa and explore the country on your own, you will be dealing with people who often do not speak English at all. A handful of Turkish words and some gestures will get you through more than half of those situations.

There is also the reception you get. Turks appreciate it when a visitor makes the effort, and a couple of phrases in Turkish turn you from a tourist into a guest surprisingly quickly.

Content:

About the Turkish language
How Turkish letters are read
Greetings and farewells
Basic phrases
Talking to locals
Getting acquainted
In a shop and at the bazaar
At the hotel and the restaurant
Finding your way around town
Directions
At the station and the airport
Emergencies
Time
Numbers
What is said to you: phrases you will hear
False friends
If you rent or buy a home
Popular questions

About the Turkish language

Turkish is the only official language of Turkey and the most widely spoken of all the Turkic languages. It has around 85 million native speakers, and about 90 million counting those who speak it as a second language, which places it in the top twenty languages in the world. The literary standard is based on the Istanbul dialect.

Its closest relatives are Gagauz, spoken in Moldova and the Balkans, along with Azerbaijani and Turkmen. Tatar speakers usually catch the general subject of a Turkish conversation but not much more than that.

How Turkish letters are read

Turkish is convenient in one important way: it is read exactly as it is written, with no silent letters and no awkward combinations. There are only eight characters to get used to.

Letter	How it is read	Example
c	j as in jam	cami — jah-mee, mosque
ç	ch as in chair	çay — chai, tea
ş	sh as in shoe	şeker — sheh-ker, sugar
ğ	Silent, it lengthens the vowel before it	dağ — daa, mountain
ı	A dull vowel, like the e in open	kayısı — kai-uh-suh, apricot
i	ee as in see; the capital keeps its dot — İ	iyi — ee-yee, good
ö	Like the u in fur	göz — gurz, eye
ü	Like the French u	üzüm — ew-zewm, grapes

The stress usually falls on the last syllable: merhabA, teshekkurlEr. Place names are the exception — IstanbUl takes the stress at the end, while Antalya, Alanya and Bodrum take it at the beginning.

Greetings and farewells

English	Turkish	Pronunciation
Hello	Merhaba	mer-ha-BA
Good morning	Gün aydın	gewn ai-DUHN
Good day	İyi günler	ee-YEE gewn-LER
Good evening	İyi akşamlar	ee-YEE ak-sham-LAR
See you later	Sonra görüşürüz	SON-ra gur-ew-shew-REWZ
Goodbye (said by the one leaving)	Hoşça kal	HOSH-cha kal
Goodbye (said by the one staying)	Güle güle	gew-LE gew-LE
Good night	İyi geceler	ee-YEE ge-je-LER
Glad to see you	Sizi görmek ne hoş	si-ZI gur-MEK ne hosh
I had a wonderful time	Harika zaman geçirdim	ha-ri-KA za-MAN ge-chir-DIM

Basic phrases

English	Turkish	Pronunciation
Yes	Evet	e-VET
No	Hayır	HA-yuhr
There is	Var	var
There is not	Yok	yok
I do not know	Bilmiyorum	BIL-mi-yo-rum
Thank you very much	Çok teşekkür ederim	chok te-shek-KEWR e-de-RIM
Excuse me	Affedersiniz	af-fe-DER-si-niz
Please	Lütfen	LEWT-fen
You are welcome	Rica ederim	ri-JA e-de-rim
I am very sorry	Özür dilerim	UR-zewr di-le-RIM

Talking to locals

English	Turkish	Pronunciation
Do you speak English?	İngilizce konuşuyor musunuz?	in-gi-LIZ-je ko-nu-shu-YOR mu-su-nuz
I do not speak Turkish	Türkçe bilmiyorum	TEWRK-che BIL-mi-yo-rum
What?	Ne?	ne
I do not understand	Anlamıyorum	an-la-MUH-yo-rum
Could you repeat that, please?	Tekrar edebilir misiniz?	tek-RAR e-de-bi-LIR mi-si-NIZ
Could you speak more slowly?	Yavaş konuşabilir misiniz?	ya-VASH ko-nu-sha-bi-LIR mi-si-NIZ
We are tourists	Biz turistiz	biz tu-RIS-tiz

Getting acquainted

English	Turkish	Pronunciation
My name is John	Adım John	a-DUHM John
What is your name?	Adınız ne?	a-duh-NUHZ ne
How are you?	Nasılsınız?	na-suhl-suh-NUHZ
I am fine, thank you	İyiyim, teşekkür ederim	ee-YEE-yim te-shek-KEWR e-de-RIM
Nice to meet you	Memnun oldum	mem-NUN ol-DUM
May I sit here?	Buraya oturabilir miyim?	bu-ra-YA o-tu-ra-bi-LIR mi-yim
What time is it?	Saat kaç?	sa-AT kach
What is your phone number?	Telefon numaranız nedir?	te-le-FON nu-ma-ra-NUHZ ne-DIR
May I use the internet?	İnternete bağlanabilir miyim?	in-ter-ne-TE baa-la-na-bi-LIR mi-yim

In a shop and at the bazaar

English	Turkish	Pronunciation
Can you help me?	Bana yardım edebilir misiniz?	ba-NA yar-DUHM e-de-bi-LIR mi-si-NIZ
How much is this?	Bu ne kadar?	bu ne ka-DAR
I would like to buy this	Bunu istiyorum	bu-NU is-ti-YO-rum
One more, please	Bir tane daha lütfen	bir ta-NE da-HA LEWT-fen
Price	Fiyat	fi-YAT
Money	Para	pa-RA
That is very expensive	Çok pahalı	chok pa-ha-LUH
Is there a discount for children?	Çocuk indirimi var mı?	cho-JUK in-di-ri-MI var muh
When does the shop open?	Dükkân saat kaçta açılıyor?	dewk-KAN sa-AT kach-TA a-chuh-luh-YOR

At the hotel and the restaurant

English	Turkish	Pronunciation
I have a reservation	Rezervasyonum var	re-zer-vas-yo-NUM var
How much is a room?	Oda fiyatı ne kadar?	o-DA fi-ya-TUH ne ka-DAR
May I see the room?	Odayı görebilir miyim?	o-da-YUH gur-e-bi-LIR mi-yim
Is there a better room?	Daha konforlu odalar var mı?	da-HA kon-for-LU o-da-LAR var muh
Is there a cheaper room?	Daha ekonomik odalar var mı?	da-HA e-ko-no-MIK o-da-LAR var muh
I am checking out, may I have the bill?	Ayrılıyorum, hesabı alabilir miyim?	ai-ruh-luh-YO-rum he-sa-BUH a-la-bi-LIR mi-yim
A table for two, please	İki kişilik bir masa lütfen	i-KI ki-shi-LIK bir ma-SA LEWT-fen
I would like something to drink	Bir şey içmek istiyorum	bir SHEY ich-MEK is-ti-YO-rum
The vegetarian menu, please	Vejetaryen menü lütfen	ve-zhe-tar-YEN me-NEW LEWT-fen
The bill, please	Hesap, lütfen	he-SAP LEWT-fen

Finding your way around town

English	Turkish	Pronunciation
I am lost	Kayboldum	kai-bol-DUM
I would like to change money	Para bozdurmak istiyorum	pa-RA boz-dur-MAK is-ti-YO-rum
Where is the bus stop?	Otobüs durağı nerede?	o-to-BEWS du-ra-UH NE-re-de
Where can I get a taxi?	Taksiye nereden binebilirim?	tak-si-YE NE-re-den bi-ne-bi-li-RIM
Where is the exchange office?	Döviz ofisi nerede?	dur-VIZ o-fi-SI NE-re-de
Where is the bank?	Banka nerede?	ban-KA NE-re-de
Where is the post office?	Postane nerede?	pos-ta-NE NE-re-de
Where is the market?	Market nerede?	mar-KET NE-re-de
Where is a good restaurant?	Nerede iyi bir lokanta var?	NE-re-de ee-YEE bir lo-KAN-ta var
Is there a museum nearby?	Yakında müze var mı?	ya-kuhn-DA mew-ZE var muh
Could you write it down for me?	Yazar mısınız lütfen	ya-ZAR muh-suh-nuhz LEWT-fen

Directions

English	Turkish	Pronunciation
Take me to this address, please	Beni bu adrese götürün, lütfen	be-NI bu ad-re-SE gur-tew-REWN LEWT-fen
Is it far?	Uzak mı?	u-ZAK muh
Is it near?	Yakın mı?	ya-KUHN muh
Street	Sokak	so-KAK
Crossroads	Kavşak	kav-SHAK
On the corner	Köşede	kur-she-DE
At the end of the street	Sokağın sonunda	so-ka-UHN so-nun-DA
Go that way	O tarafa gidin	o ta-ra-FA gi-DIN
Go straight ahead	Düz gidin	dewz gi-DIN
Go back	Geri dönün	ge-RI dur-NEWN
Turn right	Sağa sapın	sa-A sa-PUHN
Turn left	Sola sapın	so-LA sa-PUHN

At the station and the airport

English	Turkish	Pronunciation
A one-way ticket, please	Tek yön bilet, lütfen	tek YURN bi-LET LEWT-fen
A return ticket, please	Gidiş dönüş bilet, lütfen	gi-DISH dur-NEWSH bi-LET LEWT-fen
When is the next departure?	En yakın sefer ne zaman?	en ya-KUHN se-FER ne za-MAN
Is it a direct flight?	Bu sefer direkt mi?	bu se-FER di-REKT mi
I would like a window seat	Pencere tarafında oturmak istiyorum	pen-je-RE ta-ra-fuhn-DA o-tur-MAK is-ti-YO-rum
May I take this bag with me?	Bu çantayı yanıma alabilir miyim?	bu chan-ta-YUH ya-nuh-MA a-la-bi-LIR mi-yim
I have no luggage	Bagajım yok	ba-ga-ZHUHM yok
When does the train leave?	Tren saat kaçta hareket ediyor?	tren sa-AT kach-TA ha-re-KET e-di-YOR
Where is customs?	Gümrük nerede?	gewm-REWK NE-re-de
Where is passport control?	Pasaport kontrolü nerede?	pa-sa-PORT kon-tro-LEW NE-re-de
Where is baggage claim?	Bagajı nereden alabiliriz?	ba-ga-ZHUH NE-re-den a-la-bi-li-RIZ
Where is the duty free shop?	Duty free nerede?	duty free NE-re-de

Emergencies

English	Turkish	Pronunciation
Help!	İmdat!	im-DAT
Call a doctor!	Doktoru çağırın!	dok-to-RU cha-uh-RUHN
Call an ambulance	Ambulans çağırın	am-bu-LANS cha-uh-RUHN
I have a headache	Başım ağrıyor	ba-SHUHM aa-ruh-YOR
I feel sick	Midem bulanıyor	mi-DEM bu-la-nuh-YOR
I cannot find my child	Çocuğum kayboldu	cho-ju-UM kai-bol-DU
I have lost my luggage	Bagajımı kaybettim	ba-ga-zhuh-MUH kai-bet-TIM
I have lost my wallet	Cüzdanımı kaybettim	jewz-da-nuh-MUH kai-bet-TIM

The single emergency number in Turkey is 112: since 2021 it covers the ambulance, the police and the fire service alike, and operators answer in Turkish and English. More on this in our article on emergency numbers in Turkey.

Time

English	Turkish	Pronunciation
Now	Şimdi	SHIM-di
Right now	Hemen	HE-men
Later	Sonra	SON-ra
Today	Bugün	bu-GEWN
Tomorrow	Yarın	YA-ruhn
Yesterday	Dün	dewn
Morning	Sabah	sa-BAH
Noon	Öğlen	UR-len
Afternoon	Öğleden sonra	ur-le-DEN SON-ra
Evening	Akşam	ak-SHAM
Monday	Pazartesi	pa-ZAR-te-si
Tuesday	Salı	sa-LUH
Wednesday	Çarşamba	char-sham-BA
Thursday	Perşembe	per-shem-BE
Friday	Cuma	ju-MA
Saturday	Cumartesi	ju-MAR-te-si
Sunday	Pazar	pa-ZAR

Numbers

Number	Turkish	Pronunciation
0	Sıfır	suh-FUHR
1	Bir	bir
2	İki	i-KI
3	Üç	ewch
4	Dört	durt
5	Beş	besh
6	Altı	al-TUH
7	Yedi	ye-DI
8	Sekiz	se-KIZ
9	Dokuz	do-KUZ
10	On	on
20	Yirmi	YIR-mi
30	Otuz	o-TUZ
40	Kırk	kuhrk
50	Elli	el-LI
60	Altmış	alt-MUHSH
70	Yetmiş	yet-MISH
80	Seksen	sek-SEN
90	Doksan	dok-SAN
100	Yüz	yewz
1000	Bin	bin

Compound numbers are simply strung together, with no connecting words: 25 is yirmi beş, 148 is yüz kırk sekiz, 2026 is iki bin yirmi altı. That is enough to follow a price at the bazaar and a bus number.

What is said to you: phrases you will hear

Half of the language barrier disappears not through what you say but through what you understand in reply. These expressions come up a dozen times a day in Turkey and almost never appear in phrasebooks.

Phrase	Pronunciation	When it is said
Buyurun	bu-yu-RUN	An all-purpose “here you are”: on entering a shop, when tea is served, when someone lets you pass
Kolay gelsin	ko-LAI gel-SIN	“May it come easy” — said to anyone at work. Perfectly natural to say to a shopkeeper or a cleaner
Geçmiş olsun	gech-MISH ol-SUN	“May it pass” — to someone who is ill or has had bad luck
Afiyet olsun	a-fi-YET ol-SUN	“Enjoy your meal”, and also “you are welcome” after eating
Elinize sağlık	e-li-ni-ZE saa-LUHK	“Health to your hands” — thanks to whoever did the cooking
Hoş geldiniz	hosh gel-di-NIZ	“Welcome”. The reply is hoş bulduk
İnşallah	in-shal-LAH	“God willing” — about any plan for the future
Maşallah	ma-shal-LAH	Approval and protection from the evil eye: about children, a home, a good purchase
Abi / abla	a-BI / ab-LA	“Brother” and “sister” — the polite way to address a stranger of your own age

False friends

A few Turkish words look or sound like English ones and mean something else entirely.

Turkish word	What it looks like	What it actually means
Bardak	Bar deck	A drinking glass
Tabak	Tobacco	A plate
Durak	Dural	A bus stop
Kabak	Kebab	A courgette or pumpkin
Saray	Sarah	A palace
Pasta	Pasta	A cake
Kayak	Kayak	Skiing
Bayram	Bayram	A public holiday, religious or secular

If you rent or buy a home

Anyone staying longer than a week will need more than hotel phrases. These are the words that turn up in listings, in a contract and in a conversation with an agent.

Turkish	Pronunciation	What it means
Kiralık	ki-ra-LUHK	For rent
Satılık	sa-tuh-LUHK	For sale
Daire	dai-RE	Apartment
Emlakçı	em-lak-CHUH	Estate agent
Depozito	de-po-zi-TO	Rental deposit
Aidat	ai-DAT	The monthly service charge for the complex
Fatura	fa-tu-RA	A utility bill
Tapu	ta-PU	The title deed
Eşyalı	esh-ya-LUH	Furnished
Site	si-TE	A gated residential complex

What stands behind each of these words in practice is set out in our articles on the types of real estate in Turkey and on the cost of maintaining property.

“A Turk does not need you to speak correctly. Say hello and thank you in his language and the conversation goes quite differently from the one that starts in English,” says an interpreter who works with property buyers.