Nowhere else in the world have I been bought as many coffees, or lunches, or been invited to stay at the home of total strangers as in Turkey. Especially in the more off-the-beaten-path regions, like northern Turkey.
Learning a few phrases in Turkish can significantly enhance your travel experience, opening up a world of deeper interactions and insights. It’s a way to connect more authentically with the locals, and your effort will definitely be appreciated.
I’ve travelled throughout Turkey many times. Every time I go, I’m totally blown away by the unassuming generosity and warm hospitality of the people there.
Here, I’ll be sharing some of the Turkish phrases that come in handy when building these wonderful connections.
Basic Words in Turkish
Let’s start with the essentials — no prior knowledge required. Kick off your Turkish language journey with these basic words.
Ideal for everyday conversations, they’re a great way to start connecting with people across Turkey.
- Merhaba – Hello
- Hoşça kal / Güle güle – Goodbye
- Teşekkür ederim – Thank you
- Rica ederim – You’re welcome
- Lütfen – Please
- Evet – Yes
- Hayır – No
- Günaydın – Good morning
- İyi akşamlar – Good evening
- Tünaydın – Good afternoon
- Affedersiniz – Excuse me
- Yiyecek – Food
- Su – Water
- Tuvalet – Bathroom
- Şerefe – Cheers (or, Bless you)
Common Turkish Phrases
Turkish people are proud of their language. Making the effort to speak it, even only a tiny bit, can go a long way.
Engage in the rhythm of daily life in Turkey with these common phrases. Perfect for casual conversations, they’ll help you feel more integrated into Turkish culture.
- Nasılsınız? – How are you?
- Tanıştığımıza memnun oldum – Nice to meet you
- Benim adım… – My name is…
- Özür dilerim – I’m sorry
- Affedersiniz – Excuse me
- Bana yardım eder misiniz? – Can you help me?
- Ne güzel! – How beautiful!
- Görüşürüz – See you
- Sonra görüşürüz – See you later
- İyi şanslar! – Good luck!
Basic Turkish Phrases for Travellers
These traveller-focused phrases are useful for anyone venturing through Turkey. They’ll enhance your journey and enrich every experience, from the historic bazaars to the stunning coastlines.
- Rezervasyonum var – I have a reservation
- Tuvaletler nerede, lütfen? – Where are the bathrooms, please?
- … nasıl gidilir? – How do I get to ___?
- Bu ne kadar? – How much is this?
- İngilizce konuşuyor musunuz? – Do you speak English?
- Kayboldum, yardım eder misiniz? – I’m lost. Can you help me?
The more you make an effort to use these phrases, the more comfortable you’ll find yourself in unfamiliar situations.
Useful Turkish Phrases for Information
The Turkish language, while relatively straightforward in structure, has many unique qualities that make it an interesting language to learn.
When looking for information in Turkey, the following phrases can be your go-to. Simple yet effective, they’ll come in handy in various situations, whether at a city museum or a small village cafe.
- Bu Türkçe’de ne denir? – What is this called in Turkish?
- Daha yavaş konuşabilir misiniz, lütfen? – Can you speak slower, please?
- Türkçe çok iyi konuşamıyorum – I do not speak Turkish very well
- Anlamıyorum – I do not understand
- Bunu tekrarlar mısınız lütfen? – Can you repeat that please?
- Bilgiye ihtiyacım var – I need information
- Bilgi ofisi nerede? – Where is the information office?
- Bu ne anlama geliyor? – What does this mean?
- Saat kaç? – What time is it?
- E-posta adresiniz nedir? – What’s your email address?
- … Türkçe’de nasıl denir? – How do you say ____ in Turkish?
- Bu ne/şu ne? – What is this/that?
- Bana yardım eder misiniz? – Can you help me?
- Telefonunuzu kullanabilir miyim? – Can I use your phone?
Useful Phrases for Directions in Turkish
Navigate Turkey’s diverse landscapes with these direction-specific phrases. Whether exploring ancient sites or modern cities, you’ll always find your way.
- … nerede? – Where is the…?
- … nasıl gidilir? – How do I get to…?
- Bana haritada gösterebilir misiniz? – Can you show me on the map?
- Düz gidin – Go straight ahead
- Sağa/sola dönün – Turn right/left
- Yakın/uzak – It’s near/far
- Köşenin orada – It’s around the corner
- Bu köşe – This is the corner
- … hangi yönde? – Which way is it to…?
- Oraya yürüyerek gidebilir miyim yoksa taksiye mi ihtiyacım var? – Can I walk there or do I need a taxi?
Basic Turkish Phrases for Transportation
Travel around Turkey smoothly with these transportation phrases. From local dolmuş to long-distance buses, they should help keep your travels easy and stress-free.
- Taksi nereden bulabilirim? – Where can I get a taxi?
- … gitmek ne kadar tutar? – How much does it cost to go to…?
- … gitmek istiyorum – I want to go to…
- Otobüs durağı nerede? – Where is the bus stop?
- Bir sonraki tren ne zaman hareket ediyor? – What time does the next train leave?
- … gitmek ne kadar sürer? – How long does it take to get to…?
- Havaalanına nasıl giderim? – How do I get to the airport?
- Bu otobüs … gider mi? – Does this bus go to…?
- Gidiş dönüş biletine ihtiyacım var – I need a round trip ticket
- Biletleri nereden alabilirim? – Where do I buy tickets?
- Kayboldum, yardım eder misiniz? – I’m lost. Can you help me?
Basic Turkish Phrases About Accommodation
Talking about accommodation in a foreign language can be an intimidating task. Settle into your Turkish accommodation effortlessly with the following accommodation-related phrases.
Whether you’re looking for a luxury hotel, a budget hostel, or a quaint homestay, these phrases will help you communicate your needs for a comfortable and enjoyable stay.
- Boş odanız var mı? – Do you have any rooms available?
- Gecelik ücret ne kadar? – How much does it cost per night?
- Fiyata kahvaltı dahil mi? – Is breakfast included in the price?
- Çift kişilik bir oda istiyorum – I need a double room
- İki yataklı bir oda var mı? – Is there a room with two beds?
- Ücretsiz Wi-Fi var mı? – Is there free Wi-Fi?
- Klima var mı? – Is there air conditioning?
- Asansör nerede? – Where is the elevator?
- Spor salonu nerede? – Where is the gym?
- Bir oda rezerve etmek istiyorum – I would like to book a room
- Oda servisi var mı? – Is there room service?
- Oda kirli – The room is dirty
- Bu otelde kendimi güvende hissediyorum – I feel safe in this hotel
- Priz adaptörünüz var mı? – Do you have a plug adaptor?
- Güzel manzaralı bir oda istiyorum – I want a room with a nice view
- Odada kasa var mı? – Is there a safe in the room?
- Beni saat 7’de uyandırır mısınız? – Can you wake me up at 7 a.m.?
- Bebek için bir beşik istiyorum – I need a crib for the baby
- Çıkış saati ne zaman? – What’s the check-out time?
Helpful Turkish Phrases for Shopping
Shopping in Turkey is a memorable experience, where traditional markets and bazaars stand side-by-side with contemporary shopping malls.
Whether you’re haggling over prices in a bustling marketplace or looking for something in a gleaming mall, a handful of Turkish phrases will go a long way.
- … arıyorum – I am looking for…
- Bu ne kadar? – How much does it cost?
- İndirim var mı? – Is there any discount?
- İndirim ne kadar? – How much is the discount?
- Bu çok pahalı – That’s too expensive
- Fiyatı düşürebilir misiniz? – Can you lower the price?
- Kredi kartıyla ödeyebilir miyim? – Can I pay with a credit card?
- Sadece nakit – Cash only
- Bunun daha büyük boyutu var mı? – Do you have this in a larger size?
- Bunun başka bir renk seçeneği var mı? – Do you have this in another colour?
- Bunu iade etmek istiyorum – I want to return this
- Deneme kabinleri nerede? – Where are the fitting rooms?
- Affedersiniz, süpermarket nerede? – Excuse me, where’s the supermarket?
- Giysi mağazası nerede? – Where’s the clothing store?
- Bir çanta istiyorum – I need a bag
- Yerel ürünleri nereden bulabilirim? – Where can I find local products?
Helpful Phrases for Dining Out in Turkey
With its delicious blend of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern influences, Turkey offers an exceptional culinary experience.
Ask for recommendations, order dishes, and feast on the rich flavours of Turkey with these dining phrases. Afiyet olsun!
- İki kişilik bir masa alabilir miyim? – Can I get a table for two?
- Menüyü gösterebilir misiniz lütfen? – Can you please show me the menu?
- Günün yemeği nedir? – What is the dish of the day?
- … almak istiyorum – I would like…
- Bana bir şey önerebilir misiniz? – Could you suggest something for me?
- Ne yemek tavsiye edersiniz? – What do you recommend to eat?
- … alerjim var – I’m allergic to…
- Bu yemekte … var mı? – Does this dish contain…?
- Vejetaryen/vegan seçenekleriniz var mı? – Do you have vegetarian/vegan options?
- Et/balık/süt ürünleri yemiyorum – I don’t eat meat/fish/dairy
- Bu vejetaryenler için uygun mu? – Is this suitable for vegetarians?
- Bu nedir? – What is this?
- Beğendim – I like it
- Afiyet olsun – Enjoy your meal
- Hesabı alabilir miyim lütfen? – Can I have the bill, please?
- Çok lezzetliydi! Teşekkür ederim – It was delicious! Thank you
Turkish Question Words
Fuel your curiosity and conversations with these Turkish question words. Essential for deeper interactions, they’ll help you uncover the many layers of Turkish culture.
Mastering these words can aid in navigation, communication, and even negotiation, in many different situations.
- Ne? – What?
- Nerede? – Where?
- Ne zaman? – When?
- Kim? – Who?
- Neden? – Why?
- Nasıl? – How?
- Hangi? – Which?
- Ne kadar? – How much?
- Kaç tane? – How many?
- Kimin? – Whose?
- Ne kadar/Kaç tane? – How much/How many?
- … mı? – Is it…?
- Yapabilir miyim? – Can
- Yapacak mı? – Will
- Bu ne? – What is this?
- O kim? – Who is that?
- Nasıldır? – How is it?
- Neden öyle? – Why is it?
- Neden bu? – Why this?
- … içinde ne var? – What is in …?
- … nerede? – Where is …?
- … var mı? – Is there a …?
Numbers in Turkish
Understanding the Turkish numbering system is useful in a wide range of scenarios, especially when it comes to transactions, discussing times, and navigating transportation.
Below is a list of simple numbers along with some larger ones:
- Sıfır – 0
- Bir – 1
- İki – 2
- Üç – 3
- Dört – 4
- Beş – 5
- Altı – 6
- Yedi – 7
- Sekiz – 8
- Dokuz – 9
- On – 10
- On bir – 11
- On iki – 12
- On üç – 13
- On dört – 14
- On beş – 15
- On altı – 16
- On yedi – 17
- On sekiz – 18
- On dokuz – 19
- Yirmi – 20
- Otuz – 30
- Kırk – 40
- Elli – 50
- Altmış – 60
- Yetmiş – 70
- Seksen – 80
- Doksan – 90
- Yüz – 100
- Bin – 1,000
- On bin – 10,000
- Yüz bin – 100,000
- Bir milyon – 1,000,000
To create numbers between these, simply combine the tens and units. For instance:
- “Twenty-one” is Yirmi bir (20 + 1)
- “Thirty-two” is Otuz iki (30 + 2)
For numbers in the hundreds and thousands, you combine the hundreds or thousands with the tens and units. For example:
- “One hundred and twenty-three” is Yüz yirmi üç
- “Two thousand and nineteen” is İki bin on dokuz
See Also
Check out some of my other posts on learning Turkic languages for travel:
Final Thoughts
Learning Turkish might seem daunting at the onset. But, every great journey starts with a single step – or, in this case, a crash course in basic Turkish phrases.
Making even a small effort to speak Turkish is very much appreciated by the locals. It’s an excellent icebreaker, too!
So, take some time to learn a few words and phrases before your next trip to Turkey. As well as being genuinely useful, the welcome you receive will be all the warmer for it.
Lastly, if you want to take your Turkish learning to the next level, Babbel’s online Turkish course is excellent.
