Learning Turkish Language
Official language of the Republic of Turkey is Turkish.
Turkish has been spoken in a very large area throughout the history from China to Hungary, Egypt to Siberia. Today, there are Turkish-speaking communities in Middle East and Balkan countries in addition to Central Asia and Anatolia.
Turkish is taught in schools and private courses.
There are 29 letters in Turkish alphabet.
Aa Bb Cc Çç Dd Ee Ff Gg Ğğ Hh Iı İi Jj Kk Ll Mm Nn Oo Öö Pp Rr Ss Şş Tt Uu Üü Vv Yy Zz
Why do you need to learn Turkish?
Speaking Turkish properly will help you in following ways during your stay in Turkey.
- It will increase your chances accessing the job market.
- You can participate in education activities more easily.
- You can benefit from the rights and services provided to you more easily.
- You can adjust to the Turkish society more easily and enhance social bonds.
- You can make friends more easily.
- Since it is one of the preconditions for citizenship, it may contribute to approval of your applications.
Turkish Language
Although the majority of people, especially in Marmaris are fluent in English, why don’t you surprise them with the knowledge of a few helpful Turkish phrases. Just remember that in Turkish language:
S is pronounced as SH
C is pronounced as J
C is pronounced as CH
HERE ARE SOME WORDS TO KICK OFF WITH
| English | Turkish | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | Merhaba! | Mer-ha-ba |
| Good evening | İyi akşamlar! | I-yi Ak-sham-lar |
| Good-bye (said by person leaving) | Hoşçakal! | Hosh-cha-kal |
| Good-bye (said by person staying) | Güle güle! | Gu-le Gu-le |
| How are you? | Nasılsın? | Na-sil-sin |
| I am fine, and you? | İyiyim, sen nasılsın? | I-yi-yim Sen Na-sil-sin |
| Not very well. | Çok iyi değil. | Chok I-yi De-gil |
| Thank you | Teşekkür ederim. | Te-shek-kur E-de-rim |
| You’re welcome | Birşey değil. (in response to “Thank you”) | Bir Shey De-gil |
| Please | Lütfen. | Lut-fen |
| Do you speak English? | İngilizce konuşur musunuz ? | In-gi-liz-ce Ko-nu-shu-yor-mu-su-nuz |
| I don’t speak Turkish | Türkçe bilmiyorum! | Turk-che Bil-mi-yo-rum |
| I don’t understand | Sizi anlamıyorum. | Si-zi An-la-mi-yo-rum |
| Could you please repeat | Tekrar edebilir misiniz? | Tek-rar E-de-bi-lir-mi-si-niz |
| Pleased to meet you | Tanıştığımıza sevindim./Memnum oldum | Ta-nısh-tı-gı-mı-za Se-vin-dim |
| Where is the washroom? | Afedersiniz, tuvalet nerede? | Tu-va-let Ne-re-de ? |
| How much does it cost? | Ne kadar? | Ne Ka-dar ? |
| May I speak to [Name]? | [Name] ile görüşebilir miyim? | [ Name ] i-le go-ru-she-bi-lir-mi-yim |
| I am sorry | Özür dilerim. – Pardon! | O-zur di-le-rim – Par-don |
| Excuse me | Afedersiniz | A-fe-der-si-niz |
| Can you help me? | Yardım edebilir misiniz ? | Yar-dım e-de-bi-lir mi-si-niz ? |
| Yes | Evet | E-vet |
| No | Hayır | Ha-yır |
| I don’t know | Bilmiyorum | Bil-mi-yo-rum |
| Okay/Alright | Tamam | Ta-mam |
| Welcome | Hoş Geldiniz. | Hosh-gel-di-niz |
| We came well (response to hoş geldiniz) | Hoş Bulduk. | Hosh-bul-duk |
| Good morning | Günaydın | I-yi Sa-bah-lar |
| Good evening | İyi Akşamlar | I-yi Ak-sham-lar |
| How much ? | Ne Kadar ? | Ne Ka-dar |
| Breakfast | Kahvaltı | Kah-val-ti |
| Lunch | Öğlen Yemeği | Og-len Ye-me-gi |
| Dinner | Akşam Yemeği | Ak-sham Ye-me-gi |
| Water | Su | Su |
| Wine | Şarap | Sha-rap |
| Beer | Bira | Bi-ra |
KNOW YOUR NUMBERS !
| Numbers | Numbers | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | bir | 30 | otuz |
| 2 | iki | 40 | kırk |
| 3 | üç | 50 | elli |
| 4 | dert | 60 | altmış |
| 5 | beş | 70 | yetmiş |
| 6 | altı | 80 | seksen |
| 7 | yedi | 90 | doksan |
| 8 | sekiz | 100 | yüz |
| 9 | dokuz | 150 | yüz elli |
| 10 | on | 200 | iki yüz |
| 11 | on bir | 300 | üç yüz |
| 12 | on iki | 400 | dört yüz |
| 13 | on uc | 500 | beş yüz |
| 14 | on dört | 600 | altı yüz |
| 15 | on beş | 700 | yedi yüz |
| 16 | on altı | 800 | sekiz yüz |
| 17 | on yedi | 900 | dokuz yüz |
| 18 | on sekiz | 1000 | bin |
| 19 | on dokuz | 1500 | bin beş yüz |
| 20 | yirmi | 2000 | iki bin |
TURKISH LANGUAGE > ON THE MINIBUS / DOLMUS ON THE MINIBUS / DOLMUS
| English | Turkish | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Please stop where it’s convenient | MÜSAIT BİR YERDE LÜTFEN | mu-site bearde lute-fan |
| Stop please | DURUN LÜTFEN | durun lute-fan |
| Paying for 1/2/… passangers | BİR/ İKİ/… KİŞİ | bir/ iki kishi |
TRAVEL TERMS
| English | Turkish | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Airport | Hava alanı | Ha-va a-la-ni |
| Port | Liman | Li-man |
| Town Center | Şehir Merkezi | She-hir mer-ke-zi |
| Where is it ? | Nerede ? | Ne-re-de ? |
| Is it far ? | Uzak mı ? | U-zak mi ? |
| Be careful ! | Dikkatli ol! | Dik-kat-li ol ! |
| Tourism Bureau | Turizm bürosu | Tu-ri-zm bu-ro-su |
| Tourism Office | Turizm Ofisi | Tu-ri-zm O-fi-si |
| A good hotel | İyi bir otel | I-yi bir o-tel |
| A restaurant | Bir lokanta | Bir lo-kan-ta |
| Hospital | Hastahane | Has-ta-ha-ne |
TURKISH LANGUAGE > HELPFUL VOCABULARY / HOTEL & RESTAURANTS HOTEL & RESTAURANTS
| English | Turkish | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| A room | Bir oda | Bir o-da |
| A room with a view | Manzaralı bir oda | Man-za-ra-li bir o-da |
| Restroom | Banyo | Ban-yo |
| Two people | İki kisi | I-ki ki-si |
| The bill | Hesap | He-sap |
| Water | Su | Su |
| Mineral Water | Maden Suyu | Ma-den su-yu |
| Tea | Çay | Chay |
| Milk | Süt | Sut |
| Coffee | Kahve | Kah-ve |
| Sugar | Şeker | Se-ker |
| Breakfast | Kahvaltı | Kah-val-ti |
| Fruit juice | Meyva Suyu | Mey-va su-yu |
| Wine | Şarap | Sha-rap |
| Beer | Bira | Bi-ra |
| Ice | Buz | Buz |
| Bread | Ekmek | Ek-mek |
| Rice | Pilav | Pi-lav |
| Chicken | Piliç/ Tavuk | Pi-lic/ Ta-vuk |
| Fish | Balık | Ba-lik |
| Meat | Et | Et |
| Mutton | Koyun eti | Ko-yun eti |
| Lamb | Kuzu eti | Ku-zu eti |
| Beef | Sığır eti | Si-gir eti |
| Veal | Dana eti | Da-na eti |
TURKISH LANGUAGE > SHOPPING SHOPPING TERMS
| English | Turkish | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Shopping center | Çarşı | Char-shi |
| Grocery store | Süpermarket | Su-per-mar-ket |
| Pharmacy | Eczane | Ec-za-ne |
| How much is this ? | Bu ne kadar ? | Bu ne ka-dar ? |
| It is expensive | Bu pahalı | Bu pa-ha-li |
| It is cheap | Bu ucuz | Bu u-cuz |
| I like it | Beğendim | Be-gen-dim |
| I don’t like it | Beğenmedim | Be-gen-me-dim |
| Bank | Banka | Ban-ka |
| Cash machine | Bankamatik | Ban-ka-ma-tik |