Turkish Language, Know The Lingo

Turkish is the official language of Turkey, although English is widely spoken, and it's almost a given that if you go to any place that interacts with tourists there will be someone who you can communicate easily with. Turkish is spoken by around 200 million people - making it the 7th most wodely used language.

Here are some handy Turkish language phrases which you can use in day-to-day life in Turkey. It's highly unlikely you'd ever have to know the lingo, but the locals always appreciate it if you make an effort. The key is to work out the sounding of the letters - each letter only has one sound so once you've got to grips with it you've cracked it!

Want to learn some Turkish phrases for the restaurant? See our 'Know the Lingo, Food and Drink' guide...

We also have 'Know the Lingo, Healthcare' and 'Know the Lingo, Transport in Turkey' so you'll never be stuck for conversation!

Hello
Goodbye
Good Morning
Good Afternoon
Good Evening
Good Night
Yes
No
Please
Thank you
You’re welcome
How are you (to a guy)?
How are you (to a girl)?
Fine thanks
Do you speak English?
Does anyone speak English?
I don’t understand
Do you understand?
I don’t speak Turkish
What does (merhaba) mean?

Merhaba
Gule Gule
Günaydın
İyi Günler
İyi Akşamlar
İyi Geceler
Evet
Hayır
Lüften
Teşekkür ederim / Mersi / Saǧol
Bir şey deǧil
Nasılsın?
Nasilsiniz?
İyiyim
Ingilizce konuşuyormusunuz?
Ingilizce bilen var mi?
Anlamıyorum
Anliyor musun?
Türkçe bilmiyorum
(Merhaba) ne demektir?

mer.ha.ba
gew.le. gew.le.
-
ee.yee gewn.ler
ee.yee ak.sham.lar
ee.yee ge.je.ler
e.vet
ha.yuhr
lewt.fen
te.shek.kewre.dereem
beer.shay de.eel
na.suhl.suhn
na.suhl.suh.nuhz
ee.yee.yeem ya sen
een.gee.leez.je ko.noo.shoo.yormoo.soonooz
een.gee.leezje beelen var.muh
an.la.muh.yo.room
an.luh.yor moo.soon
tewrk.che beel.mee.yo.room
(mer.ha.ba) ne de.mek.teer

What is it?
How much does it cost?
When?
Why?
Where is the…
How do I get to…?
What is it in Turkish?

Ne dir?
Kaca?
Ne zaman?
Niye?
… nerede?
…’a/e nasil giderim?
Turkce nasil soylersiniz?

-
-
ne za.man
ne.den
...ne.re.de
na.suhl gee.de.bee.lee.reem
-

Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday

Pazartesi
Salı
Çarşamba
Perşembe
Cuma
Cumartesi
Pazar

pa.zar.te.see
sa.luh
char.sham.ba
per.shem.be
joo.ma
joo.mar.te.see
pa.zar

January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

Ocak
Şubat
Mart
Nisan
Mayıs
Haziran
Temmuz
Aǧustos
Eylül
Ekim
Kasım
Aralık

o.jak
shoo.bat
mart
nee.san
ma.yuhs
ha.zee.ran
tem.mooz
a.oos.tos
ay.lewl
e.keem
ka.suhm
a.ra.luhk

Aeroplane
Bicycle
Ferry
Bus
By foot
Car
Taxi
Train
A ticket to…
One-way
Return
What time does it leave?
How long does it take?

Ucak
Bisiklet
Feribot
Otobus
Yaya
Araba
Taksi
Tren
… ’a bir billet
Gidis, sadece
Gidis-donus
Kacta kalkiyor?
Ne kadar surer?

oo.chak
bee.seek.let
fe.reebot
o.to.bews
-
a.ra.ba
tak.see
tren
...a beer bee.let
gee.deesh bee.le.tee
gee.deesh.der.newsh
ne zaman kal.ka.jak
ne ka.dar sur.er

Hotel
Do you have a room?
Single/double/triple
Can I see it?
Campsite
Can I camp here?

Hotel
Bos odaniz var mi?
Tek/cift/uc kisilik
Bakabilirmiyim?
Kamping
Burda kamp yapabilir miyiz?

o.tel
...o.da.nuhz var muh
tek kee/Çift/ee.kee
-
-
...mee.yeem boo.ra.da kamp ya.pa.bee.leer

Keep checking for more phrases of the Turkish language!