Common Turkish Phrases For Travelers

Turkey, especially Istanbul, is one of my favorite places to visit. The country offers great people, great food, rich history, stunning architecture, and even great cats! My secret to making a great first impression when visiting a new place is learning a bit of the local language, starting with greetings.

In this article, I’ll share a list of common Turkish phrases and words to get you started on your journey! I learned most of them from the locals in Istanbul.

Contents

• Greetings and Basic Expressions
• Essential Phrases for Dining
• Asking for Prices
• Numbers You Should Know
• Navigating Places
• Food and Drink
• Parting Words
• Download the app "LocalSpeaks"

Greetings and Basic Expressions

• Hello (Merhaba) - Pronunciation: mare-ha-ba
  Start your interactions on the right note with a friendly "Merhaba," the Turkish way to say hello.

• Thank you! (Teşekkürler) - Pronunciation: teh-shek-kur-ler
  Express your gratitude by saying "Teşekkürler" after receiving help or a kind gesture.

• You're welcome! (Rica ederim) - Pronunciation: ri-jah eh-deh-rim
  If someone thanks you, respond with "Rica ederim," meaning "You're welcome."

• Excuse me (Pardon) - Pronunciation: par-don
  "Pardon" is a versatile phrase used to get someone's attention or to say "Excuse me" when navigating through crowded places.

• Please (Lütfen) - Pronunciation: loot-fen
  Use "Lütfen" to politely ask for something or to make a request.

• Yes (Evet) - Pronunciation: eh-vet
  Simply say "Evet" to agree or affirm something.

• No (Hayır) - Pronunciation: ha-yir
  "Hayır" is your go-to word when you need to say no.

Essential Phrases for Dining

• Menu (Menüyü) - Pronunciation: men-oo-yoo
  When at a restaurant, ask for the "Menüyü" to see the list of available dishes.

• Check (Hesap) - Pronunciation: heh-sahp
  When you're ready to pay, say "Hesap" to request the bill.

• Credit card (Kredi kartı) - Pronunciation: kre-dee kar-tuh
  If you're paying by card, just say "Kredi kartı."

• Cash (Nakit) - Pronunciation: na-kit
  For cash payments, use the word "Nakit."

• The food is great! (Çok iyi) - Pronunciation: chok ee-yee
  Compliment the chef by saying "Çok iyi," meaning "The food is great!"

• Water (Su) - Pronunciation: soo
  Simply ask for "Su" if you need water.

Asking for Prices

• How much? (Ne kadar?) - Pronunciation: ne ka-dar?
  Whether you're shopping at the Grand Bazaar or buying street food, "Ne kadar?" will come in handy to ask for prices.

Numbers You Should Know

Knowing basic numbers can be extremely useful, especially when dealing with prices.

• One (Bir) - Pronunciation: beer
• Two (İki) - Pronunciation: ee-kee
• Three (Üç) - Pronunciation: ooch
• Four (Dört) - Pronunciation: dert
• Five (Beş) - Pronunciation: besh
• Six (Altı) - Pronunciation: ahl-tuh
• Seven (Yedi) - Pronunciation: yeh-dee
• Eight (Sekiz) - Pronunciation: seh-keez
• Nine (Dokuz) - Pronunciation: doh-kooz
• Ten (On) - Pronunciation: ohn

Navigating Places

• Toilet (Tuvalet) - Pronunciation: too-vah-let
  Asking for the "Tuvalet" is essential during your travels.

• Airport (Havalimanı) - Pronunciation: ha-va-lee-ma-nuh
  If you need to get to the airport, ask for the "Havalimanı."

• Bakery (Fırın) - Pronunciation: fuh-ruhn
  "Fırın" is where you'll find delicious Turkish pastries and bread.

Food and Drink

• Turkish Tea (Çay) - Pronunciation: chah-y
  "Çay" is a must-try in Turkey, often enjoyed in small, tulip-shaped glasses.

• Coffee (Kahve) - Pronunciation: kahv-eh
  For a strong pick-me-up, order a "Kahve."

• Ayran - Pronunciation: eye-rahn
  This savory yogurt drink, unique to Turkey, is refreshing and worth a try!

• Chicken (Tavuk) - Pronunciation: tah-vook
  "Tavuk" is a common dish you'll find in many Turkish meals.

• Soup (Çorba) - Pronunciation: chor-bah
  Start your meal with a warm bowl of "Çorba."

Parting Words

• Bye bye (Güle güle) - Pronunciation: goo-lay goo-lay
  When it's time to leave, say "Güle güle," a warm way to say goodbye.

Download the app "LocalSpeaks"

If you're looking for a quick language guide like this for multiple languages while traveling, great news! I created an app for that. LocalSpeaks is a mobile app that provides simple and essential phrases along with their pronunciations, which you can listen to. It works offline, so it's very convenient when you're on the go.

I made this app to help make locals smile.