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Talking Turkish

In Kalkan, English is widely-spoken but even so, the locals will really appreciate it if you make an effort to say a few simple Turkish words and phrases.  As you travel out into the surrounding villages it can be really useful to be able to have a simple conversation. Learn how to say a few words of Turkish with our selection of simple vocabulary. Using a little Turkish whilst you are here will be greatly appreciated and bring a big smile.

The Turkish language

The Turkish language did not adopt the Latin alphabet until 1928, when Mustafa Kemal Atatürk passed a law that changed the alphabet from Arabic to Latin.

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Compared to the English alphabet, the Turkish alphabet has 8 vowels and 21 consonants. The vowels are A, E, I, İ, O, Ö, U, Ü. In the Turkish alphabet, the letters Q, W, X do not exist. 

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One thing that is quite unique about Turkish and might be difficult for foreigners trying to learn the language is its sentence structure. In Turkish, the structure is subject-object-verb, as opposed to subject-verb-object in English.

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Useful phrases

  • Thank you (formal) – Teşekkür ederim (Teh-sheik-kewr eh-deh-reem)

  • Thanks (informal) – Teşekkürler (Teh-sheik-kewr-lehr)

  • Hello – Merhaba (Mehr-hah-bah)

  • You’re welcome – Rica ederim (Ree-jah eh-deh-reem)

  • How are you? – Nasılsın? (Nah-suhl-suhn?)

  • Good morning – Günaydın (Gew-nai-duhn)

  • Good afternoon – Tünaydın (Tew-nai-duhn)

  • Good night – İyi Geceler (Ee-yee Geh-jeh-lehr)

  • How much – Ne kadar? (Neh kah-dahr?)

  • Please – Lutfen (Lewt–fehn)

  • Where are you from? – Nerelisin? (Neh-reh-lee-seen?)

  • What is your name? – Adınız Ne? (Ah-duh-nuhz Neh?)

  • My name is (…). – Adım (…). (Ah-duhm)

  • I am fine – Iyiyim (Ee-yee-yeem)

  • Bon voyage – Iyi Yolculuklar (Ee-yee Yohl-juh-look-lahr)

  • Where is the toilet? – Tuvalet nerede (Two-vah-let Neh-reh-deh)

  • Where is (…)? – (…) nerede? (Neh-reh-deh)

  • Do you speak English? – İngilizce konuşuyor musunuz? (In-gee-leez-jeh koh-noo-shoo-your moo-soo-nooz?)

  • The bill, please – Hesap, Lütfen (Heh-sup, Lewt-fehn)

  • Sorry – Pardon (Pahr-dohn)

  • Bye – Hoşça Kal (Hosh-chah-kahl)

  • Can you help me? – Yardım Edebilir Misiniz? (Yahr-duhm Eh-deh-bee-leer Mee-see-neez?)

  • Nice to meet you! – Tanıştığıma Memnun Oldum! (Tah-nuhsh-tuh-uhmah Mem-noon Ohl-doom!)

  • Do not enter – Girilmez (Gee-rihl-mehz)

  • I can’t speak Turkish – Türkçe bilmiyorum (Tewrk-cheh beel-mee-yo-room)

  • I wake up – Uyanırım (Ooh-yah-nuh-ruhm)

  • I go to bed – Yatarım (Yah-tah-ruhm)

Food & drink

  • Water– Su (Soo)

  • Tea – Çay (Chai)

  • Beer – Bira (Bee-rah)

  • Bread – Ekmek (Ehk-mehk)

  • Fish – Balık (Bah-luhk)

  • Beef – Et (Eht)

  • Chicken – Tavuk (Tah-vook)

  • Lamb – Kuzu (Koo-zoo)

  • White Cheese – Beyaz peynir (Beh-yahz pehy-neer)

  • Vegetarian – Vejetaryen (Veh-jah-tah-ee-yehn)

  • Yoghurty Drink – Ayran (Ai-rahn)

  • Ice cream – Dondurma (Dohn-door-mah)

  • Salad – Salata (Sah-lah-tah)

  • Soup – Çorba (Chor-bah)

  • Salt – Tuz (Tooz)

  • Desert – Tatlı (Taht-luh)

  • Food – Yemek (Yeh-mehk)

  • Breakfast – Kahvaltı (Kah-vahl-tuh)

  • Lunch – Öğle yemeği (Euw-leh yeh-meh-ee)

  • Dinner – Akşam yemeği (Ahk-shahm yeh-mee-ee)

  • Enjoy your meal – Afiyet Olsun (Ah-fee-yet ohl-soon)

Numbers

  • Zero – Sıfır (Suh-fuhr)

  • One – Bir (Beer)

  • Two – Iki (Ee-kee)

  • Three – Üç (Ewch)

  • Four – Dört (Durrt)

  • Five – Beş (Behsh)

  • Six – Altı (Ahl-tuh)

  • Seven – Yedi (Ye-dee)

  • Eight – Sekiz (Seh-keez)

  • Nine – Dokuz (Doh-kooz)

  • Ten – On (Ohn)

  • Eleven – On bir (Ohn beer)

  • Twelve – On iki (Ohn ee-kee)

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