With its beautiful landscape and history, Turkey is definitely on most people’s bucket lists of places to travel! If you’re one of the lucky ones who get to visit Turkey this summer, make sure to learn Turkish before you go to have an even more amazing trip!
Need help getting started? That’s exactly why we’ve put together this list of 100 basic Turkish phrases for tourists! The Turkish language is so different from other European languages, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible to learn!
If you’ve already read our previous blog post on basic Turkish words, then learning these phrases will be much easier. If you haven’t read it, don’t worry! You can always go back and read it, but, for now, let’s learn some of the most important basic Turkish phrases for your upcoming trip!
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Table of Contents
Basic Turkish Greetings
Here are the most basic Turkish greetings that you should know!
| English | Turkish | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | Merhaba | |
| Hi | Selam | |
| Good morning | Günaydın | |
| Good day | İyi günler | |
| Good afternoon | Tünaydın | |
| Good evening | İyi akşamlar | |
| Goodnight | İyi geceler | |
| Bye-bye | Baybay | |
| Goodbye | Hoşçakal | |
| See you | Görüşürüz | |
| Take care of yourself | Kendinize iyi bakın |
Polite Turkish Phrases
Along with greetings, you should learn some polite Turkish phrases. That way, you can respond to others as politely as possible. After all, when you’re in a new country, don’t you want to leave a good impression on people?
| English | Turkish | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Thank you | Teşekkür ederim | |
| Thanks | Sağol | |
| You’re welcome | Bir şey değil | |
| You’re welcome | Rica ederim | |
| Welcome | Hoşgeldin | |
| I’m glad to be here | Hoşbuldum | |
| Please | Lütfen | |
| No problem | Sorun değil | |
| Good luck | İyi şanslar | |
| Congratulations | Tebrik ederim | |
| Excuse me | Afedersiniz | |
| Bless you | Çok yaşa | |
| I’m sorry | Üzgünüm | |
| I apologize | Özür dilerim | |
| May it be in the past | Geçmiş olsun | |
| I am sorry for your loss | Başınız sağ olsun |
Basic Turkish Phrases To Introduce Yourself
Before starting a conversation, it is important to introduce yourself. These phrases will help you introduce yourself in Turkish.
| English | Turkish | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Hello, I’m _ | Merhaba, ben _ | |
| I’m glad to meet you | Memnun oldum | |
| Me too | Ben de | |
| How are you? | Nasılsınız? | |
| I’m fine, thank you. And you? | İyiyim, teşekkür ederim, ya siz? | |
| Where are you from? | Nerelisiniz? | |
| I’m from _ | Ben ___lıyım | |
| How old are you? | Kaç yaşındasınız? | |
| I’m _ years old | Ben _ yaşındayım |
Turkish Phrases For Small Talk
Your first Turkish conversation with a native will probably include a lot of these phrases, but that’s okay! Learning the language bit by bit is still better than not learning at all!
| English | Turkish | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| How are you? | Nasılsın? | |
| I am doing well, how are you? | İyiyim sen nasılsın? | |
| How’s it going? | Nasıl gidiyor? | |
| What’s up? | Ne haber? | |
| Where are you from? | Memleketiniz neresi? | |
| How is your family? | Ailen nasıl? | |
| They are well. | İyiler. | |
| Where are you from? | Nerelisin? | |
| I am from Europe. | Avrupalıyım. | |
| Where do you live? | Nerede yaşıyorsun? | |
| I live in _. | ___da/ta/de/te yaşıyorum. | |
| My name is _. | Benim adım _. | |
| What is your name? | Senin adın ne? |
Basic Turkish Phrases For Dining Out
Here are some phrases you may need if you eat out at a Turkish restaurant!
| English | Turkish | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| I’m hungry. | Karnım acıktı / Ben açım. | / |
| I’m full. | Karnım tok / Ben tokum. | / |
| I’m thirsty. | Susadım. | |
| May I see the menu? | Menüyü görebilir miyim? | |
| May I have _ , please? | _ alabilir miyim lütfen? | |
| Bill, please! | Hesap lütfen! | |
| The food was great! | Yemek harikaydı! |
Basic Turkish Phrases For Shopping
Shopping at the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul should definitely be on your travel itinerary if it isn’t already. So, you have to learn these useful phrases if you plan to shop there!
| English | Turkish | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| I want to go shopping. | Alışverişe gitmek istiyorum. | |
| Where is the mall? | Alışveriş merkezi nerede? | |
| What size is this? | Bu kaç beden? | |
| How much is this? | Bu ne kadar? | |
| Can I pay by credit card? | Kredi kartı ile ödeyebilir miyim? |
Turkish Phrases To Ask For Help
Turkish people are very helpful, so don’t hesitate to ask for help if you need it. Even if you come across someone who doesn’t speak English, they will always do their best to help you.
| English | Turkish | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Can you help me? | Bana yardım eder misin? | |
| Help! | İmdat! | |
| Where are the police? | Polis nerede? | |
| Please help me! | Bana yardım edin lütfen! | |
| Can you help me? | Bana yardım edebilir misiniz? | |
| Where is the hospital? | Hastane nerede? | |
| I’m allergic to _. | Benim ___e alerjim var. | |
| There is a fire! | Yangın var! | |
| Call an ambulance. | Ambulans çağırın. | |
| Call the police. | Polisi arayın. | |
| I’m lost, please help me! | Ben kayboldum, bana yardım edin lütfen! | |
| I lost my passport/wallet. | Pasaportumu/cüzdanımı kaybettim. |
Basic Turkish Question Words
Here is a list of basic question words in Turkish. It’s good to know these phrases in case of a misunderstanding or if you can’t follow what someone is saying.
| English | Turkish | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Who? | Kim? | |
| What? | Ne? | |
| When? | Ne zaman? | |
| At what time? | Kaçta? | |
| How? | Nasıl? | |
| Where? | Nerede? | |
| Why? | Neden? | |
| Why? | Niye? | |
| Why? | Niçin? | |
| How much? | Ne kadar? | |
| How many? | Kaç tane? | |
| What’s happening? | Ne oluyor? | |
| What’s the matter? | Neyin var? |
Other Useful Turkish Phrases
Here is an additional list of Turkish phrases that might also be useful for you. Don’t worry, you don’t need to know Turkish grammar to speak perfect Turkish.
| English | Turkish | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Mister _ Bey | _ Bey | |
| Mistress/Misses _ Hanım | _ Hanım | |
| May I speak to _? | _ ile görüşebilir miyim? | |
| Do you speak English? | İngilizce konuşuyor musunuz? | |
| Can you speak slowly, please? | Yavaş konuşabilir misiniz lütfen? | |
| I don’t speak Turkish. | Türkçe bilmiyorum. | |
| I don’t understand. | Anlamıyorum. | |
| How do you say _ in Turkish? | Türkçe de _ nasıl diyorsunuz? | |
| Excuse me, how can I get to _? | Pardon, _’ya nasıl gidebilirim? | |
| I forgot. | Unuttum. | |
| I have to go. | Gitmem lazım. | |
| It’s your turn. | Sıra sende. | |
| Be quiet! | Sessiz ol! | |
| I love you. (singular) | Seni seviyorum. |
How Do You Say “Basic Phrases” In Turkish?
“Basic phrases” means temel ifadeler and it refers to essential or fundamental expressions in Turkish that are useful for everyday communication.
Frequently Asked Questions About Basic Turkish Phrases
1. What Are The Basic Words In Turkish?
Basic words in Turkish include greetings like merhaba (hello), teşekkür ederim (thank you), evet (yes), hayır (no), and essential phrases like nasılsınız (how are you) and hoşçakalın (goodbye).
2. What Is A Typical Turkish Greeting?
A typical Turkish greeting is merhaba, which means hello. It’s widely used in both formal and informal contexts.
3. When To Use Kolay Gelsin?
Kolay gelsin is used to wish someone well when they are working or doing something that requires effort. It translates roughly to “may it be easy for you” and is used to show encouragement or respect.
4. How Do You Say Hello In Turkish?
You can say merhaba to say hello in Turkish. It’s the most common greeting and is used throughout Turkey in everyday conversations.
Want To Master Turkish From Scratch?
If you are interested in learning Turkish from scratch, you should start learning with Ling!
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