Lost in Istanbul? I can’t blame you, as it’s so easy to get lost in the by-streets of Istanbul, especially if you’re in Beşiktaş or Eminönü, two popular areas crawling with people. Even I still get lost, having lived here for four years! But I never hesitate to ask for directions to make sure I’m heading the right way, and you shouldn’t, either.
Get ready to learn about asking and giving directions in Turkish, even if you’re not a native speaker, because everyone can get lost in Istanbul! Even Turkish people happen to confuse streets with one another. But don’t worry! Everyone is eager to help you out, as long as you can help them too! And for that, you should learn all about giving directions in Turkish.
You don’t know how to give directions in the Turkish language? Keep reading because that’s exactly what you’ll learn in this guide!
Page Contents:
- Asking For Directions In Turkish
- Common Phrases To Ask For Directions In Turkish
- The Not-So-Helpful Direction Givers In Turkey
- Giving Directions In Turkish
- Prepositions In Turkish
- Cardinal Directions In Turkish
- Giving Directions By Using Landmarks
- Start Learning Turkish With Ling!
Asking For Directions In Turkish
The first lesson on asking directions is to practice the question word “nerede” (where) in Turkish. It has a simple usage because it’s always at the end of the sentence. Here’s the pattern you should follow when asking “where” in the Turkish language:
Object + Nerede?
- Kafe nerede? – Where is the cafe?
- Otobüs durağı nerede? – Where is the bus stop?
- Araba nerede? – Where is the car?
Common Phrases To Ask For Directions In Turkish
There are a number of phrases you should know to ask for directions in the Turkish language. Once you learn them, you can get help from other people to find your way around.
| English | Turkish |
|---|---|
| How can I go to the museum? | Müzeye nasıl gidebilirim? |
| Excuse me? | Bakar mısınız? / Affedersiniz? |
| Excuse me, where is the train station? | Affedersiniz, tren istasyonu nerede? |
| How can I get to the Grand Bazaar? | Kapalı çarşıya nasıl gidebilirim? |
| Is it far from here? | Buradan uzak mı? |
| Can you show me on the map? | Haritada gösterebilir misiniz? |
| Which way should I go? | Hangi yöne gitmeliyim? |
| Can you give me directions, please? | Lütfen bana yol tarifi yapar mısınız? |
| Is it on the left of the traffic light? | Trafik ışığının sol tarafında mı? |
| Is it within walking distance? | Yürüme mesafesinde mi? |
| How long does it take to get there? | Oraya gitmek ne kadar sürer? |
| Can you repeat that, please? | Lütfen tekrar eder misiniz? |
The Not-So-Helpful Direction Givers In Turkey
I’m totally sure that you’ll come up to the wrong person and ask for directions to your destination. Even if they don’t speak English, they will do their best and try to help you by giving directions in Turkish. They use body language to make you understand, but still, you probably won’t understand anything because of the language barrier.
Helping strangers is a core value in Turkish culture; they can’t help it! Turkish people want to be helpful, but sometimes they are not being so helpful if they don’t speak English. So, you should probably look for Turkish people that speak English.
Giving Directions In Turkish
Now that you’ve learned to ask for directions, it’s time to learn about giving directions in Turkish. Turkey is visited by millions of tourists each year, which means it’s likely you’ll be asked for directions on the streets.
There is some Turkish vocabulary you need to know to be able to give directions to someone else. Let’s start with the most essential phrases.
| English | Turkish |
| Go straight ahead | Düz git |
| Turn left | Sola dön |
| Turn right | Sağa dön |
| Go back | Geri git |
| Get across | Karşıya geç |
| Turn right at the corner | Köşeden sağa dön |
| Turn left at the corner | Köşeden sola dön |
| Street | Sokak |
| Main road | Cadde |
| Road | Yol |
Prepositions In Turkish
Imagine you’re walking down the streets of Istanbul, and someone asks you how to get to that famous kebab restaurant. By using Turkish prepositions, you’ll effortlessly give directions to any destination.
- In: İçinde
- On: Üstünde
- At: -da / -de
- Behind: Arkasında
- In front of: Önünde
- Next to: Yanında
- From: -dan / -den
- To: -a / -e
- After: Sonra
- Before: Önce
- Under: Altında
- Over/Above: Üzerinde
- Between: Arasında
Cardinal Directions In Turkish
Though not that commonly used, cardinal directions are also a part of Turkish directions. They are mostly used in transportation, especially in air and sea transportation.
- North: Kuzey
- South: Güney
- East: Doğu
- West: Batı
- Northwest: Kuzeybatı
- Northeast: Kuzeydoğu
- Southwest: Güneybatı
- Southeast: Güneydoğu
Giving Directions By Using Landmarks
Landmarks can be used as crucial navigation points. When asked for directions, mentioning these iconic places will instantly make a connection with the other person. They will remember that location more easily. Otherwise, telling someone to “go straight, take the second left and then the first right” sounds really complicated.
| English | Turkish | Audio |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic light | Trafik ışıkları | |
| Bus stop | Otobüs durağı | |
| Cafe | Kafe | |
| Bakery | Fırın | |
| Store | Mağaza | |
| Restaurant | Restorant | |
| Shopping Mall | Alışveriş merkezi | |
| Crosswalk | Yaya geçidi | |
| Sign | Tabela | |
| Park | Park | |
| Hospital | Hastane | |
| School | Okul |
Start Learning Turkish With Ling!
Are you looking for an app to learn Turkish? Then you are in the right place!
Ling is the best language-learning app to learn Turkish in the simplest way. Why? Because Ling offers everything you need in your language learning journey. Some of Ling’s best features are interactive writing and listening exercises, pronunciation practice via voice recognition, quizzes, and, last but not least, AI chatbots to have a natural conversation with!
So why are you still waiting? Download Ling from the App Store or Play Store and connect through language now!
Plus, make sure to check our Turkish blog often for new articles every week and learn more about the Turkish language and culture!
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