Basic Turkish Phrases for Travellers
Turkish is the sole official language of Turkiye and is spoken by virtually the entire population. The good news for travellers is that Turkish uses the Latin alphabet with a few extra characters, and pronunciation is consistent - each letter always makes the same sound. English is widely spoken in Istanbul’s tourist districts and coastal resorts, but drops off quickly in central Anatolia and the east.
Greetings and Basics
| English | Turkish | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | Merhaba | mer-HA-ba |
| Good morning | Gunaydin | goo-nay-DIN |
| Goodbye | Hosca kalin | hosh-CHA ka-LIN |
| Please | Lutfen | LOOT-fen |
| Thank you | Tesekkur ederim | te-shek-KOOR e-de-RIM |
| Yes | Evet | e-VET |
| No | Hayir | ha-YIR |
| Excuse me | Afedersiniz | af-e-der-si-NIZ |
| Sorry | Ozur dilerim | o-ZOOR di-le-RIM |
| How are you? | Nasilsiniz? | na-sul-su-NIZ |
Getting Around
| English | Turkish | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Where is…? | …nerede? | ne-RE-de |
| How much is it? | Ne kadar? | ne ka-DAR |
| Left | Sol | SOL |
| Right | Sag | SAH |
| Stop here | Burada durun | bu-RA-da du-RUN |
| Taxi | Taksi | TAK-si |
| Bus station | Otogar | o-to-GAR |
| Airport | Havaalani | ha-va-a-la-NI |
| Train station | Tren gari | tren GA-ri |
| I don’t understand | Anlamiyorum | an-la-mi-yo-RUM |
Food and Dining
| English | Turkish | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| The menu, please | Menu, lutfen | me-NU LOOT-fen |
| The bill, please | Hesap, lutfen | he-SAP LOOT-fen |
| Water | Su | SOO |
| Delicious | Cok guzel | chok goo-ZEL |
| Not spicy | Acimasiz | a-ji-ma-SIZ |
| I am vegetarian | Ben vejeteryanim | ben ve-je-ter-ya-NIM |
| Bread | Ekmek | ek-MEK |
| Tea | Cay | CHAI |
| Coffee | Kahve | KAH-ve |
| Cheers! | Serefe! | she-re-FE |
Numbers
| Number | Turkish | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bir | BEER |
| 2 | Iki | i-KI |
| 3 | Uc | OOCH |
| 4 | Dort | DOORT |
| 5 | Bes | BESH |
| 6 | Alti | al-TI |
| 7 | Yedi | ye-DI |
| 8 | Sekiz | se-KIZ |
| 9 | Dokuz | do-KUZ |
| 10 | On | ON |
Emergency Phrases
| English | Turkish | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Help! | Imdat! | im-DAT |
| Hospital | Hastane | has-ta-NE |
| Police | Polis | po-LIS |
| I need a doctor | Doktora ihtiyacim var | dok-to-RA ih-ti-ya-JIM VAR |
| Call an ambulance | Ambulans cagirin | am-bu-LANS cha-gi-RIN |
Turkish pronunciation is refreshingly predictable compared to English. Every letter is pronounced, there are no silent letters, and stress usually falls on the last syllable. The key letters to watch are: “c” is pronounced like “j” in “jam,” “c” with a cedilla sounds like “ch,” “s” with a cedilla makes a “sh” sound, and the soft “g” (with a breve) lengthens the preceding vowel rather than being pronounced itself. When in doubt, read each letter individually and you will usually be understood.
Planning Your Trip
With the basics covered, a few more practical guides before you go:
- Tipping and cultural etiquette in Turkey - hammams, mosques, restaurants and more
- Turkey for first-time visitors - what to expect and how to prepare
- Getting around Türkiye - buses, dolmuş, ferries and domestic flights
- Turkey travel costs - daily budgets for every travel style
Essential extras: An eSIM for Turkey from Airalo gives you mobile data from the moment you land - no airport SIM queue, no physical card. Travel insurance for Turkey should cover medical costs; Turkish private hospitals charge full rates for uninsured visitors.
Plan Your Trip
✈️ Book your flights to Türkiye 🛡️ Get travel insurance 📱 Stay connected with an eSIM 🚗 Rent a car
Book an experience
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Frequently Asked Questions
- Do I need to speak Turkish to travel in Turkiye?
- In major tourist areas like Istanbul, Antalya and Cappadocia, many people speak basic English. In smaller towns and eastern Turkiye, English is rare. Learning even a few phrases makes a significant practical difference outside the main tourist corridor.
- What is the most important phrase to learn?
- Tesekkur ederim (thank you) is the single most useful phrase. Turkish people are famously hospitable and will go out of their way to help visitors who show respect by attempting their language.