Turkish Language

Learning Turkish as a yabanci (Turkish for stranger and foreigner) can be difficult, but it is much rewarded by many Turks who appreciate your efforts.  If you want to learn basic words and phrases, pick up a beginner's or traveler's Turkish language book, available in almost any large bookstore on Istiklal Caddesi between Tünel and Taksim.

If you're interested in short to long term guided study in Turkish, seek out one of Istanbul's two most respected Turkish language schools, Dilmer (http://www.dilmer.com/) or Tomer (http://www.tomer.ankara.edu.tr/).

Luckily for most students of Turkish, Modern Turkish utilizes a modified Latin alphabet due to language reforms in the early 20th century.  Even most Turks no longer understand the old Ottoman script.  The letters Turkish does not use from the English alphabet are q, w and x.  Turkish characters not used in English are ı, ö, ü, ğ, ş and ç.  Turkish is a phonetic language.


Here are some basic words and phrases that can be helpful during your traveling

Greetings and basic words

Hello
merhaba ; selam

What is your name?
isminiz nedir?

Nice to meet you
memnun oldum.

How are you?
nasilsin(iz)?

Good
iyi

Bad
kötü

So so
şöyle böyle

Good morning

günaydin

Good afternoon
iyi günler

Good evening
iyi akşamlar

Good night
iyi geceler

What's up?
ne haber?

Goodbye
güle güle (said to the person leaving) ; allahaismarladik

See ya/So long
görüsürüz

Yes

evet

No
hayır

Thank you
teşekkürler  ;  teşekkür ederim

Thank you very much
çok teşekkür ederim

You're welcome
bir şey değil

Please
lütfen

Excuse me
pardon

Numbers

one
bir

two
iki
three
üç

four
dört

five
beş

six
altı

seven
yedi

eight
sekiz

nine
dokuz

ten
on



Travel and Communication

I do not understand
anlamiyorum

How do you say this in Turkish
Bu [Türkce] nasil soylenir?

Do you speak ... =
(Insert language) biliyor musunuz; English = İngilizce French = Fransizca , German = Almanca , Spanish = İspanyolca,  Chinese = Çince

Where is the bathroom?
tuvalet nerede?

Family and People

Wife
karim ; eşim

Husband
koca ; eşim

Child
çocuk

Daughter
kiz çocuk

Son
erkek çocuk

Mother
anne

Father
baba

Friend
dost ; arkadaş

I = Ben,  We = Biz, You (singular, familiar) = Sen,  You (singular, formal) = Siz You (plural) = Siz,  They = Onlar.