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Traveling in Turkey

If you have ever thought of visiting Turkey for a vacation, here are some key Turkish travel phrases you need to know.

Maybe you have discovered that Turkey has it all. World class beaches. Magnificent mountains. Meaningful historical sites. Some even say that the Garden of Eden was in Turkey. I have Turkish friends who would agree!

Maybe you’ve heard of the hospitality and friendliness of the people, or you’ve heard of the unique cuisine? Turkey may very well be one of the best kept secrets for travel.

Lots of people in Turkey can speak some English or even excellent English. Especially in some of the more well-known and touristy areas. If you step off of the beaten path just a bit, though, you’ll quickly find that English might not get you that far. Sure, you can make good use of Google Translate along the way. If you download the Turkish data for offline use, you’ll have it in case you need it in a pinch. But how much sweeter is it to have some words and phrases ready so that you understand them when you hear them and you can respond when the opportunity arises?

So let’s take a look at some of the most useful Turkish travel phrases you need to know.

Turkish Travel Phrases You Need to Know

So what might you want to know before you make a trip to Turkey? What are some of the most common situations and interactions a traveler will encounter? Let’s take a look at several groups of words and phrases you might want to know.

Basic Greetings

Hello, how are you?
Merhaba, nasılsınız?

I’m doing fine, thanks.
İyiyim, teşekkürler.

What is your name?
İsminiz ne?

My name is —.
Benim adım —.

Where are you from?
Nerelisiniz?

I am American.
Amerikalıyım.

Goodbye.
Hoşça kal. // Görüşürüz.

Please.
Lütfen.

Thank you.
Teşekkürler. // Teşekkür ederim. // Sağ ol.

Good morning.
Günaydın.

Good day.
İyi günler.

Good evening.
İyi akşamlar.

Good night.
İyi geceler.

Generally Useful Phrases

Yes.
Evet.

No.
Hayır.

Excuse me.
Affedersiniz. // Pardon.

Do you know English?
İngilizce biliyor musunuz?

Can you help me?
Bana yardımcı olabilir misiniz?

I don’t understand.
Anlamadım.

Could you repeat that?
Tekrar eder misiniz?

What does that mean?
Ne demek?

I need a doctor.
Doktora ihtiyacım var.

I am sick.
Ben hastayım.

Where is the pharmacy?
Eczane nerede?

Is there a bank nearby?
Yakında bank var mı?

Thank you for your help.
Yardımınız için teşekkürler.

Could you say that a little more slowly please?
Daha yavaşça söyler misiniz?

Would you write that please?
Onu yazar mısınız?

I don’t speak Turkish.
Türkçe bilmiyorum.

Light work.
Kolay gelsin.

Take care of yourself.
Kendinize iyi bakın.

Market Phrases

How much does this cost?
Bu ne kadar tutar?

Can I have one more?
Bir tane daha alabilir miyim?

Can I use a credit card here?
Burada kredi kart geçerli mi?

I will use a card.
Kart kullanacağım.

I will use cash.
Nakit kullanacağım.

Where is a currency exchange?
Döviz nerede?

At a Restaurant

I have an egg / peanut allergy.
Yumurta / fıstık alerjim var.

Chicken.
Tavuk.

Beef.
Et.

Water
Su

Soda
Kola

Sparkling water
Soda

Tea
Çay

Can I get the bill please?
Hesap alabilir miyim?

I’d like to make an order.
Sipariş vermek istiyorum.

Make it to-go.
Paket olsun.

Can I have a menu?
Menü alabilir miyim?

Direction Phrases

Where is the nearest metro station?
En yakın olan metro istasyon nerede?

How do I get to the train from here?
Buradan trene nasıl gidebilirim?

Where is İstiklal street?
İstiklal Caddesi nerede?

Here / this place
Burada / burası

There / that place
Orada / orası

Ahead.
İlerde

On the left.
Solda

On the right.
Sağda

On the corner.
Köşede

Things you are likely to be asked

Do you like Turkey?
Türkiye’yi seviyor musunuz?

Would you like a free treat?
İkram ister misiniz?

Would you like to drink tea?
Çay içer misiniz?

Is there anything else you need?
Başka bir isteğiniz var mı?

Phrases to Endear You to Locals

Turkey is my favorite place.
Türkiye’yi en sevdiğim yer.

• Turkish people have a strong sense of pride for their homeland. It’s a beautiful country and a beautiful culture. If you find that you do really like it here, telling a new Turkish friend that you love it here is a surefire way to honor them and their homeland.

One eats, one watches, then the day of judgement comes.
Biri yer, biri bakar, ondan sonra kıyamet günü kopar.

• This is a Turkish proverb that sheds a little light on just how important honor and hospitality is. If a person eats even a bite while another person just watches and doesn’t join in, it is such a serious offense that Judgement Day will come.

If you learn some of these phrases and then use them while you’re in Turkey, you’re going to be surprised by how encouraging local Turkish people will be that you’ve put in this effort. They love it when foreigners try to speak their language!

Challenges in Learning Turkish

There are a couple of challenging aspects involved in learning Turkish. The first is the agglutinative nature of the language. Simply stated, you add meaning to words by adding endings that stack on one another. For an English speaker, that can feel really complicated and difficult.

The other is the vowel harmony. Depending on spelling of the word, you will have to use different vowels to make correct endings and pronunciation.

Turkish is a beautiful language with a consistent structure and relatively easy pronunciation. With some regular contact and practice, you’ll be able to use all of the words and phrases I’ve shared with you. Ling can help you make time to focus on learning Turkish, and it can help you progress. When you use these phrases with a Turkish person in Turkey, you’re going to want to go even deeper and learn that much more.

You really don’t need to worry about any of the challenges with Turkish though. As I said before, Turkish people will be so happy to hear you speaking in their language that the mistakes won’t matter. Ling will help you learn all of this and more. Before long you’ll be having full conversations with new Turkish friends in Turkey.