Published by Halaal Travels. Last updated: 29 October 2022
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If you are planning to visit Turkey, here are some phrases that you definitely need to learn. Knowing these essential phrases will make your trip more enjoyable.
English is not spoken widely in Turkey. Don’t be surprised if after a few days of being in Turkey, English begins to feel like a foreign language.
From personal experience, Turkish people absolutely love it when you attempt to speak to them in their local language. Remembering a few key phrases in Turkish does go a long way. The locals are delighted when you try to speak to them in Turkish, and they begin to treat you like an honoured guest when you attempt to make even the smallest effort to speak Turkish.
The Basics
1. Merhaba (mer-ha-ba): Hello
This is the most common word. This can be said to anyone at any time of the day.
2. Nasilsin (nas-il-sin)?: How are you?
3. Iyiyim, Sen nasilsin? (ee-ee-im, sen nas-il-sin): I’m good, how are you?
4. Benim adim… (ben-im, ad-im): My name is…
5. Sen adim ne (sen-in, ad-in, nay): What is your name?
6. Nerelisin? (ner-el-i-sin): Where are you from?
The next phrase you will hear quite often when you are shopping. Now you will know what it means when you do hear it.
7. Hos geldin (hosh, gel-din): Welcome
We wish we knew about this next phrase, this is a phrase we never used but if we knew it we would have used it.
8. Hos bulduk (hosh, bul-dook): This phrase is a way to say “thank you for welcoming me”.
These next two phrases you can skip and get by in Turkey just fine. But if you can, these will be amazing to learn and add into your conversations.
9. Iyı günler (ee-ee, goon-ler): Have a good day
10.Görüşürüz (goo-roo-sh-oo-rooz): See you again, goodbye
And if you would like to be adventurous, try using these two phrases as one sentence.
11.Teşekkür ederim (tesh-ek-ur, ed-er-im): Thank you
This is one of the most important phrases to know. I am quite sure you will be hearing this phrase very often and before you know it, you would have started using this phrase without even realising it.
12. Rica ederim (ri-ja, ed-er-im): You’re welcome
Rica ederim phrase you have to learn. If you hear or use the phrase Teşekkür ederim then this phrase is an awesome one to use and know.
13. Çok güzel (choke, goo-zel): Very beautiful
The word “Çok” is very useful. lt can be added before anything to emphasise it. It means very, and Turkish people love using it a lot.
A really great language app to use is Duolingo. It is simple and very user friendly. Within just a few days you will be mastering phrases of a new language. It is really fun to use. You can try it out here.
Have you visited Turkey and used any of the above phrases? If you are familiar with the Turkish language, what other phrases would you add to the above? Please comment below.