Useful Turkish phrases
A few words that open doors — with easy pronunciation.
Turkish is read as it's written
Every letter is pronounced, always the same way. A few to know: c sounds like the j in “jam”, ç is ch, ş is sh, ğ is silent and lengthens the vowel before it, and ı sounds like the e in “open”.
Phrases to start with
| Turkish | Say it like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Merhaba | mer-ha-BA | Hello |
| Günaydın | gyoon-eye-DUHN | Good morning |
| Teşekkürler | teh-shek-kyoor-LER | Thank you |
| Lütfen | LYUT-fen | Please |
| Evet / Hayır | eh-VET / HA-yuhr | Yes / No |
| Ne kadar? | neh ka-DAR | How much is it? |
| Hesap, lütfen | heh-SAP LYUT-fen | The bill, please |
| Afiyet olsun | ah-fee-YET ol-SUN | Enjoy your meal |
| Tuvalet nerede? | too-va-LET NEH-reh-deh | Where is the toilet? |
| Yardım eder misiniz? | yar-DUHM eh-DER mi-si-NIZ | Could you help me? |
| Çok güzel! | chok gyoo-ZEL | Very beautiful! |
| Görüşürüz | gyoh-ryoo-SHYOO-ryooz | See you |
Give it a try
People love it when visitors try a few words of Turkish — even a “teşekkürler” usually earns a smile.
Rules and prices change — for entry requirements always check the official sources mentioned here.