A few words in the local language change the way a trip feels. These Turkish phrases for travel cover the situations you are most likely to meet: greeting people, ordering in a café, shopping in a bazaar, finding your way and handling an emergency. You do not need perfect pronunciation. People generally appreciate it when visitors make the effort.
Every phrase below has a play button so you can hear it. Most use the polite form, which is the right choice with shopkeepers, waiters, drivers and anyone you do not know well.
Greetings and basic phrases
Merhaba.
Hello.
Günaydın.
Good morning.
Lütfen.
Please.
Teşekkür ederim.
Thank you.
Affedersiniz.
Excuse me.
İngilizce biliyor musunuz?
Do you speak English?
Anlamadım.
I didn’t understand.
Merhaba works at any time of day. In the evening you can also say İyi akşamlar (“good evening”). For a quicker thank you, you will often hear Teşekkürler and Sağ olun. Yes is evet and no is hayır. Use Affedersiniz to get someone’s attention or to squeeze past people on a crowded tram.
Want to show that you are trying? Say Biraz Türkçe biliyorum (“I know a little Turkish”). It is a friendly way to start a conversation, and people will often slow down for you.
Turkish phrases for cafés and restaurants
Bir çay, lütfen.
A tea, please.
Ne tavsiye edersiniz?
What do you recommend?
Vejetaryen yemekleriniz var mı?
Do you have vegetarian dishes?
Hesap, lütfen.
The check, please.
Kartla ödeyebilir miyim?
Can I pay by card?
Çok lezzetliydi.
It was delicious.
Tea (çay) is served in small, tulip-shaped glasses almost everywhere, and shopkeepers sometimes offer it to customers too. To ask for another glass, say Bir çay daha, lütfen (“One more tea, please”). To ask for the menu, say Menüyü alabilir miyim? (“Can I have the menu?”).
Shopping and bargaining in Turkish
In bazaars and markets, a little bargaining is normal and can be friendly. In supermarkets, chain stores and shops with price tags, prices are fixed.
Bu ne kadar?
How much is this?
Sadece bakıyorum.
I’m just looking.
Çok pahalı.
That’s too expensive.
İndirim yapar mısınız?
Can you give me a discount?
Bunu alıyorum.
I’ll take this.
Keep bargaining light and polite. Smile, suggest a reasonable price and be ready to walk away with a friendly Teşekkürler, iyi günler (“Thanks, have a nice day”). Once you agree on a price, it is good manners to buy.
Getting around: directions, taxis and transport
Tuvalet nerede?
Where is the restroom?
En yakın metro istasyonu nerede?
Where is the nearest metro station?
Taksim'e nasıl gidebilirim?
How can I get to Taksim?
Bu otobüs Kadıköy'e gidiyor mu?
Does this bus go to Kadıköy?
Bu adrese gitmek istiyorum.
I’d like to go to this address.
Burada durabilir misiniz?
Could you stop here?
When someone gives you directions, listen for sağ (right), sol (left) and düz (straight). A typical answer might be Düz gidin, sonra sağa dönün (“Go straight, then turn right”). Showing an address on your phone and saying Bu adrese gitmek istiyorum works well with taxi drivers.
In Istanbul, buses, trams, the metro and ferries all use the same rechargeable transport card, the İstanbulkart.
Emergencies and health
Hopefully you will never need these, but they are worth saving. The emergency number in Turkey is 112.
Yardım edin!
Help!
Polisi arayın!
Call the police!
Doktora ihtiyacım var.
I need a doctor.
Eczane nerede?
Where is the pharmacy?
Kayboldum.
I’m lost.
For everyday help, such as finding your way, ask politely with Yardım eder misiniz? (“Could you help me?”). Pharmacies are marked with the word Eczane, and at night or on Sundays you can look for a nöbetçi eczane (an on-duty pharmacy).
Polite Turkish expressions locals love to hear
These expressions do not translate neatly into English, but people use them every day. Saying one at the right moment is a lovely way to show respect for the culture.
Kolay gelsin.
May it be easy for you.
Afiyet olsun.
Enjoy your meal.
Ellerinize sağlık.
Health to your hands.
Geçmiş olsun.
Get well soon.
Hoş geldiniz.
Welcome.
Rica ederim.
You’re welcome.
Kolay gelsin (literally “may it come easy”) is said to anyone who is working: a shopkeeper, a waiter, a taxi driver, even a friend doing homework. The usual reply is Sağ olun (“Thank you”).
Afiyet olsun is said to someone who is about to eat or has just eaten, a bit like “enjoy your meal”. You will hear it from waiters all the time.
Ellerinize sağlık (literally “health to your hands”) thanks someone who cooked for you. If you are invited to a Turkish home, say it after the meal.
Geçmiş olsun (“may it pass”) is for anyone who is sick or has had bad luck, from a cold to a lost phone. Rica ederim is the polite answer when someone thanks you.
Hoş geldiniz means “welcome”, and the reply is Hoş bulduk. When you leave, say Hoşça kalın. The person who stays will answer Güle güle.
Learn more Turkish before your trip
Phrases get you started, and a little grammar helps you build your own sentences. Mitsling’s A1 course includes units on numbers and prices, getting around town and ordering at a café, with audio for every Turkish word.
If your trip is coming up and you want to practice real conversations, you can book 1-on-1 live lessons with Kerem, a native Turkish teacher, for $12 per 50-minute lesson, in monthly plans of 4, 8, 12 or 16 lessons. You can role-play ordering, bargaining and asking for directions before you go. İyi yolculuklar! (“Have a good trip!”)