A1 · Beginner38 words and phrases Audio for every word
Food and Drinks in Turkish
Food is a big part of Turkish life, and these words come up every day: at breakfast, at the market and in a . Here’s what’s on a Turkish breakfast table, everyday dishes, drinks, and the phrases to order and pay, from to . Every word and sentence has audio.
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Turkish breakfast: kahvaltı
A Turkish breakfast is a table full of small plates, always with fresh bread and plenty of .
kahvaltı
breakfast · from kahve altı, the food before coffee
Pazar günleri uzun bir kahvaltı yapıyoruz.
On Sundays we have a long breakfast.
ekmek
bread
Fırından taze ekmek alıyorum.
I’m buying fresh bread from the bakery.
peynir
cheese
Bu peynir çok lezzetli.
This cheese is really tasty.
zeytin
olive
Siyah zeytin mi, yeşil zeytin mi?
Black olives or green olives?
yumurta
egg
Kahvaltıda iki yumurta yiyorum.
I eat two eggs for breakfast.
bal
honey
Bu bal tamamen doğal, köyden geliyor.
This honey is all natural, it comes from a village.
reçel
jam
Annemin vişne reçeli harika.
My mom’s sour cherry jam is amazing.
simit
simit, a sesame bread ring
Sabahları bir simit ve bir çay alıyorum.
In the mornings I get a simit and a tea.
menemen
menemen, eggs scrambled with tomatoes and peppers · Türkiye’s favorite breakfast debate
Menemen soğanlı mı olur, soğansız mı?
Should menemen have onions or not?
Everyday dishes
yemek
food, meal, dish · also “to eat”
Türk yemekleri çok çeşitli.
Turkish food is very varied.
çorba
soup
Mercimek çorbası her lokantada var.
Every restaurant has lentil soup.
et
meat
Ben et yemiyorum.
I don’t eat meat.
tavuk
chicken
Bu akşam tavuk pişiriyorum.
I’m cooking chicken tonight.
balık
fish
İstanbul'da mutlaka balık ekmek ye.
Be sure to eat a fish sandwich in Istanbul.
pilav
rice (cooked)
Kuru fasulye pilavla çok güzel olur.
White beans go great with rice.
salata
salad
Yanına bir de salata alabilir miyim?
Can I also get a salad on the side?
köfte
meatballs
Bu lokantanın köftesi çok meşhur.
This restaurant’s köfte is very famous.
kebap
kebab
Akşam kebap yiyelim mi?
Shall we have kebab tonight?
tatlı
dessert · also “sweet”
Tatlı olarak baklava istiyorum.
For dessert, I’d like baklava.
Drinks
means to drink. Tea is served in small tulip-shaped glasses, all day long.
su
water
Bir şişe su alabilir miyim?
Could I have a bottle of water?
çay
tea
Bir çay daha içer misin?
Would you like another tea?
kahve
coffee · Türk kahvesi is Turkish coffee
Kahvemi sade içiyorum.
I drink my coffee without sugar.
süt
milk
Çocuklar her sabah süt içiyor.
The kids drink milk every morning.
meyve suyu
fruit juice
Çocuklar için iki meyve suyu, lütfen.
Two fruit juices for the kids, please.
ayran
ayran, a salty yogurt drink
Kebabın yanında hep ayran içiyoruz.
We always drink ayran with kebab.
maden suyu
sparkling mineral water
Yemekten sonra maden suyu iyi gelir.
Mineral water is good after a meal.
şeker
sugar · also “candy”
Çayınıza şeker alır mısınız?
Do you take sugar in your tea?
buz
ice
Kolam buzsuz olsun, lütfen.
No ice in my cola, please.
Ordering and paying
To get a waiter’s attention, say (literally “Would you look?”). Then order with or simply the dish and .
aç
hungry
Çok açım, hadi yemek yiyelim.
I’m starving, let’s go eat.
tok
full (not hungry)
Teşekkürler, ben tokum.
No thanks, I’m full.
Menüyü alabilir miyim?
Can I see the menu?
Pardon, menüyü alabilir miyim?
Excuse me, can I see the menu?
istiyorum
I want, I’d like
Bir mercimek çorbası ve bir ayran istiyorum.
I’d like a lentil soup and an ayran.
Bir çay, lütfen.
A tea, please.
Bir çay, lütfen. Açık olsun.
A tea, please. Make it weak.
Ne tavsiye edersiniz?
What do you recommend?
Bugün ne tavsiye edersiniz?
What do you recommend today?
vejetaryen
vegetarian
Vejetaryen yemekleriniz var mı?
Do you have any vegetarian dishes?
Afiyet olsun!
Enjoy your meal! · said to anyone eating
Yemekler geldi, afiyet olsun!
The food’s here, enjoy your meal!
Ellerinize sağlık.
Compliments to the cook. · literally “health to your hands”
Çok lezzetliydi, ellerinize sağlık!
That was delicious, compliments to the cook!
Hesap, lütfen.
The check, please.
Bakar mısınız? Hesap, lütfen.
Excuse me! The check, please.
Good to know
- is for whoever is eating, and thanks whoever cooked. At a Turkish home, say both and you’ll be invited back.
- Two endings make ordering easy: -li means with and -siz means without, so is with sugar and is without. They change their vowel to match the word, as in (no ice): see vowel harmony.
- A serves ready-made, home-style dishes that you pick at the counter. It’s one of the cheapest ways to eat well in Türkiye.
- Eating out on a trip? There are more phrases in Turkish phrases for travel.
Learn these words in real Turkish
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