Home › Free Turkish guides › 30 basic Turkish phrases30 Basic Turkish Phrases You Will Really Use
You don’t need perfect grammar to start talking. These 30 phrases will get you through cafés, shops, taxis and your first real conversations in Turkish.
The magic words 🔊 Evet. Yes.
🔊 Hayır. No.
🔊 Tamam. OK.
🔊 Lütfen. Please.
🔊 Teşekkür ederim. Thank you.
🔊 Rica ederim. You’re welcome.
🔊 Özür dilerim. I’m sorry.
🔊 Pardon. Excuse me.
When you don’t understand 🔊 Anlamadım. I didn’t understand.
🔊 Tekrar eder misiniz? Could you repeat that?
🔊 Daha yavaş konuşur musunuz? Could you speak more slowly?
🔊 İngilizce biliyor musunuz? Do you speak English?
🔊 Biraz Türkçe konuşuyorum. I speak a little Turkish.
🔊 Türkçe öğreniyorum. I’m learning Turkish.
🔊 Bilmiyorum. I don’t know.
💡 Say this first Türkçe öğreniyorum is a superpower. People will slow down, smile, and help you.
Shopping and cafés 🔊 Bu ne kadar? How much is this?
🔊 Kaç lira? How many lira?
🔊 Bir çay, lütfen. A tea, please.
🔊 Su alabilir miyim? Can I have some water?
🔊 Hesap, lütfen. The bill, please.
🔊 Kartla ödeyebilir miyim? Can I pay by card?
🔊 Çok güzel! Very nice! / Delicious!
Finding your way 🔊 Tuvalet nerede? Where is the toilet?
🔊 Metro nerede? Where is the metro?
🔊 Burası neresi? Where is this place?
🔊 Sağa / sola / düz right / left / straight on
🔊 Yardım eder misiniz? Can you help me?
Your first conversation 🔊 Benim adım … My name is …
🔊 Nerelisin? Where are you from?
🔊 İngiltere’denim. I’m from England.
🔊 Memnun oldum. Nice to meet you.
🔊 Görüşürüz! See you!
Want more greetings? See the full guide to Turkish greetings .
Quick quiz: test yourself
1. How do you ask “How much is this?”
Bu ne kadar? Bu nerede? Bu kim?
ne kadar = how much.
2. What does “Anlamadım” mean?
I’m tired I didn’t understand I don’t want
Anlamadım = I didn’t understand.
3. You want the bill at a restaurant. You say…
Hesap, lütfen. Afiyet olsun. Hoş geldiniz.
Hesap = the bill. Lütfen = please.
4. What is “Where is the toilet?”
Tuvalet ne kadar? Tuvalet nerede? Tuvalet var mı?
nerede = where (is it).
5. How do you say “I’m learning Turkish”?
Türkçe biliyorum. Türkçe öğreniyorum. Türkçe anlamadım.
öğreniyorum = I am learning.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most important Turkish phrases for travel? Merhaba, Teşekkür ederim, Lütfen, Bu ne kadar?, Hesap lütfen, … nerede? and Anlamadım will cover most situations.
Do people in Turkey speak English? Many people in big cities and tourist areas do, but a few words of Turkish make people much warmer and more helpful.
How can I keep practising these phrases? Turkish with Buse has free step-by-step lessons, dialogues and a speaking coach so you can practise them out loud.
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