Turkish travel phrases

Essentials

• Yes

  Evet

  EH-vet

• No

  Hayır

  HAH-yuhr

  People also signal no by tilting the head back and raising the eyebrows, often with a click of the tongue.

• Please

  Lütfen

  LEWT-fen

• Thank you

  Teşekkür ederim

  teh-shek-KEWR eh-deh-reem

• Do you speak English?

  İngilizce biliyor musunuz?

  een-gee-LEEZ-jeh bee-LEE-yohr moo-soo-nooz

  Formal

• I don't understand

  Anlamıyorum

  ahn-LAH-muh-yoh-room

  For something just said, "Anlamadım" (ahn-LAH-mah-duhm) is just as common.

• Please speak slowly

  Lütfen daha yavaş konuşur musunuz?

  LEWT-fen DAH-hah yah-VAHSH koh-noo-SHOOR moo-soo-nooz

  Formal

• How much does it cost?

  Ne kadar?

  NEH kah-DAHR

• Where is the bathroom?

  Tuvalet nerede?

  too-vah-LET NEH-reh-deh

  Signs often say WC, with Bay for men and Bayan for women.

Greetings

• Hello

  Merhaba

  MEHR-hah-bah

• Good morning

  Günaydın

  gew-nai-DUHN

• Goodbye

  Hoşça kalın

  HOHSH-chah kah-luhn

  Formal

  Said by the person leaving; the one staying replies "Güle güle".

• How are you?

  Nasılsınız?

  NAH-suhl-suh-nuhz

  Formal

• Nice to meet you

  Memnun oldum

  mem-NOON ohl-doom

  The usual reply is "Ben de memnun oldum" (me too).

Courtesy

• Excuse me

  Affedersiniz

  ahf-feh-DEHR-see-neez

  Formal

  To call a waiter or shop assistant, "Bakar mısınız?" is more usual.

• I'm sorry

  Özür dilerim

  er-ZEWR dee-leh-reem

  For a small slip, like bumping into someone, "Pardon" is common.

• You're welcome.

  Rica ederim.

  ree-JAH eh-deh-reem

  You will also hear "Bir şey değil" (it's nothing).

• Cheers!

  Şerefe!

  sheh-reh-FEH

Restaurants

• A table for two, please.

  İki kişilik bir masa, lütfen.

  ee-KEE kee-shee-LEEK beer MAH-sah, LEWT-fen

• Do you have a menu in English?

  İngilizce menünüz var mı?

  een-gee-LEEZ-jeh meh-new-NEWZ VAHR muh

  Formal

• I'll have this, please.

  Bunu alayım, lütfen.

  boo-NOO ah-LAH-yuhm, LEWT-fen

• Water, please

  Su, lütfen

  SOO, LEWT-fen

• The check, please

  Hesap, lütfen

  heh-SAHP, LEWT-fen

• Can I pay by card?

  Kartla ödeyebilir miyim?

  KAHRT-lah er-deh-yeh-bee-LEER mee-yeem

Directions

• How do I get to the station?

  İstasyona nasıl giderim?

  ees-tahs-yoh-NAH NAH-suhl gee-DEH-reem

• Is it far from here?

  Buradan uzak mı?

  BOO-rah-dahn oo-ZAHK muh

• Can I walk there?

  Oraya yürüyerek gidebilir miyim?

  OH-rah-yah yew-rew-yeh-REK gee-deh-bee-LEER mee-yeem

Getting Understood

• I only speak a little.

  Sadece biraz Türkçe biliyorum.

  SAH-deh-jeh BEE-rahz TEWRK-cheh bee-LEE-yoh-room

• Could you say that again, please?

  Tekrar eder misiniz, lütfen?

  tek-RAHR eh-DEHR mee-see-neez, LEWT-fen

  Formal

• Could you write it down, please?

  Yazabilir misiniz, lütfen?

  yah-zah-bee-LEER mee-see-neez, LEWT-fen

  Formal

Time & Opening Hours

• What time do you open?

  Saat kaçta açıyorsunuz?

  sah-AHT KAHCH-tah ah-CHUH-yohr-soo-nooz

  Formal

• What time do you close?

  Saat kaçta kapatıyorsunuz?

  sah-AHT KAHCH-tah kah-pah-TUH-yohr-soo-nooz

  Formal

Transport & Tickets

• One ticket, please.

  Bir bilet, lütfen.

  beer bee-LET, LEWT-fen

• Which platform?

  Hangi perondan kalkıyor?

  HAHN-gee peh-rohn-DAHN kahl-KUH-yohr

• Does this go to the airport?

  Bu, havalimanına gidiyor mu?

  boo, hah-vah-lee-mah-nuh-NAH gee-DEE-yohr moo

• Stop here, please.

  Burada durun, lütfen.

  BOO-rah-dah DOO-roon, LEWT-fen

  Formal

  In a dolmuş or minibus, say "Müsait bir yerde" (wherever it suits) to be let off.

Hotels & Lodging

• I have a reservation.

  Rezervasyonum var.

  reh-zehr-vahs-yoh-NOOM vahr

  To give the name, add "… adına" (in the name of …) before it.

• What time is check-out?

  Çıkış saat kaçta?

  chuh-KUHSH sah-AHT KAHCH-tah

• Could I leave my bags here?

  Eşyalarımı burada bırakabilir miyim?

  esh-yah-lah-ruh-MUH BOO-rah-dah buh-rah-kah-bee-LEER mee-yeem

Airport & Border

• I'm here on holiday.

  Tatil için buradayım.

  tah-TEEL ee-CHEEN BOO-rah-dah-yuhm

• Where is baggage claim?

  Bagaj alım yeri nerede?

  bah-GAHZH ah-LUHM yeh-REE NEH-reh-deh

Shopping & Money

• I'm just looking, thank you.

  Sadece bakıyorum, teşekkürler.

  SAH-deh-jeh bah-KUH-yoh-room, teh-shek-kewr-LEHR

• That's too expensive.

  Bu çok pahalı.

  boo chohk pah-hah-LUH

• Could I have a receipt, please?

  Fiş alabilir miyim, lütfen?

  feesh ah-lah-bee-LEER mee-yeem, LEWT-fen

Wi-Fi & Phone

• Is there Wi-Fi here?

  Burada Wi-Fi var mı?

  BOO-rah-dah WAI-fai VAHR muh

• I'd like a SIM card with data.

  İnternet paketli bir hat almak istiyorum.

  een-tehr-NET pah-ket-LEE beer haht ahl-MAHK ees-TEE-yoh-room

  "Hat" (line) is the everyday word for a SIM card.

Meeting People

• My name is…

  Benim adım…

  beh-NEEM ah-DUHM…

• Where are you from?

  Nerelisiniz?

  NEH-reh-lee-see-neez

  Formal

What you'll hear

Questions and answers people are likely to say to you. You only need to recognize them.

• Passport, please.

  Pasaportunuz, lütfen.

  pah-sah-pohr-too-NOOZ, LEWT-fen

  Formal

• How long will you be staying?

  Ne kadar kalacaksınız?

  NEH kah-DAHR kah-lah-JAHK-suh-nuhz

  Formal

• For how many people?

  Kaç kişisiniz?

  KAHCH kee-SHEE-see-neez

  Formal

• Are you ready to order?

  Siparişinizi alabilir miyim?

  see-pah-ree-shee-nee-ZEE ah-lah-bee-LEER mee-yeem

  Formal

  You may also hear "Ne alırsınız?" (What will you have?).

• Cash or card?

  Nakit mi, kart mı?

  nah-KEET mee, KAHRT muh

• Go straight ahead.

  Dümdüz gidin.

  DEWM-dewz GEE-deen

  Formal

• Turn left.

  Sola dönün.

  soh-LAH DER-newn

  Formal

• Turn right.

  Sağa dönün.

  sah-AH DER-newn

  Formal