Turkish Language Basics

If you're only coming to Turkey for a couple of weeks, there's no way you're going to master the Turkish language. But you don't have to worry. All of the businesses, sights and tourist activities in the local Bodrum area are owned or operated by people who have a great command of the English language, and other popular European languages are also spoken in some locations.

Once you get off the beaten path, you'll encounter restaurants and shops where the owners don't have a brilliant grasp of English, but with a few words in Turkish, sign language and pointing, and maybe even a few quick drawings .. you can easily be understood.

Whilst it is alright to arrive in Bodrum without a word of Turkish ... a few words will go very far, and we'd highly encourage to you master a few basic words to add to your local enjoyment

Language Basics in Turkey

  • Official language spoken in Bodrum is Turkish.
  • English and German are two of the most widely spoken foreign languages spoken locally
  • You can pick up a variety of books, dictionaries, language guides or audio courses to learn Turkish
  • Attempting to speak couple of words in Turkish is more than appreciated

Some useful words and phrases

Here's a selection of basic greetings, questions and some key words you'll probably use most frequently:

English Turkish Pronunciation
Hello Merhaba mare-hah-bah
Good Morning Günaydin (said on meeting) goon-eye-din
Good Day iyi günler (said on meeting or parting) ee-yee goo -n-ler
Good evening iyi aksamlar (said on meeting or parting) ee-yee ak-sham-lar
Good night iyi geceler (said on meeting or parting) ee-yee gedge -e-ler
Please Lutfen lute-fen
Thanks Tesekkürler tesh-e-kiir- ler
Yes Evet e-vet
No Hayir higher
I want istiyorum ist-ee-your-um
When? Ne zaman? nay za-man
Today Bugün boo-goon
Tomorrow Yarin yah-run
Where? Nerede ne're-de
My name is...... ismim...... is-mim
Water su sue
Milk slit suit
Beer bira beer-a
Wine Sarap shar-ap
Tea cay ch-eye
Coffee kahve car-vay
Food yemek ye-meck
Be careful! Dikkat!  

Numbers

English

Turkish

Pronunciation

1

birr

beer

2

icy

icky

3

üç

ouch

4

dört

dirt

5

bes

besh

6

alti

al-ter

7

yedi

yea-dee

8

sekiz

seck-is

9

dokuz

dock-uz

10

on

on

 

Days of the Week

English

Turkish

Monday

Pazartesi

Tuesday

Sali

Wednesday

Carsamba

Thursday

Persembe

Friday

Cuma

Saturday

Cumartesi

Sunday

Pazar