Basic Turkish Phrases
Learning a few Turkish words goes a long way and locals truly appreciate the effort. Turkish pronunciation is phonetic — words are pronounced as written. Here are the essential phrases every traveler should know.
Greetings and Basics
Merhaba (hello), günaydın (good morning), iyi akşamlar (good evening), teşekkür ederim / teşekkürler (thank you), lütfen (please), evet (yes), hayır (no), affedersiniz (excuse me), İngilizce biliyor musunuz? (Do you speak English?).
Useful Travel Phrases
Ne kadar? (How much?), çok pahalı (too expensive), hesap lütfen (check please), yardım edin (help), nerede? (where?), tuvaleti nerede? (where is the toilet?), su (water), çay (tea), bir/iki/üç (one/two/three).
Do Turkish people speak English?
In tourist areas, many people speak basic to good English. In Istanbul, Cappadocia, and coastal resorts, English is widely understood. In rural areas and local neighborhoods, less English is spoken. A translation app is helpful.