Turkish Crash Course 101

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English is taught even in kindergartens now in our country, however, there are not a lot of people who can speak English. In fact, we encounter many flaws in the education of our own language, let alone foreign language education. Turkish language that we describe as Istanbul Turkish found its most beautiful form with artists like Zeki Müren, but is now a faraway dream. Nevertheless, in spite of being a tourist country, we cannot speak English very well, but we have translated the life-saving Turkish terms which can help tourists traveling our country.

Question Forms  

Tourists who visit our country should be aware of the question forms. In Turkish language, which is very difficult in terms of the pronunciation, the question forms that we will list nearly save lives:

  • Bana yol tarif edebilir misiniz? (Could you please give me directions?)
  • …….. oteline nasıl giderim? (How do I go to hotel …..?)
  • Bu kentte nereyi gezebilirim? (Where can I visit in this city?)
  • Havaalanına gitmek istiyorum (I want to go to the airport)
  • Otogara gitmek istiyorum (I want to go to the bus station)

General Question Forms and Expressions

General question forms and expressions that can be used by tourists are listed below:

  • Bana yardım eder misiniz? (Can you help me?)
  • İngilizce konuşuyor musunuz? (Do you speak English?)
  • Sizi anlamıyorum! (I cannot understand you!)
  • Nasılsınız? (How are you?)
  • Teşekkür ederim (Thank you)
  • Beni yalnız bırakın lütfen! (Leave me alone please!)
  • Her şey yolunda (Everything is OK)
  • Sorun değil (No problem)

Greeting Forms

The forms that can be used for greeting, leaving and communicating in our country are listed below:

  • Merhaba (Hi/Hello)
  • Selam ( Hi/Hello)
  • Günaydın (Good morning)
  • İyi akşamlar (Good evening)
  • Güle güle (Bye bye)

Turkish Forms that You can Use for Complaint

The tourism sector is one of the platforms where returns are most common. Tourists visiting our country may also have complaints about some issues. The following complaint forms will be used when you want to complain:

  • Benim bir şikayetim var! (I have a complaint)
  • Şikayette bulunmak istiyorum. (I want to make a complaint)
  • Bu yerin sorumlusu kim? (Who is the responsible for this place?)
  • Paramı geri verin! (Give me my money back)
  • Bu çok pahalı! (This is too expensive)
  • Çok uzun zamandır burada bekliyorum! (I am waiting here for a long time)
  • Bana yardımcı olabilecek birisi var mı? (Is there anybody to assist me? )
  • Neden yardım etmiyorsunuz? (Why do not you help me?)
  • Anlaşmamız böyle değildi! (That was not our agreement)

Turkish Forms for Health and Emergency

When you travel to a different geography, health problems are sometimes unavoidable. We include hereby the forms that can be used in health and emergency situations:

  • Kendimi iyi hissetmiyorum (I don’t feel well)
  • Hastayım (I am sick)
  • Hastaneye gitmek istiyorum (I want to go to hospital) 
  • Bana yardım edin! (Help me)
  • Ambulans çağırın! (Call ambulance)
  • Bir doktor bulun! (Find a doctor)
  • Ateşim var (I have fever)
  • Soğuk algınlığım var ( I am cold)
  • Başım dönüyor (I feel dizzy)
  • Midem bulanıyor (I feel woozy)
  • Aşırı derecede yorgunum (I am extremely tired)
  • Başım ağrıyor (I have a headache)
  • Vücudum kızardı (My body is getting blush)

Turkish Forms that can be Used during Dinner at the restaurant

We are listed below the forms that you may need both in ordering meal and making a payment.

  • Menüyü alabilir miyim? ( Can I have the menu?)
  • Bana ne tavsiye edersiniz? (What do you recommend?)
  • Yemek siparişi vermek istiyorum (I want to order a meal)
  • Ben etimi az pişmiş istiyorum (I want my meat half-baked)
  • Tatlı siparişi vermek istiyorum (I want to order dessert)
  • İçecek almak istiyorum (I want to buy drink)
  • Ödeme yapmak istiyorum (I want to pay)

In addition to this if you have any complaint about the meal you may use the following forms: 

  • Ben bunu sipariş vermemiştim! (I have not ordered this)
  • Bu yemek çok pişmiş (This is overcooked)
  • Bu yemek az pişmiş (This is undercooked)
  • Yemek soğuk (This is cold)
  • İçecek soğuk değil (This drink is not cold enough)
  • Siparişim hala gelmedi  (I have not received my order yet)
  • Siparişimi eksik getirdiniz (You are missing my order)
  • Bu masa temiz değil! (This table is not clean)

Turkish Forms for Accommodation

The forms that you can use during reservation or before accommodation are very important. Further, in some problems you may use the following complaint forms:  

  • Boş odanız var mı? (Do you have a vacancy?)
  • Oda ayırmak istiyorum (I would like to reserve a room)
  • Çift kişilik oda ayırmak istiyorum (I would like to reserve a double room)
  • Tek kişilik oda istiyorum (I would like to reserve a single room )
  • Balkonlu oda istiyorum ( I want a room with a balcony)
  • Deniz manzaralı oda istiyorum (I want a sea view room)
  • Odama ekstra yatak istiyorum (I want an extra bed in my room)
  • Odalarınızı görebilir miyim? (May I see your rooms?)
  • Fiyata kahvaltı dahil mi? (Does the price include breakfast?)
  • Evcil hayvan getirebilir miyim? (Can I bring my pet?)
  • Kahvaltı ne zaman? (When is breakfast?)
  • İnternet var mı? (Is there any internet?)
  • Odamı temizleyebilir misiniz? (Can you clean my room?)
  • Temiz çarşaf istiyorum (I want clean sheets)
  • Havalandırmanız çalışmıyor! (The ventilation does not work)
  • Isıtmanız çalışmıyor! (The heating does not work)
  • Odam çok gürültülü! ( My room is very noisy)
  • Sıcak su yok! ( There is no hot water)

Turkish Forms that can be Used for Shopping

We make a special list for the forms that can be used during shopping among the forms that tourists will need the most.

  • Aradığımı nereden bulabilirim? (Where can I find what I am looking for?)
  • Bu ürün ne kadar? (How much is this product?)
  • Daha ucuzu var mı? (Do you have a less expensive one?)
  • Kredi kartı kullanabilir miyim? (Can I use a credit card?)
  • Bu ürünü geri vermek istiyorum (I want to return this product)
  • Bu ürünü deneyebilir miyim? (Can I try this product?)
  • Bu çok pahalı! (This is too expensive)
  • Başka yerde daha ucuzdu! (It was cheaper elsewhere)

Turkish Forms that can be Used for Travel

  • Kayboldum! (I am lost)
  • Otelime geri dönmek istiyorum (I want to return to my hotel)
  • Yakınlarda benzin istasyonu var mı? (Is there any gas station nearby?)
  • Nerede alışveriş yapabilirim? (Where can I do shopping?)
  • Otobüs durağı nerede? (Where is the bus station?)
  • En yakın ATM nerede? (Where is the nearest ATM?)
  • Polis merkezini gösterir misiniz? (Can you show the Police Station?)
  • Taksi için telefon numarası var mı?  (Is there any phone number for a taxi?)