Istanbul is a city where East meets West, history collides with modernity, and knowing a few Turkish phrases can transform your experience. While many in tourist areas speak English, locals appreciate even clumsy attempts at their language. Here’s your cheat sheet for the essentials.
Basic Greetings & Courtesy
- Merhaba (mehr-hah-bah) – Hello
- Günaydın (gew-nahy-duhn) – Good morning
- Teşekkür ederim (teh-shek-kur eh-deh-reem) – Thank you
- Lütfen (lewth-fen) – Please
- Afedersiniz (ah-feh-dehr-see-neez) – Excuse me
Tip: Add “efendim” (eh-fen-deem) after greetings to sound extra polite. It roughly translates to “my lord/lady” but is commonly used like “sir/madam”.
Getting Around
- Buraya nasıl giderim? (boo-rah-yah nah-suhl gee-deh-reem) – How do I get here?
- Taksim’e ne kadar? (tahk-seem-eh neh kah-dahr) – How much to Taksim? (for taxis)
- Durak nerede? (doo-rahk neh-reh-deh) – Where is the bus stop?
- İstikamet nereye? (ees-tee-kah-met neh-reh-yeh) – Which direction is it?
Food & Drink
Çay
/t͡ʃaj/“Tea”
Turkey’s national drink, served in tulip-shaped glasses. Always accept if offered – it’s a social ritual.
- Bir çay alabilir miyim? (beer chay ah-lah-bee-leer mee-yeem) – Can I have a tea?
- Su, lütfen (soo, lewt-fen) – Water, please
- Hesap, lütfen (heh-sahp, lewt-fen) – The bill, please
- Bu çok lezzetli! (boo chok lez-zet-lee) – This is very tasty!
Shopping & Bargaining
- Ne kadar? (neh kah-dahr) – How much?
- Çok pahalı! (chok pah-hah-luh) – Too expensive!
- İndirim yapabilir misiniz? (een-dee-reem yah-pah-bee-leer mee-see-neez) – Can you give a discount?
- Başka renk var mı? (bahsh-kah renk vahr muh) – Do you have another colour?
Bargaining tip: Start by offering half the initial price and meet somewhere in the middle. Smile – it’s a game, not a battle.
Emergency & Help
- Yardım edin! (yar-duhm eh-deen) – Help!
- Polis! (poh-lees) – Police!
- Kayboldum (kahy-bol-doom) – I’m lost
- İngilizce biliyor musunuz? (een-gee-leez-jeh bee-lee-yor moo-soo-nooz) – Do you speak English?
Bonus: Slang & Local Flavour
Aşk olsun
/aʃk olˈsun/“Literally 'let there be love'”
A versatile phrase expressing anything from playful exasperation to genuine admiration, depending on tone.
- Maşallah (mah-shah-lah) – Said to compliment something (e.g., a child, food) without ‘jinxing’ it
- Geçmiş olsun (gech-meesh ol-sun) – Said when someone is ill, like ‘get well soon’
- Olmaz (ol-maz) – A firm ‘no way’ or ‘impossible’
For more on blending into daily Turkish life, see our guide on creative immersion techniques.
