Turkish bazaars are chaotic, colourful, and full of opportunities to practise your language skills. Whether you're bargaining for a kilim in Istanbul's Grand Bazaar or picking up spices in Izmir, these phrases will help you shop confidently.
Greetings and basic interactions
- Merhaba – Hello
- Günaydın – Good morning
- Nasılsınız? – How are you? (formal)
- Teşekkür ederim – Thank you
Shopping essentials
Ne kadar?
/ne kaˈdaɾ/“How much?”
- Bu nedir? – What is this?
- Şunu görebilir miyim? – Can I see that?
- Başka renk var mı? – Do you have other colours?
- Numaranız var mı? – Do you have my size?
The art of haggling
Haggling is expected in Turkish bazaars, except in fixed-price shops. Start by offering about 60% of the asking price and meet somewhere in the middle.
- Çok pahalı! – Too expensive!
- Biraz indirim yapabilir misiniz? – Can you give a little discount?
- ... lira veririm – I'll give ... lira (fill in your price)
- Son fiyat nedir? – What's your final price?
Pazarlık
/pazaɾˈɫɯk/“Bargaining”
Closing the deal
- Tamam, alıyorum – OK, I'll take it
- Hediye paketi yapabilir misiniz? – Can you gift wrap it?
- Kredi kartı geçerli mi? – Do you take credit cards?
- Fiş alabilir miyim? – Can I have a receipt?
For more essential Turkish phrases, see our guide to travelling in Istanbul.
Numbers you'll need
| Number | Turkish | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | bir | beer |
| 5 | beş | besh |
| 10 | on | on |
| 20 | yirmi | yir-mee |
| 50 | elli | el-lee |
| 100 | yüz | yewz |
When things go wrong
- İade etmek istiyorum – I want to return this
- Bu bozuk – This is broken
- Yanlış para üstü aldım – I got the wrong change
Most bazaar vendors are honest, but it's good to know these phrases just in case. For emergency phrases in other languages, check out our guide to Croatian emergency situations.
Cultural tips
- Accept tea (çay) if offered – it's part of the shopping ritual
- Don't touch items unless invited to – some vendors consider this bad luck
- Friday afternoons are busy – markets often close for Friday prayers
- Cash is king – many small vendors don't accept cards
With these phrases in your arsenal, you're ready to tackle Turkish bazaars with confidence. Remember – a smile and attempt at Turkish will get you further than perfect English.
