Are you dreaming of an unforgettable holiday in Turkey, but are unsure how to find your way around the language? No worries! With our short language course “Turkish for Beginners” you will be well prepared for your next holiday in Turkey. The Turkish language is not only fascinating but also accessible for beginners.
In this language course we will introduce you to the basics of the Turkish language so that you can communicate confidently and confidently during your stay in Turkey. From simple greetings to useful phrases to basic everyday phrases, we will teach you everything you need to find your way in different situations.
Whether you want to visit the famous sights, order from local restaurants, or chat with locals, a few basic knowledge of Turkish will help you develop an even deeper connection to the country and its people.
So, be ready to be enchanted by the beauty of Turkish culture and hospitality while improving your language skills. Let's get started with our little language course for your next holiday in Turkey!
The most important vocabulary for a trip to Turkey
With a lot of courage and perseverance, you will eventually master some Turkish words and expressions during your trip to Turkey. This is not easy because the pronunciation is very different from the Latin alphabet.
Turkish as the official language
The Turkish alphabet consists of 29 letters, and some of its letters do not appear in our classical alphabet. Even if you study it diligently, despite the small vocabulary, you will find that pronunciation is a major obstacle. However, if you persist and learn, you will be able to pronounce a few words correctly. Around 100 million people speak Turkish and its variants.
Pronunciation tips
Correct pronunciation will be the main communication problem for your trip to Turkey. First rule: You must always be able to roll an “r”. That's the easiest thing, now comes the hard part. In alphabetical order: “c” is pronounced “jungle” and “ç” becomes “Czech”. “e” must be pronounced “feel (as an open e)”. For a "g" you say "g" and "ğ" lengthens the vowel that follows it. “ı” without a period is pronounced like “come (as a very muffled and short i)”. “ö” is pronounced like “ö” in German. The “ş” is pronounced like “school, bush”. “u” is pronounced “(as an open u)” and “ü” is pronounced like “ü” in German.
Basic idioms
| German | türkisch |
| Good day good evening | Merhaba / Iyi günler / Iyi akşamlar |
| Wie geht es Ihnen? | How are you? |
| Good thanks and you? | Iyiyim, teşekkurler, ya siz? |
| I understand / I don't understand | Anlıyorum / anlamadım |
| Entschuldigung | Affidersiniz |
| Auf Wiedersehen | Goodbye |
| Good day, Servus | Merhaba!, İyi Günler! |
| Thank you very much | Thank you so much |
| Excuse me please | Afedersiniz air / Bakar mısınız |
| My name is… | Benim adım… |
| No thank you | Hayır teşekkurler |
| Yes No | Evet / Hayır |
| Bitte sehr | Buyurun / Rica ederim / Buyurun |
Trade / Buy
| German | türkisch |
| How much does it cost? | How much? |
| That is a good price | Bu iyi bir fiyat / Ucuz |
| It is too expensive | Bu çok pahalı |
| Can you lower the price? | Fiyatı düşürebilir misin? |
| I would like to buy this | Bunu almak istiyorum |
| I like it / I don't like it | Beğendin / beğenmiyorum |
| Money | For |
| Just browsing | Sadece bakıyorum |
Mode of Transport
| German | türkisch |
| I want to go to... | … gitmek istiyorum |
| Airplane | Airplanes |
| Boat | Vapor / Tekne |
| Zug | Train |
| Taxi | Taksi |
| Bus/minibus | Otobus / Dolmuş |
| I want to rent a... | Bir… kiralamak istiyorum |
| Motorrad | Motorcycle |
| Cars | Araba / Otomobile |
| Bicycle | Bicycle |
Directions
| German | türkisch |
| Where is...?/ How do I get to/to...? | Nerede? / Nasıl … gidiyorum? |
| Banks | Bank |
| train station / bus stop | Station |
| city center | Town center |
| Hotel | Hotel |
| Hospital | Hospital |
| Ist es weit? | Is it far? |
| geradeaus | Yönü değiştirmeden / Dik / Düz |
| Left right | Sol / Sag |
| North South West East | Kuzey / Güney / Batı / Doğu |
numbers
| German | türkisch |
| one two three four five six seven eight nine ten | bir, iki, üç, dört, beş, altı, yedi, sekiz, dokuz, on |
| twenty, thirty, forty, fifty, sixty, seventy, eighty, ninety | yirmi, otuz, kırk, elli, altmış, yetmış, seksen, doksan |
| Hundred | face |
| thousand | bin |
Time / Date / Days
| German | türkisch |
| Wieviel Uhr ist es? | What time is it? |
| When? | When? |
| Yesterday | Yesterday |
| Today (morning / noon / evening) | Bugün (sabah / öğleyin / akşam) |
| Tomorrow | Tomorrow |
| Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday | pazartesi, salı, çarşamba, perşembe, cuma, cumartesi, pazar |
| I'm here on vacation | Ben burada tatil yapıyorum |
| I'm here to work | Çalışmak için buradayım |
To table
| German | türkisch |
| I'm hungry / I'm thirsty | Ben açım / susadım |
| Good Appetite | Bon Appetit |
| Cheers | Cheers |
| It was excellent | Mukemmeldi |
| What do you recommend? | Ne tavsiye edersiniz? |
| I'm vegetarian | Ben vejetaryenim |
| Not sharp | Painless |
| It is too hot! | Çok sıcak! |
| I have an allergy | Ben bir alerjim var |
| Seafood | sea products |
| peanuts | peanut |
| gluten | gluten |
| I take / I would like | Aliyorum / istiyorum |
| Water | Su |
| tea / coffee | çay/kahve |
| Beer / wine | Bira / şarap |
| The Bill please | Hesap air |
Health/Emergency/Security
| German | türkisch |
| I have to see a doctor | Bir doctor gitmek zorundayım |
| Call a doctor/ambulance | Bir doctor / ambulances arayın |
| Where is the hospital? | Hastane nerede? |
| I do not feel good | kendimi iyi hissetmiyorum / hastayım |
| I am in pain here | Burada acı cekiyorum |
| Where are the restrooms? | Tuvaletians nerede? |
| Assistance | Imdate |
| Police | -Polis |
| Danger | Danger |
| I've lost my way | Yolumu kaybettim |
Conclusion
Overall, learning the Turkish language can be challenging, but it's definitely worth pursuing, especially if you're visiting Turkey. Correct pronunciation is crucial to successful communication, and practicing the specific sounds of the Turkish alphabet is an important step. Despite the differences with the Latin alphabet, courage and perseverance can help you master some basic words and expressions, which can greatly improve your travel experience. It is also important to recognize that speaking the local language shows an appreciation and respect for the culture and people. Even if you just learn a few words, you can put a smile on locals' faces and create a deeper connection with your destination. So be brave, practice hard and enjoy the joy that comes with learning a new language!
