'''Turkish''' (''Turkce'') is the most widely-spoken of the Turkic languages and is the official language of the Republic of Turkey - as well as being the most useful language in Turkish-ruled northern Cyprus. Outside of Turkey itself, knowledge of Turkish is helpful in several neighbouring countries including Azerbaijan. While the Central Asian "stans" speak Turkic languages, the similarities between Kazakh and Turkish (for example) are only very rudimentary.
Turkish is a fairly difficult language to learn and speak, due to its complicated, mathematical vowel-harmonied grammar.
Grammar
Unlike many languages, Turkish forms words by a process known as "agglutination", where prefixes and suffixes are attached to words to mark different parts of speech and so on. Thus, an English phrase such as "I am an Australian" is rendered in Turkish with the one word "Avustralyal?y?m - Avustralya-l?-y-?m".
Pronunciation guide
Turkish pronunciation looks daunting to non-native speakers, as many of the words are very long and look like tongue-twisters. With a bit of practice, however, it becomes much easier.
Vowels
The Turkish vowels are
A - a short sound, as in the English ''car''
E - a short sound, as in the English ''pet''
? - the sound in the English ''meet'' and at the beginning of ''?stanbul'' (ees-tan-bul)
I - a "neutral" sound with no real equivalent in English. The closest sound is the "uh" which replaces the "e" in the second syllable of ''open''
O - as in the English ''order''
O - pronounced as in German, a blend of "o" and "e", with lips rounded
U - short as in the English ''put''
U - pronounced as in German, make a sound like "ee", but round your lips like you are going to say "oo"
Remember that, in lower case, the two letters ''?'' and ''I'' look different as well. The lower case form of ''?'' is ''i'', while the lower case form of ''I'' is ''?''.
Consonants
B - as in ''bed''
C - pronounced as the initial letter in the English ''jump''
C - the "ch" sound in the English ''chapel''
D - as in ''drum''
F - as in ''far''
G - as in ''girl''
? - a silent letter, which serves to ''lengthen'' the previous vowel
H - as in ''hello''
J - pronounced as in the French name ''Jean''
K - as in ''king''
L - as in ''love''
M - as in ''man''
N - as in ''new''
P - as in ''print''
R - a tricky consonant in Turkish, most often rolled very lightly
S - as in ''snake''
? - the "sh" sound in the English ''shake''
T - as in ''take''
V - roughly the mid-point between the "v" in ''very'' and the "w" in ''was''
Y - as in ''yet''
Z - as in ''zoo'
Common diphthongs
Phrase list
; ACIK : Open
; KAPALI : Closed
; G?R?? : Entrance
; CIKI? : Exit
; ?T?N?Z : Push
; CEK?N?Z : Pull
; TUVALET / WC : Toilet
; BAY : Men
; BAYAN : Women
; YASAKTIR : Forbidden}}
Basics
; Hello. : Merhaba. (''mehr hah bah'')
; Hello. (informal) : Selam. (''sell um'')
; How are you? (polite/plural) : Nas?ls?n?z? (''na suhl suhn uhz'')
; How are you? (informal singular) : Nas?ls?n? (''na suhl suhn'')
; What's up / How're you doing? (very informal, contraction of "Ne haber?", literally meaning "What is new?") : Naber? (''na berr'')
; Fine, thank you. : ?yiyim, te?ekkurler. (''ee yee yeem teh shek ur lerr'')
; What is your name? (polite) : Ad?n?z ne? (''ad uhn uhz ne'')
; What is your name? (informal singular) : Ad?n ne? (''ad uhn ne'')
; My name is ______ . : Benim ad?m ______ . ('' Benn im ad uhm _____ .'')
; Nice to meet you. : Memnun oldum. (''mem noon oll doom'')
; Please. : Lutfen. (''Luet fen'')
; Thank you. : Te?ekkur ederim. (''teh shek uer eh der eem'')
; You're welcome. : Bir ?ey de?il. (''Bir shey de yeel'')
; is/are there (any/some) ____?: ____ var m?? (''var muh?'')
; there isn't any: Yok (''yock'') usually said with a upward movement of chin and eyebrows
; Yes. : Evet. (''eh vet'')
; No. : Hay?r. (''Hah yuhr'')
; Excuse me. (''getting attention'') (polite) : Efendim. (''E fen dim'')
; Excuse me. (''begging pardon'') : Afedersiniz. (''af fair dair sin niz'')
; I'm sorry. : Ozur dilerim. (''O zuer di lay reem'')
; I'm sorry. : Pardon. (''Par don'')
; Goodbye (polite singular, used by the person leaving): Ho?ca kal?n. (''Hosh cha kaluhn '')
; Goodbye (informal/plural, used by the person leaving): Ho?ca kal?n. (''Hosh cha kaluhn '')
; Goodbye (used by the person staying) : Gule gule. (''guele guele'')
; I can't speak Turkish [well]. : [?yi] Turkce konu?am?yorum. (''[E yee] Tuerck-che conusha-me-yoo-ruhm'')
; Do you speak English? (polite/plural): ?ngilizce biliyor musunuz? (literally, "Do you know English?")
; Is there someone here who speaks English? : Burada ?ngilizce konu?an birisi var m?? ('' boor-a-duh Eengleez jay kow noo shun bee ree seh wurrm ?'')
; Look out! : Dikkat! (''Dick kaht !'')
; Good morning. : Gunayd?n. (''Guen eye duhn '')
; Good evening. : ?yi ak?amlar. (''E yee Ak sham lar '')
; Good night. : ?yi geceler . (''E yee Ge jay ler '')
; Good night (''to sleep'') : ?yi uykular (''E yee yoo ku lar'')
; Welcome : Ho? geldiniz (''Hosh Gel din iz'')
; Welcome (informal singular): Ho? geldin (''Hosh Gel din'')
; I don't understand. : Anlamad?m (''An la ma duhm'')
; Where is the toilet? : Tuvalet nerede? (''Too va let ner eh de?'')
; Is there any ...? : ... var m?? (''var Muh'')
Problems
; Help! : ?mdat! (''Im Daht !'')
; Help! : Yard?m Edin! (''Yard um ed in'')
; Accident : kaza (''ka za'')
; Doctor : doktor (''dok tor'')
; Leave me alone. : Beni yaln?z b?rak. (''beh nee yahl nuz bu rahk'')
; Don't touch me! : Bana dokunma! (''bah nah doh koon mah'')
; I'll call the police. : Polisi arayaca??m. (''poh lee see ah rah yah jaa uhm'')
; Police! : Polis! (''poh lees'')
; Stop! Thief! : Dur! H?rs?z! (''door huhr suhz'')
; I need your help. : Yard?m?n?za ihtiyac?m var. (''yahr duh muh nuh zah eeh tee yah juhm vahr'')
; It's an emergency. : Acil durum. (''ah jeel doo room'')
; I'm lost. : Kayboldum. (''kahy bohl doom'')
; I lost my bag. : Cantam? kaybettim. (''chahn tah muh kahy beht teem'')
; I lost my wallet. : Cuzdan?m? kaybettim. (''jooz dah nuh muh kahy beht teem'')
; I'm sick. : Hastay?m. (''hahs tah yuhm'')
; I've been injured. : Yaraland?m. (''yah rah lahn duhm'')
; I need a doctor. : Bir doktora ihtiyac?m var. (''beer dohk toh rah eeh tee yah jum vahr'')
; Can I use your phone? : Telefonunuzu kullanabilir miyim? (''teh leh foh noo noo zoo kool lah nah bee leer mee yeem'')
Numbers
; 1 : bir (''bir'')
; 2 : iki (''icki'')
; 3 : uc (''uech'')
; 4 : dort (''dirt'')
; 5 : be? (''besh'')
; 6 : alt? (''altuh'')
; 7 : yedi (''yedi'')
; 8 : sekiz (''sekiz'')
; 9 : dokuz (''dokuz'')
; 10 : on (''on'')
; 11 : on bir (''on bir'')
; 12 : on iki (''on icki'')
; 13 : on uc (''on uech'')
; 14 : on dort (''on doert'')
; 15 : on be? (''on besh'')
; 16 : on alt? (''on altuh'')
; 17 : on yedi (''on yedi'')
; 18 : on sekiz (''on sekiz'')
; 19 : on dokuz (''on dokuz'')
; 20 : yirmi (''yir mi'')
; 21 : yirmi bir(''yir mi bir'')
; 22 : yirmi iki (''yir mi icki'')
; 23 : yirmi uc (''yir mi uech'')
; 30 : otuz (''otuz'')
; 40 : k?rk (''kuhrk'')
; 50 : elli (''elli'')
; 60 : altm?? (''altmuhsh'')
; 70 : yetmi? (''yet mish'')
; 80 : seksen (''seksen'')
; 90 : doksan (''doksan'')
; 100 : yuz (''yuez'')
; 200 : iki yuz (''icky yuez'')
; 300 : uc yuz (''uech yuez'')
; 1000 : bin (''bin'')
; 2000 : iki bin (''icky bin'')
; 1,000,000 : bir milyon (''beer milyon'')
; 1,000,000,000 : bir milyar (''beer milyar'')
; 1,000,000,000,000 : bir trilyon (''beer trilyon'')
; number _____ (''train, bus, etc.'') : _____ numara (''numara'')
; half : yar?m (''yaruhm'')
; less : az (''as'')
; more : cok (''chock'')
Time
; now : ?imdi (''shim di'')
; later : sonra (''...'')
; before : once (''...'')
; morning : sabah (''...'')
; afternoon : o?leden sonra (''...'')
; evening : ak?am (''ak sham'')
; night : gece (''ge jay'')
Clock time
; one o'clock AM : Saat gece 1 (literally "hour is night one")
; two o'clock AM : Saat gece 2
; six o'clock AM : Saat sabah 6 (literally "hour is morning six")
; noon : o?le/o?len
; one o'clock PM : Saat 13/o?leden sonra 1
; two o'clock PM : Saat 14/o?leden sonra 2
; five o'clock PM : Saat 17/ak?am 5 (literally "hour is evening five")
; eight o'clock PM : Saat 20/gece 8 (literally "hour is night eight")
; midnight : gece yar?s?
''Please note that when saying what the clock is, one would normally only use one to twelve, unless having to make sure there's no doubt as to whether it's past or before noon, in which case the twenty-four hour system or affixes such as "morning", "afternoon", "evening", and "night" is used.''
Duration
; _____ minute(s) : _____ dakika
; _____ hour(s) : _____ saat
; _____ day(s) : _____ gun
; _____ week(s) : _____ hafta
; _____ month(s) : _____ ay
; _____ year(s) : _____ y?l
Days (Gunler)
;Sunday : Pazar (''paz ar'')
;Monday : Pazartesi (''paz ar tesi'')
;Tuesday : Sal? (''saluh'')
;Wednesday : Car?amba (''char sham ba'')
;Thursday : Per?embe (''per shem be'')
;Friday : Cuma (''juma'')
;Saturday : Cumartesi (''juma tesi'')
Months
; January : Ocak (''o jak'')
; February : ?ubat (''shu bat'')
; March : Mart (''mart'')
; April : Nisan (''nee sahn'')
; May : May?s (''ma yuhs'')
; June : Haziran (''ha zee ran'')
; July : Temmuz (''taem mooz'')
; August : A?ustos (''aa hoos toss'')
; September : Eylul (''aey luehl'')
; October : Ekim (''ae keem'')
; November : Kas?m (''kah suhm'')
; December : Aralik (''a ra luhk'')
Writing time and date
; What's the time? : Saat kac?
; What date is it today? : Bugunun tarihi nedir?
; It's _____ o'clock. : Saat _____.
''Please note that when saying what the clock is, one would normally only use one to twelve, unless having to make sure there's no doubt as to whether it's past or before noon, in which case the twenty-four hour system or affixes such as "morning", "afternoon", "evening", and "night" is used.''
Colors
;Black : Siyah (''see yuh'')
;White : Beyaz (''bei azh'')
;Yellow : Sar? (''saa r?h'')
;Blue : Mavi (''mao vee'')
;Navy : Lacivert (''la jee vert'')
;Green : Ye?il (''yea sheal'')
;Red : K?rm?z? (''kh?r m?z?'')
;Pink : Pembe (''pam bhe'')
;Orange : Turuncu (''too roon joo'')
;Purple : Mor (''more'')
;Brown : Kahverengi (''kaah ve rengi'')
Transportation
Bus and train
; Which bus? : hangi otobus (''hangee auto boos'')
; How many kilometers? : kac kilometre? (''kach kilo metreh'')
; How much is a ticket to _____? : ____'a bir bilet kac para? (''___ ah beer bee leht kach pah rah'')
; One ticket to _____, please. : ____'a bir bilet lutfen. (''___ ah beer bee leht loot fehn'')
; Where does this train/bus go? : Bu tren/otobus nereye gider? (''boo tee rehn/oh toh boos neh reh yeh gee dehr'')
; Where is the train/bus to _____? : ____'a giden tren/otobus nerede? (''___ ah gee dehn tee rehn/oh toh boos neh reh deh'')
; Does this train/bus stop in _____? : Bu tren/otobus _____'da durur mu? (''boo tee rehn/oh toh boos ___ dah doo roor moo'')
; When does the train/bus for _____ leave? : _____'a giden tren/otobus ne zaman kalkacak? (''___ ah gee dehn tee rehn/oh toh boos neh zaa mahn kaal kah jaak'')
; When will this train/bus arrive in _____? : Bu tren/otobus _____'a ne zaman varacak? (''boo tee rehn/oh toh boo ___ a neh zaa mahn vaa raa jaak'')
Directions
; Where? : (place) nerede? (''nar edeh'')
: (direction) nereye? (''nar eyeh'')
; Left : sol (''sole'')
; Right : sa? (''saa'')
; Straight : duz (''dooz'')
; Here : burada (''bur ah da'')
; Forwards : ?leri
; Backwards : Geri
; Above/over _____: _____n?n uzerinde
; Under(neath) _____: _____n?n alt?nda
; Adjacent to _____ : _____n?n yan?nda
Taxi
; Taxi! : Taksi! (''tuck see'')
; Take me to _____, please. : Beni _____'a goturun, lutfen.
; How much does it cost to get to _____? : _____'a gitmek kac para tutar?
; Take me there, please. : Beni oraya goturun, lutfen.
; I want to get out : inecek var (''ine jek var'')
Lodging
; One person : bir ki?i (''beer kee shee'')
; One night : bir gece (''beer gay jay'')
; Hot water : s?cak su (''see jak suu'')
; Breakfast included : kahvalt? dahil (''kah val tuh da heel'')
; Do you have any rooms available? : Hic bo? odan?z var m?? (''heech bosh au daa naz vaar muh'')
; Do you have any single rooms available? : Tek ki?ilik odan?z var m??
; How much is a room for one person/two people? : Bir/iki ki?ilik odalar kac para?
; How much is a room per person? : Ki?i ba??na ne kadar? (''kee shee bah shuh nah neh kah dahr'')
; Does the room come with _____ : Odada _____ var m??
:; ...bedsheets? : ...yatak car?af?
:; ...a bathroom? : ...banyo/du?
:; ...a telephone? : ...telefon
:; ...a TV? : ...televizyon
; May I see the room first? : Once oday? gorebilir miyim?
; Do you have anything quieter? : Daha ''sessizi'' var m??
:; ...bigger? : ...buyu?u?
:; ...cleaner? : ...temizi?
:; ...cheaper? : ...ucuzu?
; OK, I'll take it. : Tamam, al?yorum.
; I will stay for _____ night(s). : _____ gece kalaca??m.
; Can you suggest another hotel? : Ba?ka bir otel onerebilir misiniz?
; Do you have a safe? : ''Kasan?z'' var m??
:; ...lockers? : ...kilidiniz
; Is breakfast/supper included? : Kahvalt?/ak?am yeme?i dahil mi?
; What time is breakfast/supper? : Kahvalt?/ak?am yeme?i ne zaman?
; Please clean my room. : Lutfen odam? temizleyin.
; Can you wake me at _____? : Beni _____'da uyand?rabilir misiniz?
; I want to check out. : Oday? bo?alt?yorum.
Money
; Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars? : Amerikan/Avustralya/Kanada dolar? kabul ediyor musunuz?
; Do you accept British pounds? : ?ngiliz Sterlini kabul ediyor musunuz?
; Do you accept credit cards? : Kredi kart? gecerli mi?
; Can you change money for me? : Benim icin para bozabilir misiniz?
; Where can I get money changed? : Dovizimi nerede bozdurabilirim?
; What is the exchange rate? : Doviz kuru nedir?
; Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)? : ATM/Bankamatik nerede?
Eating
; Waiter! Excuse me! : bakar m?s?n?z? (''ba kar mis in izz'')
; Menu / price list : Menu / fiyat listesi (''fee yot lis tesi'')
; Bill / check : hesap (''he sap'')
; A table for one person/two people, please. : Bir/?ki ki?ilik masa lutfen.
; Can I look at the menu, please? : Menuye bakabilir miyim?
; Can I look in the kitchen? : Mutfa?a bakabilir miyim?
; I'm a vegetarian. : Ben vejeteryan?m (or ''et yemem'', literally "I don't eat meat").
; I don't eat pork. : Domuz eti yemem.
; I don't eat beef. : S???r eti yemem.
; I only eat kosher food. : Yaln?zca ko?er yemek yerim
; a la carte : a la carte/alakart
; breakfast : kahvalt?
; Lunch : o?le yeme?i (''oh lay yem ayee'')
; supper : ak?am yeme?i
; I want _____. : _____ istiyorum.
; I want a dish containing _____. : _____ iceren bir yemek istiyorum.
; chicken : tavuk (''tah vook'')
; beef : s???r eti (''suh uhr ae tee'')
; fish : bal?k (''bah luhk'')
; ham : jambon (''zham bohn'')
; sausage : sosis (''soh sees'')
; cheese : peynir (''pay neer'')
; eggs : yumurta (''yoo moor tah'')
; salad : salata (''sah lah tah'')
; (fresh) vegetables : (taze) sebze (''(tah zeh) sehb zeh'')
; (fresh) fruit : (taze) meyve (''(tah zeh) may veh'')
; bread : ekmek (''ehk mehk'')
; toast : tost (''tohst'')
; noodles : ?ehriye (or ''noodle'' -pronounced same as English- when used for a Far-Eastern dish)
; rice : pirinc
; beans : fasulye
; May I have a glass of _____? : Bir bardak _____ alabilir miyim?
; May I have a cup of _____? : Bir fincan _____ alabilir miyim?
; May I have a bottle of _____? : Bir ?i?e _____ alabilir miyim?
; coffee : kahve (''kaahh veh'')
; tea (''drink'') : cay (''chaay'')
; juice : meyve suyu (''may veh soo yoo'')
; (bubbly) water : soda (''soh dah'')
; water : su (''soo'')
; beer : bira (''bee rah'')
; red/white wine : k?rm?z?/beyaz ?arap (''kuhr muh zuh/beh yaaz shaa raap'')
; May I have some _____? : Biraz _____ alabilir miyim? (''bee raaz ___ ah lah bee leer mee yeem'')
; salt : tuz (''tooz'')
; black pepper : karabiber (''kah rah bee behr'')
; butter : tereya?? (''teh reh yaa uh'')
; I'm finished. : Bitirdim. (''bee teer deem'')
; It was delicious. : Cok lezizdi. (''chok leh zeez dee'')
; The check, please. : Hesap lutfen. (''heh saap loot fehn'')
Bars
; Do you serve alcohol? : ?cki var m?? (''ickhi wha mhi'')
; Is there table service? : Masaya servis var m??
; A beer/two beers, please. : Bir/iki bira, lutfen (''beer/icky bhira,luet fen'')
; A glass of red/white wine, please. : Bir bardak k?rm?z?/beyaz ?arap, lutfen. (''beer bar duck kh?rmizi/bay iz shar up, luet fen '')
; A pint, please. : Yar?m litre, lutfen. (''ya ream lit rhe, luet fen'')
; A bottle, please. : ?i?e, lutfen. (''shishe, luet fen'')
; whiskey : viski
; vodka : votka
; rum : rom (''rhom'')
; water : su (''sue'')
; club soda : soda (''soda'')
; orange juice : portakal suyu (''pore-tuck-al sue you '')
; Coke : Cola (''cola'')
; One more, please. : Bir tane daha, lutfen. (''beer thane dahha, luet fen'')
; Another round, please. : Birer tane daha, lutfen. (''beer-ar thane dahha, luet fen'')
; When is closing time? : Ne zaman kapat?yorsunuz?
; Cheers! : ?erefe! (''sherafa'')
Shopping
; How much (money)? : kac para? (''koch pa rah'')
; Cheap : ucuz (''oo juuz'')
; Expensive : pahal? (''pahaluh'')
; Do you have this in my size? : Bedenime uyan?ndan var m??
; How much is this? : Bu kac para? (''boo kach pa ra'')
; That's too expensive. : Cok pahal?.
; expensive : pahal?
; cheap : ucuz
; I can't afford it. : Param yetmiyor.
; I don't want it. : ?stemiyorum.
; You're cheating me. : Beni kand?r?yorsun.
; I'm not interested. : ?lgilenmiyorum.
; OK, I'll take it. : Tamam, alaca??m.
; Can I have a bag? : bir torba alabilir miyim?
; Do you ship (overseas)? : (Yurtd???na) nakliyeniz var m??
; I need... : ...a ihtiyac?m var
:; ...toothpaste. : ...di? macunu.
:; ...a toothbrush. : ...di? f?rcas?.
:; ...tampons. : ...tampon.
:; ...sanitary napkins. : ...ka??t mendil.
:; ...soap. : ...sabun.
:; ...shampoo. : ...?ampuan.
:; ...pain reliever. (''e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen'') : ...a?r? kesici.
:; ...cold medicine. : ...so?uk alg?nl??? ilac?.
:; ...stomach medicine. : ...mide ilac?.
:; ...a razor. : ...jilet.
:; ...an umbrella. : ...?emsiye.
:; ...sunblock lotion. : ...gune? kremi.
:; ...a postcard. : ...kartpostal.
:; ...postage stamps. : ...pul.
:; ...batteries. : ...pil.
:; ...writing paper. : ...yazma ka??d?.
:; ...a pen. : ...kalem.
:; ...English-language books. : ...?ngilizce kitaplar.
:; ...English-language magazines. : ...?ngilizce dergiler.
:; ...an English-language newspaper. : ...?ngilizce bir gazete.
:; ...an English-Turkish dictionary. : ...bir ?ngilizce-Turkce sozluk.
Driving
; I want to rent a car. : Araba kiralamak istiyorum.
; Can I get insurance? : Kasko yapt?rabilir miyim?
; stop (''on a street sign'') : dur
; one way : tek yon
; no parking : park etmek yasakt?r
; speed limit : h?z s?n?r?
; gas (''petrol'') station : benzinci/benzin istasyonu
; petrol : benzin
; diesel : dizel/motorin
Authority
; I haven't done anything wrong. : Yanl?? hic bir?ey yapmad?m.
; It was a misunderstanding. : Yanl?? anla??lma oldu.
; Where are you taking me? : Beni nereye goturuyorsunuz?
; Am I under arrest? : Tutuklu muyum?
; I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen. : Ben bir Amerikan/Avustralya/?ngiliz/Kanada vatanda??y?m.
; I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate. : Amerikan/Avustralya/?ngiltere/Kanada buyukelcili?iyle/konsoloslu?uyla konu?mak istiyorum.
; I want to talk to a lawyer. : Bir avukatla konu?mak istiyorum.
; Can I just pay a fine now? : ?imdi yaln?zca bir ceza odesem olur mu?
; I want to speak to your superior : Amirinizle konu?mak istiyorum.
Learning more
[http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Turkish Turkish course at Wikibooks]
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