While serious learners should study this collection of the 300 most common words, my goal for this lesson is to make a tighter list of the most useful Turkish phrases for tourists. If you are taking a trip to Turkey and a larger list of more general words and phrases seems overwhelming, this travel vocabulary list is for you! I have been to Turkey five times and spent many months there, and I used this experience to narrow down this lesson to the most basic and common Turkish words that travelers will find most useful. Many Turks do not know English, so learning these will definitely help you get around! Lastly, besides memorizing these, you may also find it useful to skim our Turkish Basics 101 lesson or check out these useful learning tips.
Traveling to Turkey 101
If you’re traveling to Turkey from the United States, you can refer to the U.S. Department of State’s Travel Advisories for the most up-to-date information regarding safety, travel advisories, etc. However, since I’ve been there five times over the years, I wanted to give a more personal introduction to what you can expect when traveling to Turkey.
Firstly, you will likely fly in and out of Istanbul, one of the most fascinating cities I’ve ever visited! Istanbul captures a key aspect of Turkey’s rich culture by sitting at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, hence uniquely blending Eastern and Western influences. So, if you are not flying into Istanbul, I highly suggest you devote a few days to experiencing it! Besides the beautiful views of water and skyline, the city is filled with epic historic landmarks like the Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya), the Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmet Camii), Topkapi Palace (Topkapı Sarayı), the Grand Bazaar (Kapalıçarşı), and so many others!
And, besides these attractions, you can feel the intense energy and history of the city by just wandering the diverse neighborhoods. Whether you are riding a ferry across the Bosporus and watching the seagulls or petting a sleepy cat on the street, the feel of Istanbul is unmistakable. Outside of Istanbul tourism, you can spend a day in the lunar-like terrain of Cappadocia or enjoy the beaches along the Mediterranean coast. I have particularly enjoyed our time in Bodrum, Antalya, and Kaş.
Lastly, on the cultural front, Turks are known for their generous and warm hospitality (misafirperverlik). The word they also use for this type of warm friendliness is sıcakkanlı, which literally means with warm blood. So, do not be afraid to strike up a conversation and use some of the tourist phrases below. Even with beginner Turkish and lots of mistakes, they will feel honored and love that you’re attempting to speak their language!
Basic Turkish Words For Tourists To Know
I’ll start with the most useful Turkish words for general situations, followed by some more specific vocabulary based on categories like hotels, transportation, at the beach, at the restaurant, etc. Let’s dive in!
| Audio Pronunciation | Turkish | English |
|---|---|---|
| konsolosluk | embassy | |
| tatil | vacation | |
| ülke | country | |
| nerelisin? | Where are you from? (nerelisiniz = formal) | |
| yabancı | foreigner | |
| park | park | |
| müze | museum | |
| turist | tourist | |
| para | money | |
| Ne kadar? | How much? | |
| nakit | cash | |
| kredi kartı | credit card | |
| ucuz | cheap | |
| pahalı | expensive | |
| çok | a lot/very | |
| biraz | a little | |
| büyük | big | |
| küçük | small | |
| iyi | good | |
| kötü | bad | |
| evet | yes | |
| hayır | no | |
| tamam | okay | |
| lütfen | please | |
| teşekkür ederim | thank you | |
| hamam | Turkish bath | |
| kilise | church | |
| cami | mosque | |
| saray | palace | |
| giriş | entrance | |
| çıkış | exit | |
| düz | straight | |
| sol | left | |
| sağ | right | |
| aşağı | down | |
| yukarı | up | |
| burada | here | |
| orada | there | |
| nerede? | where? | |
| uzak | far | |
| yakın | close | |
| Ne zaman? | When? | |
| açık | open | |
| kapalı | closed | |
| lavabo | bathroom/washing room | |
| tuvalet | toilet | |
| doktor | doctor | |
| hasta | sick | |
| hastane | hospital | |
| ilaç | medicine | |
| polis | police | |
| imdat! | help! |
Polite Greetings
Note: Like many languages, Turkish has formal and informal second-person conjugations which also align with the singular and plural respectively. When in doubt, use the formal Siz pronoun and its corresponding suffix. Read more about these subtleties here.
| Audio Pronunciation | Turkish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Merhaba | Hello | |
| Affedersiniz | Excuse me / Sorry | |
| Ne haber? | What’s up? | |
| Nasıl gidiyor? | How’s it going? | |
| Nasılsın? | How are you? | |
| Teşekkürler (pronounced tesh – eh – koor – ler) | Thanks | |
| Senin adın ne? (informal/singular) or Sizin adınız ne? (formal/plural) | What is your name? | |
| Benim adım _ | My name is _ | |
| Nerelisin? (informal/singular) or Nerelisiniz? (formal/plural) | Where are you from? | |
| Memnun oldum. | Nice to meet you. | |
| Günaydın | Good morning | |
| İyi günler! | Have a nice day! | |
| iyi akşamlar | good evening | |
| Hoşça kal (informal/singular) or Hoşça kalın (formal/plural) | Stay well. |
At The Hotel, Swimming, and Beach
| Audio Pronunciation | Turkish | English |
|---|---|---|
| otel | hotel | |
| resepsiyon | reception | |
| rezervasyon | reservation | |
| oda | room | |
| oda numarası | room number | |
| kat | floor | |
| tek kişilik oda | single room | |
| çift kişilik oda | double room | |
| asansör | elevator | |
| havuz | swimming pool | |
| deniz | sea | |
| plaj | beach | |
| havlu | towel | |
| duş | shower | |
| klima | air conditioning | |
| tuvalet kağıdı | toilet paper | |
| sabun | soap | |
| şampuan | shampoo | |
| balkon | balcony | |
| manzara | view | |
| her şey dahil | all inclusive | |
| tam pansiyon | full board | |
| yarım pansiyon | half board |
Transportation Vocabulary
| Audio Pronunciation | Turkish | English |
|---|---|---|
| araba | car | |
| otobüs | bus | |
| taksi | taxi | |
| trafik | taffic | |
| tren | train | |
| metro | subway | |
| otopark | parking lot | |
| sokak | street | |
| havalimanı | airport | |
| uçak | plane | |
| bilet | ticket | |
| istasyon | station (tren istasyonu = train station) | |
| giriş | entrance | |
| çıkış | exit | |
bagaj | luggage | |
| adres | address |
Common Food and Drink Words
Without a doubt, the most useful Turkish phrases for tourists will be in this section since eating out at restaurants will happen frequently on your trip.
| Audio Pronunciation | Turkish | English |
|---|---|---|
| restoran | restaurant | |
| masa | table | |
| su | water | |
| çay | tea | |
| kahve | coffee | |
| yemek | food | |
| meze | starter | |
| ana yemek | main course | |
| salata | salad | |
| kahvaltı | breakfast | |
| yumurta | egg | |
| tabak | plate | |
| kaşık | spoon | |
| çatal | fork | |
| bıçak | knife | |
| süt | milk | |
| yoğurt | yogurt | |
| ayran | a cold yogurt drink | |
| ekmek | bread | |
| menü | menu | |
| şarap | wine | |
| bira | beer | |
| şişe | bottle | |
| tavuk | chicken | |
| balık | fish | |
| kuzu | lamb | |
| meyve | fruit | |
| sebze | vegetable | |
| şeker | sugar | |
| tatlı | sweet | |
| sade | plain (usually as in no sugar) | |
| tuz | salt | |
| çorba | soup | |
| sos | sauce | |
| dondurma | ice cream | |
| hesap | bill/check |
Our Other Turkish Vocabulary Lessons
I wanted to keep this post focused more tightly on the most useful Turkish words and phrases directly related to traveling and tourism. However, if there are any ambitious readers out there who want a more extensive vocabulary, consider visiting some of the lessons below:
- Learn 300+ Most Common Turkish Words You Have To Know
- Intro To Turkish Basics Plus 60 Must-Know Basic Phrases
- Calendar Vocabulary: Years, Months, and Days in Turkish
- The Best Way To Learn Turkish Fast in 14 Steps (Plus Other Useful Tips)
Learning even a few of the words you just read about will impress the Turks you talk to while traveling. However, anyone interested in having more legitimate conversations will have to do the nitty gritty work of properly learning the alphabet along with a basic overview of Turkish grammar.
The Turkish Words For Popular Tourist Destinations
| Audio Pronunciation | Turkish | English | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ayasofya | Hagia Sophia | A magnificent former Byzantine cathedral and Ottoman mosque, now a museum and one of Istanbul’s most iconic landmarks. | |
| Topkapı Sarayı | Topkapi Palace | The palace of the Ottoman sultans, showcasing imperial treasures and stunning architecture. | |
| Kapalıçarşı | Grand Bazaar | One of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, offering a vast array of goods from spices to jewelry. | |
| Sultanahmet Camii | Blue Mosque | A historic mosque known for its beautiful blue Iznik tiles and six towering minarets. | |
| Galata Kulesi | Galata Tower | A medieval stone tower providing panoramic views of Istanbul’s skyline and the Bosphorus. | |
| Yerebatan Sarnıcı | Basilica Cistern | An ancient underground water reservoir with impressive Roman architecture and mysterious ambiance. | |
| Dolmabahçe Sarayı | Dolmabahce Palace | A lavish palace along the Bosphorus, reflecting the grandeur of the Ottoman Empire. | |
| Kapadokya | Cappadocia | A unique region famous for its otherworldly landscape of fairy chimneys, ancient cave dwellings, and hot air balloon rides. | |
| Patara Plajı ve Harabeleri | Patara Beach and Ruins | I took the picture above during sunset at Patara…need I say more!? | |
| Aspendos Tiyatrosu | Aspendos Theater | This is one of the best-preserved Roman theaters, still used for performances due to its excellent acoustics. |
Longer Turkish Phrases For Tourists
While memorizing a bunch of individual vocabulary words can still be helpful, this section includes the most useful Turkish phrases that tourists can use to speak complete sentences. Feel free to memorize these if you don’t have time to study any grammar. If you get lost in a conversation, you can always say something like Sadece biraz Türkçe biliyorum (I only know a little Turkish) and retreat to speaking the individual words of what you need or where you need to go.
| Audio Pronunciation | Turkish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Anlamadım. | I did not understand. | |
| Pardon. Anlamadım. Tekrar eder misiniz? | Sorry. I didn’t understand. Can you repeat it? | |
| Yardım edebilir misiniz? | Can you help me? | |
| İngilizce biliyor musunuz? | Do you know English? | |
| Türkçem iyi değil. | My Turkish is not good. | |
| Biraz Türkçe biliyorum. | I know a little Turkish. | |
| Pardon. Türkçem çok iyi değil. Daha yavaş konuşabilir misiniz? | Excuse me, my Turkish is not very good. Can you speak slower? | |
| Türkçe bilmiyorum. | I don’t know Turkish. | |
| Bunu istiyorum lütfen. | I want this please. | |
| Hesabı alabilir miyiz? | Can we have the bill? | |
| Havaalanına gitmek istiyorum. | I want to go to the airport. | |
| Beni bu adrese götürebilir misiniz? | Can you take me to this address? | |
| Rezervasyonum var. | I have a reservation. | |
| Menüyü alabilir miyim? | Can I have the menu? | |
| Bir bira alabilir miyim? | Can I have a beer? | |
| İki tane istiyorum, lütfen. | I want two, please. | |
| Metro nerede? | Where is the metro? |
Final Thoughts
I hope this list of travel vocabulary proves useful to you! In my experience, Turks love any attempt foreigners make to speak their language. So, don’t be afraid to take some risks and attempt conversation. Even if you just memorize the most common words and phrases for being polite, it will go a long way toward making your trip to Turkey much better!
Lastly, I would love to hear about your plan for traveling to Turkey and your thoughts on the Turkish tourist words that I chose! So feel free to leave a comment below or reach out to: [email protected]
FAQs
What is the phrase Turkish people say before eating?
When traveling in Turkey, you will commonly hear people say “Afiyet olsun” before and after a meal. The literal translation is “may it become health,” however, a better translation to English would be “enjoy your meal” or “bon appétit”. You can respond with a thank you (teşekkürler) or the phrase “elinize saglik,” which literally means “health to your hands.”
What Turkish phrase can you say after someone sneezes?
A polite Turkish response to someone sneezing is çok yaşa, which literally means live long. If you sneeze and someone says this to you, you can respond with size de (same to you) or hep beraber (all together.)
How can you show respect when speaking Turkish?
While there are plenty of context-specific phrases for showing respect in Turkish, the best way to speak politely is to use the formal tense. When speaking to strangers, especially people older than you, use the siz pronouns and conjugations.
