Vocabulary
Common Turkish Phrases with Pronunciation
The exact phrases for greetings, markets and restaurants — with simple pronunciation so you sound friendly from day one.
A few words of Turkish change everything — prices soften, smiles widen, and you get invited for tea. Here are the phrases that matter most. Combine them with the sounds from our alphabet guide and you are ready.
Greetings and essentials
| Turkish | English | Say it like |
|---|---|---|
| Merhaba | Hello | MER-ha-ba |
| Teşekkür ederim | Thank you | teh-shek-KOOR eh-deh-rim |
| Lütfen | Please | LOOT-fen |
| Evet / Hayır | Yes / No | EH-vet / HA-yuhr |
At the market and restaurant
- Bu ne kadar? — How much is this?
- Hesap, lütfen. — The bill, please.
- Çok lezzetli! — Very delicious!
- Afiyet olsun. — Enjoy your meal.
Ready to start speaking Turkish today?
Book 30-Minute Lesson — $14.90The magic phrases
Some phrases carry the whole culture — Kolay gelsin ("may it come easy") to anyone working, and Elinize sağlık ("health to your hands") to whoever cooked. They make you sound warm and local.
From phrases to conversation
Memorized phrases carry you a distance. To truly speak, you need the grammar underneath and real practice — see how to practise speaking and start with the beginner's plan.
