Love is one of the most profound feelings one can experience, and one of the best. They say that it even has its own language. We can certainly imply our love for someone through a glance or a gesture, but it’s best expressed with words. Because we cannot read each other’s minds, verbalizing our feelings and acknowledging those whom we value is essential for a solid relationship. In addition, it’s always best to use sincere words and phrases rather than fancy, exaggerated ones. 

If a Turk has caught your eye or stolen your heart, you might be wondering: 

How do I say “I love you,” in Turkish? 

After reading this article, you’ll be more than prepared to express your love in Turkish at every stage of your relationship. 

Let’s start with the Turkish word for love:

• “Love” – Aşk / Sevgi

Now, let’s proceed with our guide to Turkish love phrases and other sweet, romantic words.

Table of Contents

1. Showing your interest
2. Are you in a relationship now?
3. Your special moment and beyond…
4. Turkish terms of endearment
5. Popular love quotes in Turkish
6. Discover more about the Turkish language with TurkishClass101

1. Showing your interest 

Let’s say you’ve just met someone you really like. You want to get to know them and maybe even have a date. How can you show the lucky guy or girl what you think about them? 

It’s difficult to find the right words to say to someone you don’t know, especially if you’re speaking in another language. To help you express yourself correctly and leave a good impression, we’ve compiled plenty of useful examples in Turkish for you below. Good luck!

First impression

A- Compliments

One of the best ways to show your interest during a first meeting is to offer him or her a compliment. Most people enjoy being complimented, as long as the words are sincere. Of course, you must also mind your tone and gestures!

Let’s start with the different ways you can say “compliment” in Turkish:

• “Compliment” – İltifat / Övgü / Kompliman

Below are some Turkish compliments you can use to show admiration for the physical appearance of someone you like. Please note that the informal “you” is used in the sample sentences all throughout the article.

Turkish	English
Çok güzelsin.	You are very beautiful.
Çok yakışıklısın.	You are very handsome.
Çok güzel gözlerin var.	You have beautiful eyes.
Gülüşün ne kadar güzel.	Your smile is beautiful.
Saçların çok güzel.	Your hair is very beautiful.

If you would like to learn even more compliments for different circumstances, you can refer to my article Learn the Top Turkish Compliments for Any Situation on TurkishClass101.com. 

B- Trying to get a date?

So, you’ve managed to get their attention and now it’s time to get a date. You need to use the right phrases to be successful at landing your first—or second, or third—meeting with this person. Here are some phrases you can use to ask him or her out:

Turkish	English
Seni tekrar görmek isterim.	I’d like to see you again.
Seni tekrar görebilir miyim?	Can I see you again?
Hafta sonu ne yapıyorsun?	What are you doing on the weekend?
Yarın akşam yemeğe çıkabilir miyiz?	Can we go out to dinner tomorrow night?
Telefon numaranı alabilir miyim?	Can I have your phone number?

Giving your phone number to him/her

2. Are you in a relationship now?

Once you’ve taken things a step further by making your relationship official, you can start using different Turkish love phrases to let your partner know your true feelings for him/her.

A- You like him/her!

As your relationship grows and you spend more time with the person, your feelings are likely to grow stronger. Here are a few different phrases you can use to express these deepening feelings to your partner: 

Turkish	English
Seni çok beğeniyorum.	I like you very much.
Seni özlüyorum.	I miss you.
Hep seni düşünüyorum.	I’m always thinking about you.
Seni düşünmeden duramıyorum.	I can’t stop thinking about you.

B- You have fallen in love!

There’s no hiding it: You’re in love and up in the clouds! 

You want to tell your beloved how you feel about him/her at every opportunity. Below are some sweet love expressions in Turkish you can use to share your feelings. 

Turkish	English
Seni seviyorum!	I love you!
Seni bütün kalbimle seviyorum.	I love you with all my heart.
Sana aşık oldum.	I’ve fallen in love with you.
Sana deli oluyorum.	I’m crazy about you.
Sen benim hayatımın anlamısın.	You are the meaning of my life.

I love you!

3. Your special moment and beyond…

Here comes that exciting moment and (hopefully) once-in-a-lifetime event: proposing marriage! 

First, let me tell you what “marriage proposal” is in Turkish:

• “Marriage proposal” – Evlenme teklifi / Evlilik teklifi

So, how can you propose in Turkish? What else can you say at this stage of your relationship, and afterwards? Below are a few different phrases you should consider. I wish you good luck and happiness!

Turkish	English
Benimle evlenir misin?	Will you marry me?
İyi günde kötü günde, hastalıkta sağlıkta benimle olur musun?	Would you be with me in good times and in bad times, in sickness and in health?
Seninle yaşlanmak istiyorum.	I want to age with you.
Hemen nişanlanalım.	Let’s get engaged immediately.
Senden çocuklarım olsun istiyorum.	I’d like to have kids with you.

Marriage proposal

4. Turkish terms of endearment

Terms of endearment please us greatly, and we use these terms for not only our significant other but also our friends and family. Here are some frequently used Turkish love words to give you some inspiration:

Turkish	English
Aşkım	My love
Sevgilim	My darling
Hayatım	My life
Canım	My sweetheart
Tatlım	My sweetie
Bebeğim	My baby
Bitanem	My only one
Meleğim	My angel
Ruh eşim / ikizim	My soulmate

Love is everywhere

5. Popular love quotes in Turkish

Over the centuries, a lot has been said about love. There are many books, poems, stories, articles, and myths on the topic…not to mention a good number of quotes. Some of these quotes are anonymous, some are put forward by famous people, and some are used so frequently that they’ve become proverbs. 

Let’s take a look at some of the most commonly used love quotes in Turkish.

A- Common quotes

Quotes are usually motivational and inspirational, especially the ones about love. I hope you enjoy reading through the following love quotes in Turkish, many of which you can hear in daily life:

Quote in Turkish	Translation in English
Gözler kalbin aynasıdır.	The eyes are the windows of the soul. Literally: Eyes are the mirror of the heart.
Aşkın gözü kördür.	Love is blind. Literally: Eyes of love are blind.
Aşk ateşten gömlektir.	Love is a bed of nails. Literally: Love is a shirt made of fire.
Aşk ağlatır, dert söyletir.	Literally: Love makes you cry, trouble makes you talk.
Aşk yaşanır, anlatılmaz.	Literally: Love is lived, not explained.
Sevgi paylaştıkça artar.	Love increases when shared.

B- Quotes from Rumi

Whenever I use Turkish quotes in my articles, I make sure to include some Rumi quotes as well. This is because his quotes always have profound meanings, make us think, and help us gain a different point of view on some topics.

Rumi was a poet, theologian, scholar, and Sufi mystic; he is considered the symbol of peace and tolerance.

Here are some of his quotes on love. I hope you gain as much insight from them as I have!

Quote in Turkish	Translation in English
Aşk sayıya sığmaz, ölçüye gelmez sevgidir.	Love is an endearment that doesn’t fit into numbers and measurements.
Aşığın hastalığı bütün hastalıklardan ayrıdır.	The disease of the lover is different from all diseases.
Aşk sandığın kadar değil, yandığın kadardır.	Love is not as much as you think, it’s as much as you are burnt.
Aşk, öyle engin bir denizdir ki, ne başlangıcı ne de sonu vardır.	Love is such a vast sea that it has neither beginning nor end.
Bırаkаcаğın еli hiç tutmа, tutаcаğın еli isе hiç bırаkmа. Sаhtе sеvgililеrе gül olmаktаnsа, gеrçеk sеvgililеrе ԁikеn ol.	Don’t ever hold the hand you will leave, don’t ever leave the hand you will hold. Instead of being a rose to fake lovers, be a thorn to real lovers.

6. Discover more about the Turkish language with TurkishClass101

In this article, you’ve learned… 

• …how to say “I love you,” in Turkish.
• …how to express love in Turkish using a variety of words and phrases.
• …several beautiful quotes about love in Turkish to really spice things up. 

Which of these love phrases, endearment terms, or quotes is your favorite? Let us know in the comments! 

If you’d like to learn even more Turkish, bookmark TurkishClass101.com. We have numerous audio recordings, vocabulary lists, and free resources you can refer to. With a Premium PLUS account, you’ll also have access to our MyTeacher service, which allows you to learn and practice 1-on-1 with your own teacher. Are you always on the go? Then you can download the TurkishClass101 app for free and use it wherever you are.

Last but not least, please continue to provide us with feedback about all the resources provided at TurkishClass101.com. We love hearing from you!

In life, there are times when we just need to say “no.” Whether we’re refusing something offered to us, rejecting an action or idea, or letting someone know we weren’t responsible for something, this little word and its friend “not” come in handy on a daily basis. 

However, whatever the intentions behind your negative sentences, the way you say them makes a huge difference!

Today, you’ll learn about negation in the Turkish language. This article will cover everything you need to know, from how to form basic negative sentences to how double negation works. 

Let’s dive in!

Table of Contents

1. Negation in Sentences
2. Negation in Interrogative Sentences
3. Double Negation
4. Access Full Turkish Grammar Content on TurkishClass101.com

1. Negation in Sentences

In Turkish, negative sentences can be formed in one of two ways:

1. By using negation words
2. By using suffixes

Let’s take a closer look at each Turkish negation method. 

A- Negation Words

If you wish to negate a noun clause, place the word değil (“not”) at the end of the sentence. This will give you the form: 

X is not Y. 

Let’s take a look at some examples:

Turkish (+)	English (+)	Turkish (-)	English (-)
Bu benim kitabım.	This is my book.	Bu benim kitabım değil.	This is not my book.
Selen güzel bir kız.	Selen is a beautiful girl.	Selen güzel bir kız değil.	Selen is not a beautiful girl.

Here are some other words you can use to make a sentence negative in Turkish: 

Hayır (No)

• Hayır, kızgın değilim. (No, I am not angry.)

Yok (There isn’t / There aren’t)

• Bu dairede balkon yok. (There isn’t a balcony in this apartment.)
• Burada hiç araba yok. (There aren’t any cars here.)

Ne…ne[de] (Neither…nor)

• Ne kedi severim, ne de köpek. (I like neither cats nor dogs.)

In most cases, ne…ne (de) is used with a positive verb. However, there are also some cases where it’s used with a negative verb. Here are some examples:

• Ne Paris’e, ne de Roma’ya hiç gitmemiş. (She/he has gone to neither Paris nor Rome.)
• Ne sevdim diyebilirim, ne de sevmedim. (I can say neither that I liked it nor disliked it.)

And here are some words that are only used in negative sentences (with one exception, which we’ll talk about later): 

Hiç (Ever / Never / At all)

• Siyahı hiç sevmem. (I don’t like black at all.)
• Kanada’yı hiç görmedim. (I have never seen Canada.)             

Asla (Never)

• Onunla asla bir daha konuşmayacağım. (I will never talk to him/her again.)

Hiç kimse (Nobody)

• Hiç kimse fikrimi değiştiremez. (Nobody can change my opinion.)

Hiç bir şekilde (In no way)

• Hiç bir şekilde seni affetmeyeceğim. (In no way will I forgive you.)

Hiçbir yerde (Nowhere / Anywhere)

• O hiç bir yerde uzun süre kalamaz. (He/she can’t stay anywhere too long.)

A Quick Note on Negative Prefixes 

Unlike English, Turkish has very few words that take a prefix in order to become negative (think “unprepared” or “improper”). We have only the negation prefixes nâ and bî, which are inherited from Ottoman Turkish and are rarely used today. Here are some examples:

• Tamam (Complete)
• Nâ-tamam (Incomplete)
• Haberdar (Informed)
• Bî–haber (Uninformed)

B- Suffixes

There are a few different Turkish negative suffixes you should know about. They are: 

-me / -ma 

To make a verb negative, the suffix -me is added to the root of the verb if the last syllable of the verb has an -e, -i, -ö, or -ü.

Infinitive (Turkish)	Infinitive (English)	Negative (Turkish)	Negative (English)
Seçmek	To choose	Seçmemek	Not to choose
İçmek	To drink	İçmemek	Not to drink
Görmek	To see	Görmemek	Not to see
Gülmek	To laugh	Gülmemek	Not to laugh

To make a verb negative, the suffix -ma is added to the root of the verb if the last syllable of the verb has an -a, -ı, -o, or -u.

Infinitive (Turkish)	Infinitive (English)	Negative (Turkish)	Negative (English)
Kalmak	To stay	Kalmamak	Not to stay
Sarılmak	To hug	Sarılmamak	Not to hug
Koymak	To put	Koymamak	Not to put
Uyumak	To sleep	Uyumamak	Not to sleep

A verb may have many suffixes (such as those used to show the tense and the personal pronoun), but the negating suffix is always immediately after the verb root. All of the other suffixes follow the negating suffix, ordered just as though the verb were positive. Below are some examples:

Verb: To drink (İçmek)
Negative: Not to drink (İçmemek)

Personal Pronoun	Simple Present Tense (+)	Simple Present Tense(-)	Future Tense (+)	Future Tense (-)	Simple Past Tense (+)	Simple Past Tense (-)	Reported Past Tense (+)	Reported Past Tense(-)
Ben (I)	İçerim	İçmem	İçeceğim	İçmeyeceğim	İçtim	İçmedim	İçmişim	İçmemişim
Sen (You)	İçersin	İçmezsin	İçeceksin	İçmeyeceksin	İçtin	İçmedin	İçmişsin	İçmemişsin
O (He/She/It)	İçer	İçmez	İçecek	İçmeyecek	İçti	İçmedi	İçmiş	İçmemiş
Biz (We)	İçeriz	İçmeyiz	İçeceğiz	İçmeyeceğiz	İçtik	İçmedik	İçmişiz	İçmemişiz
Siz (You)	İçersiniz	İçmezsiniz	İçeceksiniz	İçmeyeceksiniz	İçtiniz	İçmediniz	İçmişsiniz	İçmemişsiniz
Onlar (They)	İçerler	İçmezler	İçecekler	İçmeyecekler	İçtiler	İçmediler	İçmişler	İçmemişler

Did you notice that the present continuous tense is not on the table? This is because there’s an exception. In the present continuous tense, the suffixes -mı, -mi, -mu, and -mü are used to make the verb negative based on the vowel in the last syllable of the verb:

• If it’s “a” or “ı,” -mı is used.
• If it’s “e” or “i,” -mi is used.
• If it’s “o” or “u,” -mu is used.
• If it’s “ö” or “ü,” -mü is used.

Verbs with a or ı in the last syllable

Verbs with e or i in the last syllable

Verbs with o or u in the last syllable

Verbs with ö or ü in the last syllable

Personal Pronoun	To take (Almak)	Not to take (Almamak)	To cut (Kesmek)	Not to cut (Kesmemek)	To ask (Sormak)	Not to ask (Sormamak)	To cover (Örtmek)	Not to cover (Örtmemek)
Ben (I)	Alıyorum	Almıyorum	Kesiyorum	Kesmiyorum	Soruyorum	Sormuyorum	Örtüyorum	Örtmüyorum
Sen (You)	Alıyorsun	Almıyorsun	Kesiyorsun	Kesmiyorsun	Soruyorsun	Sormuyorsun	Örtüyorsun	Örtmüyorsun
O (He/She/It)	Alıyor	Almıyor	Kesiyor	Kesmiyor	Soruyor	Sormuyor	Örtüyor	Örtmüyor
Biz (We)	Alıyoruz	Almıyoruz	Kesiyoruz	Kesmiyoruz	Soruyoruz	Sormuyoruz	Örtüyoruz	Örtmüyoruz
Siz (You)	Alıyorsunuz	Almıyorsunuz	Kesiyorsunuz	Kesmiyorsunuz	Soruyorsunuz	Sormuyorsunuz	Örtüyorsunuz	Örtmüyorsunuz
Onlar (They)	Alıyorlar	Almıyorlar	Kesiyorlar	Kesmiyorlar	Soruyorlar	Sormuyorlar	Örtüyorlar	Örtmüyorlar

-maz / – mez 

This suffix is added to the verb roots or stems in order to make them negative adjectives.

Examples:

• Utan (verb root) 
  • Be ashamed
• Utanmaz adam (becomes adjective) 
  • Shameless man 
• Bilin (verb stem) 
  • Be known
• Bilinmez kader (becomes adjective) 
  • Unknown fate

-madan / -meden

This suffix forms verbal adverbs; it comes after the verb root and makes it an adverb.

The suffix -madan is added to the root of the verb if the last syllable of the verb has an –a, -ı, -o, or -u.

Al (verb root) / Take

• Almadan / Without taking
• Onu almadan gelme. / Don’t come without taking him/her/it.

Kır (verb root) / Break

• Kırmadan / Without breaking
• Kalbini kırmadan konuş. / Talk without breaking his/her heart.

Soy (verb root) / Peel

• Soymadan / Without peeling
• Elmayı soymadan yeme. / Don’t eat the apple without peeling it.

Kuru (verb root) / Dry

• Kurumadan / Without drying
• Yerler kurumadan basma. / Don’t step on the floor before it is dried.

The suffix -meden is added to the root of the verb if the last syllable of the verb has an -e, -i, -ö, or -ü.

Ver (verb root) / Give

• Vermeden / Without giving
• Vermeden alınmaz. / You can’t take without giving.

Bit (verb root) / Finish

• Bitmeden / Without finishing
• Ödevin bitmeden gitme. / Don’t go without finishing your homework.

Gör (verb root) / See

• Görmeden / Without seeing
• Beni görmeden gitme. / Don’t leave without seeing me.

Gül (verb root) / Laugh

• Gülmeden / Without laughing
• Gülmeden konuş / Talk without laughing

-maksınzın / -meksizin 

This suffix is added to the verb roots or stems in order to make them negative. The suffix -maksızın is added to the root of the verb if the last syllable of the verb has an -a, -ı, -o, or -u. The suffix -meksizin is added to the root of the verb if the last syllable of the verb has an -e, -i, -ö, or -ü.

Bak (verb root) / Look

• Bakmaksızın / Without looking
• Arkasına bakmaksızın gitti. / (S)he went without looking back.

Sevil (verb stem) / Be loved

• Sevilmeksizin / Without being loved
• O sevilmeksizin sevdi. / (S)he loved without being loved.

-sız / -siz / -suz / -süz 

The -sız suffix makes negative adjectives from nouns. It may be used as -siz / -suz / -süz based on the vowel harmony.

• Akıl (Mind)
• Akılsız (Mindless)

• Düşünce (Thought)
• Düşüncesiz (Thoughtless)

• Tuz (Salt)
• Tuzsuz (Saltless)

• Ölüm (Death)
• Ölümsüz (Immortal)

-meyip / -mayıp 

These suffixes (based on the vowel harmony) are added to the verb roots and form another negation in the Turkish language.

Git (verb root) / Go

• Gitmeyip / Without going
• Keşke gitmeyip kalsaydın. / I wish you didn’t go, and stayed.

Gör (verb root) / See

• Görmeyip / Without seeing OR Not seeing
• Taksiyi görmeyip otobüse bindim. / I didn’t see the taxi, and got on the bus.

Ağla (verb root) / Cry

• Ağlamayıp / Without crying OR Not crying
• Ağlamayıp konuşmalıydın. / You should have spoken and not cried.

Koş (verb root) / Run

• Koşmayıp / Without running OR Not running
• Koşmayıp yürüseydin yorulmazdın. / You wouldn’t get tired if you didn’t run, and walked instead.

2. Negation in Interrogative Sentences

In Turkish, negative interrogative sentences are also formed in two ways:

1. By using negation words
2. By using suffixes

A- Negation Words

We use the word değil (not) to make negative interrogative sentences. Here are some examples:

• Sevgi üzgün değil mi? (Isn’t Sevgi sad?)
• Bu ev sizin değil mi? (Isn’t this house yours?)
• Beni arayan sen değil miydin? (Weren’t you the one who called me?)

B- Suffixes

Below, you’ll find the most important suffixes for Turkish negation when forming interrogatives. 

-me / -ma 

These suffixes are used exactly the same way as they’re used in negative declarative sentences. The conjugations for tense and the exception in the present continuous tense apply here as well. Below are some examples:

• Dans etmeyi sevmez misin? (Don’t you like dancing?)
• Bugün okula gitmeyecek misin? (Won’t you go to school today?)
• Notumu okumadın mı? (Didn’t you read my note?)
• Yemek yapmamış mı? (Hasn’t he/she cooked?)
• Beni dinlemiyor musun? (Aren’t you listening to me?)

Last but not least, I would like to point out that exception I mentioned earlier in this article. The word hiç can also be used in affirmative interrogative sentences, but it has a negative meaning:

• Hiç gider miyim sanıyorsun? (Do you think I’ll ever go?)

Here, the person implies that he/she won’t go. Although it’s used in an affirmative interrogative sentence, it has a negative meaning.

• Senin gibi birine güvenir miyim hiç? (Would I ever trust someone like you?)

Again, the person implies here that he/she doesn’t trust the other person. Although it’s used in an affirmative interrogative sentence, it has a negative meaning.

3. Double Negation

In English, double negation normally leads to a positive meaning:

[ I don’t want nothing. ] = [ I want something. ]

However, this is not always the case in Turkish. There are certain cases where a double negative can result in a negative meaning, rather than a positive meaning. 

A- Negative verb + Olmaz (not to be)

• Değişik mutfakları denemezsen olmaz. (It’s not okay if you don’t try other cuisines.)

Meaning: You need to try other cuisines.

• Söz verdim, gitmezsek olmaz. (I promised; it’s not okay if we don’t go.)

Meaning: We need to go.

In both examples, the meaning is positive.

B- Negative verb + Kalmaz (not left)

• Ona söylersen duymayan kalmaz. (If you tell him/her, there will be no one who does not hear.)

We can reword this as: If you tell him/her, everybody will hear.

• Bunu gizlemezsen bilmeyen kalmaz. (If you don’t hide this, there won’t be anyone who doesn’t know it.)

In both examples, the meaning is positive.

C- Negative verb + Değil (not)

Söylediklerini anlamıyor değil. (It’s not that he/she doesn’t understand what you are saying.)

Meaning: He/she understands what you are saying.

Yine de her şey güzel olmadı değil. (It’s not that everything wasn’t good.)

Meaning: Everything was good.

In both examples, the meaning is positive.

D- Yok (there isn’t) + Değil (not)

Zamanım yok değil ama gitmeliyim. (It’s not that I don’t have time, but I have to go.)

In other words: I have time, but I have to go.

Param yok değil ama bunu alamam. (It’s not that I don’t have money, but I can’t buy this.)

In other words: I have money, but I can’t buy this.

In both examples, the meaning is positive.

E- Hiç (none / not at all) + Yok (there isn’t)

• Bende sabır hiç yok. (I don’t have patience at all.)

Unlike all the other sentences we’ve looked at here, this sentence has a negative meaning although there is double negation.

F- Word + -sız / -siz olmaz (not to be)

• Bu parti sensiz olmaz. (This party won’t be without you.)

Here’s another sentence with a negative meaning. 

G- Word + -sız / -siz değil (not)

İnan bana, o ilgisiz değil. (Believe me, he/she is not uninterested.)

Meaning: He/she is interested.

This double negation sentence has a positive meaning.

4. Access Full Turkish Grammar Content on TurkishClass101.com

Stay positive, but use Turkish negation words and sentences whenever you need to. 

Be sure to let us know in the comments if you still have any questions regarding negation in Turkish. We’ll be glad to help you out!

If you would like to learn about negation in the Turkish language in more detail, then bookmark TurkishClass101, which has numerous audio recordings, tons of vocabulary lists, and plenty of free resources you can refer to. You can download the app for free and use it wherever you are.

While a free lifetime account will give you everything you need, consider upgrading to Premium PLUS to gain access to your own personal tutor through our MyTeacher service. 

Happy learning!

Learning a new language is a process that requires time and effort; it can’t be completed overnight. 

As an aspiring Turkish learner, you’re likely wondering at this point: Okay, so how long does it take to learn Turkish? 

I can understand why you want to know the length of your learning journey in advance. This information can help you decide whether to take the plunge or not, make plans, and get prepared for your upcoming studies. 

But you know what? There’s no formula where you can plug in a few variables and calculate the time right away! It’s not that simple. 

However, there are a few factors that can be taken into consideration.

Table of Contents

1. Factors That Affect Your Language Learning Progress
2. Proficiency Levels
3. Useful Tools to Help You Learn Turkish Effectively
4. Learn Turkish Online with TurkishClass101!
5. Utilize TurkishClass101 to Learn Turkish the Easy Way!

Factors That Affect Your Language Learning Progress

A number of factors are involved in determining how long it takes to learn Turkish. Following is a breakdown of each one and how it will affect your ability to learn the Turkish language. 

Your Reason for Learning 

The first thing you need to do is determine your reason for learning Turkish. 

Will you use it for managing a business relationship or for social conversations? Will you be writing academic papers in Turkish or do you need it to search for information on the internet? Or maybe you need it because you’ll be traveling or studying in Turkey? 

Your objective will determine the proficiency level you need to achieve, which in turn will tell you how long you’ll need to study. 

In addition, your goal can clue you in on how to use your time. If there’s some urgency to attain a certain level of Turkish, you have to plan accordingly and be more systematic. If there’s no urgency, you can extend your studies over a longer period of time. 

Your Learning Environment

What are your learning methods? What resource(s) are you using? Are you attending a college course, seeing a private tutor, or learning online? And how intensive are your courses? 

These are all factors that can speed up or slow down your progress! 

Your Native Language

If your native language is structured very differently from Turkish in terms of alphabet/script, grammar, phonology, syntax, etc., it will take longer for you to learn Turkish. 

The Foreign Service Institute (FSI) of the United States has categorized all world languages into four groups, according to their linguistic and/or cultural differences from English. Category I languages are the easiest for English speakers to pick up, while Category IV languages are the most difficult. Turkish is considered a Category III language. To give you an idea, a few other languages in this category include: 

• Bulgarian
• Czech
• Finnish
• Greek
• Hebrew
• Hungarian
• Polish
• Russian
• Tagalog

Now, how long does it take to learn the Turkish language based on the estimations of the FSI? They’ve estimated that it takes 44 weeks or 1100 hours to reach a professional working level in Category III languages.

Your Previous Language Learning Experience

If you have prior language learning experience or were raised bilingual, it will take you less time to learn a new language. This is because you’ve been down that road before. You already know the best methods for studying, memorizing vocabulary, and practicing your skills, so you’ll find the process much easier than a monolingual would. 

Your Capability and Talent

I think we have to accept that some people are more talented at learning new languages than others. Those who have natural ability or are inclined to learn new languages are definitely at an advantage.

Learning pace

Proficiency Levels

The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR or CEFRL) is the international standard for determining one’s proficiency level in a language. It has six levels: A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, and C2.

Let’s take a look at these levels and go over what you can accomplish in Turkish at each stage.

Beginner Level

The beginner stage encompasses levels A1 and A2 of the CEFR scale, and it’s also referred to as the “Basic User” level. 

Once you complete the beginner level:

• You can carry out daily conversations and perform tasks such as introducing yourself, shopping, asking and answering simple questions, and meeting your urgent requirements.
• You will know some basic nouns, adjectives, and verbs.

To get a better idea of what you’ll be learning as you approach this level, check out the beginner lesson 5 Sentence Patterns for Beginners on TurkishClass101.com. 

100-120 hours of study will be required to reach this level. Flashcards will be useful at this stage.

You can take the A1 or A2 TOMER test at Istanbul University or Anadolu University in order to prove your proficiency. 

Intermediate Level

CEFR refers to this stage as “Independent User,” which consists of the B1 and B2 levels. 

Once you complete the intermediate level:

• You can (to a certain degree) speak and understand Turkish, read newspapers and articles in Turkish, and even think in Turkish.
• You will know even more vocabulary, including pronouns, adverbs, and conjunction words.
• You will also be familiar with some of the tenses used in Turkish. 

Are you curious what intermediate-level lessons will look like? Then head over to our lesson 25 Must-Know Intermediate Phrases!

450-490 hours will be required to get to this level. Talking with native speakers, reading Turkish content, and watching Turkish television shows will be very helpful in getting to this stage.

You can test for the B1 or B2 level through TOMER at Istanbul University or Anadolu University. You can also get B2-level certification if you take and pass the TYS (Türkçe Yeterlik Sınavı) / TPE (Turkish Proficiency Exam).

Advanced Level

CEFR refers to this stage as “Proficient User” and it consists of the C1 and C2 levels. 

Once you complete the advanced level:

• You can carry out deeper conversations about culture, science, art, literature, and politics. 
• You can engage in more complex situations, such as trade or business-related exchanges. 

To get an idea of what you’re dealing with at this point in your learning journey, have a look at our lesson 25 Must-Know Advanced Phrases. 

1000-1100 hours will be required to get to this level. In addition to watching, listening to, and reading Turkish content, being able to live or study in Turkey for a while will help you attain this level of fluency much faster.

You can get C1 and C2 certification if you take and pass the TYS (Türkçe Yeterlik Sınavı) / TPE (Turkish Proficiency Exam).

Useful Tools to Help You Learn Turkish Effectively

Now that you have a better idea of how long it takes to learn the Turkish language, you can start preparing yourself accordingly. To give you a headstart, here are a few tips on how to study Turkish for the best results. 

• Schools and private lessons. 
  
  These are two of the best and quickest ways to learn Turkish. However, both are quite expensive and offer little (if any) flexibility timewise.

• Learning on your own. 
  
  If traditional classes are not a practical option for you, you might be wondering how to learn Turkish by yourself. While the idea may seem daunting, there are plenty of effective ways to learn from home!
  
  For example, you can learn Turkish online (oftentimes, for free). TurkishClass101 is a great resource you can use, but we’ll talk more about us later. 😉

• Real-life application. 
  
  Whichever path you take, the most important thing is to put together and apply everything you’ve learned. You can do this by…
  
  …reading Turkish blogs, articles, books, and newspapers.
  …listening to Turkish radio channels or podcasts.
  …watching TV shows, videos, and movies in Turkish.
  speakers
  
  Of course, you should also consider moving to Turkey and living there for a while. This will help you improve in all aspects of your learning!

Just a reminder: Don’t be afraid of making mistakes. Be brave and try to use the things you’ve learned.

Learn Turkish Online with TurkishClass101!

Would you like to learn Turkish online in a fun and effective way? If yes, all you need to do is visit TurkishClass101.com and create your free lifetime account. 

So, what great resources do we offer our learners? How can we benefit your studies? 

A Single Resource for All

TurkishClass101.com provides lessons and other learning materials that cover all aspects of the Turkish language, for learners at every level. You can find tons of written, audio, and video materials covering Turkish grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation, as well as exercises to improve your listening, writing, and speaking skills. We also have plenty of lessons about Turkish culture, so you can get the full experience! 

Free Resources

Many of the resources we offer are free, and they’re a great place to start if you need to pick up the Turkish-language basics. Here are just a few examples of what you can expect from our free content: 

• Learn the Turkish Alphabet from A to Z! 
• Your Ultimate Turkish Pronunciation Guide
• Turkish Grammar
• Turkish Core 100 Word List
• Turkish Key Phrase List

We also have numerous vocabulary lists, a Word of the Day feature, and a Turkish dictionary to help you build up your vocabulary base! 

Premium and Premium PLUS Services

Upgrading to a Premium account will give you access to even more content not accessible with a basic account. While this upgrade isn’t necessary to learn the language or use our site, it will help you learn more efficiently with a broader range of resources. 

To speed up your progress and further enhance your learning, you can upgrade to Premium PLUS. The most notable feature of this subscription is our MyTeacher service, which allows you to study and practice with a private teacher. 

This service will also give you: 

• One-on-one interaction with your personal teacher
• Guidance & ongoing assessment
• Weekly assignments and badges for the assignments you complete
• Constructive feedback

Learn On the Go 

Location is no longer a roadblock in your Turkish studies! With today’s technology, you can continue learning wherever you are. Download the free InnovativeLanguage101 app and use it anywhere, anytime.

Utilize TurkishClass101 to Learn Turkish the Easy Way!

In this article, we answered the question: How fast can you learn Turkish? We also guided you concerning the best ways to learn Turkish both online and offline, so that you can make the most of your study time. 

Don’t lose any more time—start utilizing all of the resources TurkishClass101.com has to offer. 

Already a member? Feel free to leave us feedback on your experiences so we can continue to get better, and make your learning journey even more enjoyable. 

Before you go: How likely are you to start learning Turkish after reading this article? Is there anything still holding you back? Let us know in the comments, and we’ll do our best to help!

I believe proverbs are an important part of any culture. Though we don’t know under what circumstances or by whom they were put forward, they have been passed down from one generation of people to another. They serve to teach us life lessons while showing us different points of view. 

As a learner of the Turkish language, you’ll greatly benefit from studying Turkish proverbs and sayings. Doing so will expand your vocabulary, help you better understand the inner workings of the language, and provide you with insight into the core values and traditions of Turkish culture. 

In this article, you’ll learn thirty inspirational and motivational Turkish proverbs with their English translations. We’ve categorized them by topic, so feel free to skim through and find a topic or theme that interests you!

→ By the way, to spice up your Turkish conversations even more, you may want to brush up on these Essential Idioms That Will Make You Sound Like a Native Speaker!

Table of Contents

1. Turkish Proverbs About Time
2. Turkish Proverbs About Hope
3. Turkish Proverbs About Friendship
4. Turkish Proverbs About Happiness
5. Turkish Proverbs About Trust
6. Turkish Proverbs About Money
7. Turkish Proverbs About Wisdom
8. Miscellaneous Proverbs
9. Learn More with TurkishClass101!



1. Turkish Proverbs About Time

Time is many things to us. It’s full of opportunity, it’s always running out, there’s never quite enough of it, and we’re always looking for the best ways to spend the time we do have. With this in mind, here are some Turkish proverbs about time: 

1	Turkish	Zaman her şeyin ilacıdır.
	Literally	Time is the medicine of everything.
	Equivalent in English	Time is the best medicine.
	As time passes, all the troubles we experience are forgotten or the sorrow we feel decreases. Example: Üzülme, bugünler de geçecek; zaman her şeyin ilacıdır. “Don’t worry, these days will be over, too; time is the best medicine.”




2	Turkish	Sakla samanı, gelir zamanı.
	Literally	Save the hay, its time will come.
	Equivalent in English	Keep a thing seven years and you’ll find a use for it.
	If you hold onto something you have for long enough, it will eventually become useful. Example: İyi ki kızımın bebek arabasını saklamışım, şimdi senin çok işine yarayacak. Eee, sakla samanı gelir zamanı. “Fortunately, I saved my daughter’s stroller. It will be very useful for you now. See, keep a thing for seven years and you’ll find a use for it.”




3	Turkish	Vakit nakittir.
	Literally	Time is cash.
	Equivalent in English	Time is money.
	This proverb emphasizes that time is a valuable resource. Example: Bir an önce işe gitmeliyim. Eee, ne de olsa vakit nakittir. “I have to go to work as soon as possible. Well, after all, time is money.”




4	Turkish	Bugünün işini yarına bırakma.
	Literally	Don’t leave today’s work for tomorrow.
	Equivalent in English	Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.
	This one emphasizes that one should not delay doing something that can be done today.  Example: Ödevimi yarın yaparım deyince babam bugünün işini yarına bırakma dedi. “When I said I would do my homework tomorrow, my father said ‘Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.’ “




5	Turkish	Sona kalan dona kalır.
	Literally	The one who stays the last, is left for the frost.
	Equivalent in English	The devil takes the hindmost.
	The people who lag behind will either lose or not have any benefits. Example: Ali amca çocuklara şeker veriyor, koşun; sona kalan dona kalır. “Uncle Ali is giving candy to the children, run; the devil takes the hindmost.”




6	Turkish	Erken kalkan yol alır.
	Literally	The one who gets up early proceeds.
	Equivalent in English	The early bird catches the worm.
	This proverb advises that if someone does something immediately (or before anyone else), he/she will have an advantage. Example: Daha 5 saatlik yolumuz var, artık yola çıksak iyi olur. Ne de olsa, erken kalkan yol alır. “We have five more hours to go, we’d better get going. After all, the early bird catches the worm.”









2. Turkish Proverbs About Hope

We could all use some uplifting words now and then, especially when we’re at our lowest point. Whether you or a loved one needs some encouragement, these two Turkish proverbs about hope will deliver! 

7	Turkish	Çıkmadık candan umut kesilmez.
	Literally	If the person didn’t die, there is still hope.
	Equivalent in English	While there’s life, there’s hope.
	If something didn’t fail completely, there is still a chance to save it. Example: Üzülme, son aday henüz açıklanmadı. Çıkmadın candan umut kesilmez. “Don’t worry, the last candidate has not been announced yet. While there’s life, there’s hope.”




8	Turkish	Gün doğmadan neler doğar.
	Literally	Before the sun rises, a lot of things rise.
	Equivalent in English	Tomorrow is another day.
	A person should never lose hope, because nobody knows what’s going to happen tomorrow. Example: Öyle hemen umudunu kaybetme. Gün doğmadan neler doğar. “Don’t lose your hope. Tomorrow is another day.”




3. Turkish Proverbs About Friendship

A true friendship is one of the most precious things a person can experience—and a fake or weak friendship can be one of the worst things! The following Turkish proverbs about friendship offer advice on how to choose friends wisely and how to be a good friend yourself. 

9	Turkish	Bana arkadaşını söyle sana kim olduğunu söyleyeyim.
	Literally	Tell me who your friend is, I will tell you who you are.
	Equivalent in English	Tell me who you go with, and I’ll tell you who you are.
	This proverb means that a person’s friends are a reflection of who he/she is. Example: John o gruba girdiğinden beri her gün kavga ediyor. Eee, ne demişler ‘Bana arkadaşını söyle sana kim olduğunu söyleyeyim.’ “Since John got into that group, he’s been fighting every day. Well, they say, ‘Tell me who you go with, and I’ll tell you who you are.’ ”




10	Turkish	Dost kara günde belli olur.
	Literally	A real friend is understood on a bad day.
	Equivalent in English	A friend in need is a friend indeed.
	A person who stays by your side during difficult times is someone you can really rely on. Example: İflas ettiğinden beri Mary dışında hiçbir arkadaşı yanında değil.  Eee, dost kara günde belli olur. “Since she went bankrupt, none of her friends are with her except for Mary. Well, a friend in need is a friend indeed.”









11	Turkish	Dost acı söyler.
	Literally	Real friend talks bitter.
	A real friend always tells the truth—including when their friend is wrong—even if it hurts. Example: Kusura bakma bu olayda sen hatalısın; dost acı söyler. “Sorry, in this case you are wrong; real friend talks bitter.”




4. Turkish Proverbs About Happiness

We all desire happiness, but there are days when it seems impossible to find. Below are a couple of Turkish proverbs about happiness that provide insight on the topic. 

12	Turkish	Kutlu gün doğuşundan bellidir.
	Literally	A happy day is known from the way of the sunrise.
	The affairs that will lead to happy and good results manifest themselves from the beginning. Example: Başından beri her şey o kadar iyi gitti ki, işi senin alacağını biliyordum. Büyüklerin dediği gibi: ‘Kutlu gün doğuşundan bellidir.’ “Everything went so well from the start that I knew you would get the job. As the elderly say: ‘A happy day is known from the way of the sunrise.’ “




13	Turkish	Ulu ağacın gürültüsü dal ile, mutlu evin yakışığı döl ile.
	Literally	The noise of the great tree with the twig, the light of the happy house with the offspring.
	Just as a tree grows by branching, the happiness of a family is reinforced by the children it raises. Example: Onlar çok kalabalık bir aile. Eee, ne de olsa Ulu ağacın gürültüsü dal ile, mutlu evin yakışığı döl ile. “They are a very crowded family. Well, after all, the noise of the great tree with the twig, the light of the happy house with the offspring.”









5. Turkish Proverbs About Trust

Knowing who (or what) to trust is an important skill to have, but it can also be one of the most difficult things to determine. To give you a bit of advice on the matter, here are a couple of Turkish proverbs about trust. 

14	Turkish	Güvenme varlığa, düşersin darlığa.
	Literally	Don’t trust wealth, you would fall into poverty.
	People should not be extravagant with their spending if they have a lot of money. If they don’t manage their money properly, they can find themselves in poverty.  Example: Paranı çarçur etme; ne derler ‘Güvenme varlığa, düşersin darlığa.’ “Don’t waste your money; they say, ‘Don’t trust wealth, you would fall into poverty.’ “




15	Turkish	Güvenme dostuna, saman doldurur postuna.
	Literally	Do not trust your friend, he/she will fill your skin with hay.
	This proverb implies that before you trust someone, you should test him/her. If you trust someone blindly, he/she might deceive you. Example: Sen herkese çok güveniyorsun. Şu atasözünü hiç duymadın mı? ‘Güvenme dostuna, saman doldurur postuna.’ “You trust everyone very much. Have you ever heard of this proverb? ‘Do not trust your friend, he/she will fill your skin with hay.’ “




6. Turkish Proverbs About Money

As we all know, every language has plenty of quotes and proverbs about money and how to use it wisely. Below are some famous Turkish proverbs about money.

16	Turkish	Parayı veren düdüğü çalar.
	Literally	The one who gives the money blows the whistle.
	Equivalent in English	He who pays the piper calls the tune.
	The one who pays for something is the one who has a say in related matters. Example: Sen de ona para verseydin, sana da dondurma getirirdi; parayı veren düdüğü çalar. “If you had given him money, he would have brought you ice cream, too; who pays the piper calls the tune.”




17	Turkish	Para parayı çeker.
	Literally	Money draws money.
	Equivalent in English	Them as has, gits.
	If someone has money, he/she can make more money with it since money brings more advantages and opportunities. Example: Jane lotoyu tutturmuş. Eee para parayı çeker. “Jane has won the lottery. Well, them as has, gits.”




18	Turkish	Ekmek aslanın ağzında.
	Literally	Bread is in the mouth of the lion.
	Equivalent in English	Money doesn’t grow on trees.
	This proverb means that it’s not easy to earn money; it requires a lot of effort. Example: Paranı çarçur etmemelisin. Malum, ekmek aslanın ağzında. “You shouldn’t waste your money. As you know, bread is in the mouth of the lion.”




19	Turkish	Para ile imanın kimde olduğu bilinmez.
	Literally	It’s not known who has money or faith.
	Faith is something within the heart of a person, so we don’t know who really has faith in God. Likewise, we really don’t know how much money a person has. Example: Joe amcanın 10 milyon dolar miras bırakmasına çok şaşırdım. Para ile imanın kimde olduğu bilinmez. “I was surprised that Uncle Joe left a legacy of ten million dollars. It’s not known who has money or faith.”




20	Turkish	Para insana dil, elbise insana yol öğretir.
	Literally	Money teaches man a language, clothes teach the way.
	Your wealth and position determine your place in society, and can give you more or less prestige than others. Example: O adamı lotoyu kazanana dek hiç kimse sevmezdi. Şimdi etrafında bir sürü insan var. Eee, para insana dil, elbise insana yol öğretir. “Nobody liked that man until he won the lottery. Now there are a lot of people around him. Well, money teaches man a language, clothes teach the way.”









7. Turkish Proverbs About Wisdom

Wisdom is another concept that people in every culture talk a lot about. Below are a few great Turkish proverbs that offer general words of wisdom for many of life’s circumstances. 

21	Turkish	Akıl akıldan üstündür.
	Literally	One mind is better than another one.
	Equivalent in English	Two heads are better than one.
	We can’t know it all. It’s good to ask for other people’s opinions, because they may have better ideas than we do.  Example: Sana da sorayım. Ne de olsa akıl akıldan üstündür. Sence ona nasıl davranmalıyım?  “Let me ask you as well. After all, two heads are better than one. How do you think I should treat him/her?”




22	Turkish	Akıl yaşta değil baştadır.
	Literally	Wisdom isn’t at age, it’s on the head.
	Equivalent in English	Wisdom doesn’t come with age.
	A person doesn’t need to be old in order to think wisely, or to realize what’s going on. Using one’s brain and learning from experience leads to wisdom. Therefore, a person is not wise just because they’re old; a person who is young may also be wise. Example: Çok genç ve tecrübesiz olmasına rağmen durumu iyi idare etti. Ne de olsa, akıl yaşta değil baştadır.  “Although he is very young and inexperienced, he managed the situation well. After all, wisdom doesn’t come with age.”




23	Turkish	Akla gelmeyen başa gelir.
	Literally	The one that doesn’t come to mind, happens.
	Equivalent in English	The unexpected always happens.
	We shouldn’t forget that things can happen, even if we don’t expect or foresee them. Example: Kapının önünde zili tamir ediyordum. Kapı açık diye anahtarımı almadım. Bir rüzgar esti, kapı kapandı. Akla gelmeyen başa geliyor.  “I was fixing the bell in front of the door. I didn’t get my key because the door was open. The wind blew, the door got closed. The unexpected always happens.”









24	Turkish	Akıllı düşmandan değil; salak dosttan kork.
	Literally	Be afraid of a stupid friend, not of a smart enemy.
	People who act thoughtlessly, do not see the truth, and cannot see the consequences of the words they say, may unknowingly harm their friends—even if they have good intentions. On the other hand, we can anticipate and predict what a smart enemy can do and take precautions.  Example: En iyi arkadaşım patavatsızca konuşup, beni zor durumda bıraktı. Akıllı düşmandan değil; salak dosttan kork. “My friend talked thoughtlessly and put me in a difficult situation. Be afraid of a stupid friend, not of a smart enemy.”




25	Turkish	Cahile söz anlatmak, deveye hendek atlatmaktan güçtür.
	Literally	It is more difficult to speak to an ignorant person than to get a camel over a ditch.
	Equivalent in English	Like getting blood from a turnip.
	This proverb means that it’s impossible to explain something to an ignorant person. Example: Hepimiz en az üç kez anlattık ama anlamadı. Cahile söz anlatmak, deveye hendek atlatmaktan güç. “All of us told him at least three times, but he didn’t understand. It’s like getting blood from a turnip.”




8. Miscellaneous Proverbs

To wrap up, let’s look at some of the best Turkish proverbs on a variety of other concepts! 

26	Turkish	Olacakla öleceğe çare yoktur.
	Literally	There is no cure for the things that will happen or the person that will die.
	Equivalent in English	Whatever will be, will be.
	We can’t control everything. Whatever is meant or predetermined to take place will take place. Example: O kadar uğraştım ama yine de olmadı. Anladım ki olacakla öleceğe çare yok. “I tried so hard, but it still didn’t happen. I realized that whatever will be, will be.”




27	Turkish	Lafla peynir gemisi yürümez.
	Literally	The cheese ship doesn’t move with words.
	Equivalent in English	Actions speak louder than words.
	This one means that nothing happens when we only talk about it; action is needed. In other words, what you do is more important than what you say. Example: O hep konuşuyor, hiçbir şey yaptığı yok ama lafla da peynir gemisi yürümez.  “He/she always talks, he/she does nothing, but actions speak louder than words.”




28	Turkish	Komşunun tavuğu komşuya kaz görünür.
	Literally	The neighbor’s chicken seems like a goose to the neighbor.
	Equivalent in English	The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.
	This proverb means that what other people have always seems better than what we have. Example: Sally Jen’in elbisesini çok beğendi. Halbuki aynısı onda da var. Komşunun tavuğu komşuya kaz görünür. “Sally liked Jen’s dress very much. However, she has the same dress. The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.”




29	Turkish	Sütten ağzı yanan yoğurdu üfleyerek yer.
	Literally	The one who is burnt by the milk, eats yogurt by blowing on it.
	Equivalent in English	Once burnt, twice shy.
	If someone has had an unpleasant experience in the past, they become more cautious. Example: O hemen David’in evlenme teklifini kabul etmek istemiyor. Eee, sütten ağzı yanan yoğurdu üfleyerek yer. “He doesn’t want to accept David’s marriage proposal right away. Well, once burnt, twice shy.”




30	Turkish	Altın pas tutmaz.
	Literally	Gold doesn’t get rusted.
	Nobody can dishonor someone who is honorable and dignified. Example: O ne derse desin, herkes beni biliyor. Altın pas tutmaz. “No matter what he/she says, everyone knows me. Gold does not get rusted.”




9. Learn More with TurkishClass101!

In this article, we went over a bunch of Turkish proverbs with their English translations. Now you can impress your Turkish friends, colleagues, or even your boss by using these popular Turkish proverbs at the right moment. 

Would you like to continue your Turkish studies in the fastest, easiest, and most fun way possible? Then bookmark TurkishClass101.com! We provide numerous video and audio lessons, tons of vocabulary lists, and a number of free resources (such as this Turkish dictionary), all designed to help you get a better grasp of the language. We also provide the MyTeacher service for Premium PLUS members; this service allows you to work and practice one-on-one with your own personal language tutor. 

Interested? You can download the app for free and use it wherever you are.

Happy learning! 

Hello, everyone! Are you all ready for a tour of Istanbul? I’m your Istanbul travel guide, and as your guide, I can guarantee that every single one of you will find an activity you’re interested in. 

Do you love history or architecture? Are you a nature-lover? Are you traveling just to enjoy the beautiful scenery? Do you like partying and nightlife? Are you into shopping? Do you enjoy trying different cuisines? 

Even if you answered “yes” to all of these questions, you’ll be able to find your every point of interest in Istanbul. 

It’s a magical city where you’ll…

• …find yourself in the middle of a fascinating history.
• …be fascinated by the architecture dating back centuries.
• …become speechless because of the marvelous scenery.
• …taste the best food in the world.
• …be able to buy authentic items, spices, etc.
• …see its other face at night and enjoy the lively atmosphere at a nightclub.

Have we given you enough reasons to visit Istanbul? Great! Read on to learn everything you need to know before packing your bags.

Table of Contents

1. All About Istanbul!
2. 10 Must-See Places in Istanbul
3. Turkish Survival Phrases for Travelers
4. Learn More with TurkishClass101!

All About Istanbul!

General Information

To kick off our Istanbul visit guide, here’s some general information you should know about the city before packing your bags.

• Istanbul is located in northwestern Turkey in the Marmara region. 

• With 15.5 million residents, it’s the most populous city in Turkey and in all of Europe. 

• It has a surface area of 2063 sq. mi (roughly 5343 sq. km).

• It’s a transcontinental city because the Bosphorus connects the Marmara Sea and the Black Sea. The Bosphorus also divides the city into two sides: European/Thracian and Asian/Anatolian.

• Istanbul is one of the oldest cities in the world. Its history goes back to about 2500 years ago. It has had many different names over the span of its history, two of which were Byzantium and Constantinople.

• It has served as the capital of four different empires: the Roman Empire between the years of 330-395, the Byzantine Empire between the years of 395-1204 and 1261-1453, the Latin Empire between 1204-1261, and finally the Ottoman Empire between 1453-1922.

• Most people think that Istanbul is still the capital of Turkey, but this is not true; Ankara is the current capital of Turkey.

• Istanbul has microclimates because of its size and various topographies. Furthermore, it’s inclusive of two different seas. It has oceanic and humid subtropical climates in the north part of the city and on the Bosphorus coast. It has Mediterranean climate in the south part of the city and on the Marmara Sea. 

• While talking about climate, I can hear you asking, “What is the best time to visit Istanbul?” Perfect question. The best time to visit Istanbul is from March to May or from September to November, because the weather conditions are milder in those months.

• Istanbul is the center of trade and industry in the country due to its strategic location. It’s at an intersection of land and sea routes, which definitely keeps the trade and industry alive. Istanbul is the leading city of Turkey not only economically, but also historically and culturally.

• Istanbul has the highest number of English-speaking people in Turkey. You won’t have any communication problems in most hotels, restaurants, or shops. Places like Sultanahmet, Spice Bazaar, and Grand Bazaar have guides who speak English (and a few other languages).

Istanbul Travel Tips

Here are some essential tips on how to visit Istanbul—and how to prepare beforehand—for the best possible experience. 

• You must have a visa to visit Istanbul. It’s not a complicated process; you can apply for an e-visa.

• Make sure to have your passport with you at all times.

• Turkey’s currency is the Turkish Lira. There are exchange bureaus within the city, primarily at popular touristic areas. However, in order to get into the city from the airport, you’ll need some cash. Although you won’t get the best rates at the airport, you might want to exchange a small amount there.

• If you plan to visit Istanbul in winter, you might want to bring a small umbrella with you.

• Make sure to have a camera. I know we all have smartphones that have cameras, but you might prefer a more professional one that will help you immortalize the moment.

• Last but not least, I need to answer the most commonly asked question: “Is Istanbul safe to travel to?” Yes, Istanbul is mostly safe for travelers, but there are a few areas you need to stay away from (especially at night). Also, watch out for pickpockets at places like Taksim Square, Sultanahmet, the Grand Bazaar, and the Spice Bazaar.

10 Must-See Places in Istanbul

Because there are so many unique sights and experiences in Istanbul, it can be difficult to know which places you should prioritize during your stay. In this section, we’ll introduce you to the very best places to visit in Istanbul. Let’s get to it! 

1 – Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya Camii)

Hagia Sophia was built in 537 during the reign of the Roman Emperor Justinian I. He employed the talent of Greek geometers to design the place, which was meant to serve as a Christian cathedral. However, in 1453, Mehmet the Conqueror had the cathedral converted into a mosque.

This work of art was the inspiration for other mosques, including: 

• The Blue Mosque
• The Suleymaniye Mosque
• The Kılıç Ali Pasha Complex
• The Rustem Pasha Mosque

It was restored a couple of times over the years.

In 1931, the mosque became closed off to the public before reopening as a museum in 1935. This reopening was accomplished via the efforts of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the Turkish Republic. 

According to the statistics provided by the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Hagia Sophia was Turkey’s most-visited tourist place in 2015 and 2019. It was also placed on World Monuments Watch in 1996 and 1998.

In 2006, it became forbidden to use the Hagia Sophia as a place of worship, either as a mosque or a church. A small room was reserved for the Christian and Muslim staff to use as a prayer room.

There has been a lot of pressure from other world countries to convert it back to a church. Contrary to this, a new decision has very recently been made by the Council of Ministers to revert it to a mosque. It’s been said that the mosaics in the building will be preserved, but they will be covered with curtains, carpets, etc. during the prayers. It has also been declared that the doors of Hagia Sophia will always remain open to all Muslims and non-Muslims.

After this change, UNESCO will be re-evaluating the status of Hagia Sophia, which was on the World Heritage List.

2 – Topkapi Palace (Topkapı Sarayı)

Topkapi Palace is the palace where the Ottoman Empire was managed for about 400 of its 600 years. It’s also where the sultans lived and could accommodate about 4000 people at a time. Mehmet the Conqueror ordered its construction and it was built in 1478.

It was first used as a museum in 1924. When first established, it was on an area of approximately 700,000 m²; it now has an area of only 80,000 m².

It consists of hundreds of rooms and chambers, some of which are not open to visitors. A couple of the most interesting parts that are open to the public include the Ottoman Imperial Harem (where the sultan’s family would spend the day) and the treasury where the Spoonmaker’s Diamond and the Topkapi Dagger are displayed. 

The palace has many amazing Islamic art pieces, hand-painted tiles, splendidly decorated rooms, and safeguarded towers. Is that all? Of course not! You’ll also find Ottoman garments, weapons, miniatures, and Islamic relics on display. Also, don’t forget to see the illuminated manuscripts (such as the Topkapi manuscript).

The palace is located within the Historic Areas of Istanbul, which was recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1985.

3 – Basilica Cistern (Yerebatan Sarnıcı)

This is the largest ancient cistern in Istanbul, and it’s located 490 feet (150 meters) southwest of the Hagia Sophia on the European side of Istanbul. It was built in the sixth century by the order of Byzantine Emperor Justinian I. There was previously a basilica located here, hence the name Basilica Cistern. 

As one of the most fascinating museums in Istanbul, the Basilica Cistern has a ceiling supported by 336 marble columns and today has little water because it’s open to the public. There are two Medusa heads used as the bases of two columns. One head is sideways and the other one is upside-down. There’s no written record concerning these two Medusa heads.

The cistern is not only used as a museum, but also hosts many national and international events.

It was used as a location in the 1963 James Bond film From Russia with Love and was also featured in other movies. Furthermore, it was the subject of Dan Brown’s novel, Inferno.

Just a reminder: If you have asthma, it might not be suitable for you to visit this wonderful place due to the high humidity.

4 – Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmet Camii)

The Blue Mosque was built between the years of 1609 and 1616 during the reign of Ahmet I. It’s located next to Hagia Sophia and is regarded as the last great mosque of the classical era.

It contains the tomb of Ahmet, a madrasah (a word which refers to any kind of educational institution), and a hospice. It’s called the Blue Mosque because its interior walls are decorated with hand-painted blue tiles. It has five major domes, six minarets, and eight secondary domes.

Its upper area is adorned with 20,000 hand-painted glazed ceramic tiles with sixty different tulip designs. The lower areas have 200 stained glass windows that are illuminated.

Many of the lamps inside the Blue Mosque were coated with gold and gems, but all of those items have either been taken out or stolen.

Pope Benedict XVI visited this mosque in 2006. It was considered an important event because this was only the second time in history that a pope visited an Islamic place of worship.

5 – Mosque of Suleyman the Magnificent (Süleymaniye Camii)

This mosque was ordered to be built by the Ottoman sultan Suleyman. Built at the highest end of the city to aggrandize the sultan, it was completed in 1557 by Mimar Sinan—the best engineer and architect of the time.

It has four minarets with ten galleries, representing that Suleyman the Magnificent was the tenth sultan of the Ottoman Empire.

It’s actually a complex that also has religious and cultural structures. Originally, it had the mosque, a hospital, public baths (hamam), a primary school, four Qur’an schools, a medical college, a Caravanserai, and a public kitchen where the poor people were served food. Many of these structures still exist, though the public kitchen is now a well-known restaurant and the hospital is the Turkish Army’s factory. Outside the mosque, you’ll also find the tomb of Mimar Sinan.

6 – Yedikule Fortress (Yedikule Zindanları or Yedikule Hisarı)

Yedikule Fortress means “Fortress of the Seven Towers.”

The Byzantine Emperor Theodosius wanted to welcome his visitors (kings, etc.) elegantly, so he wanted a Golden Gate to be built. His son, who inherited the throne after the death of Theodosius, had four towers built and had them combined with the Golden Gate.

After the conquest of Istanbul, three more towers were built at the order of Fatih Sultan Mehmet. Every one of these towers has a name.

Unfortunately, only some of the fortresses still exist today. There are about seventeen pieces (cannonballs, marble columns, etc.) displayed outdoors.

7 – The Galata Tower (Galata Kulesi)

Built in 1348 as Christea Turris (Tower of Christ in Latin), this is a high, cylindrical medieval stone tower that is cone-capped. It was the city’s tallest structure when it was built.

It underwent several restorations before becoming open to the public in 1960. 

There are two elevators you can take to the upper levels, where there’s a restaurant and a café. The panoramic view of Istanbul and the Bosphorus from here is spectacular. There’s also a nightclub where you can watch a Turkish show and have a great time.

8 – Cruise the Bosphorus

If you would like to see more of Istanbul, you can have a cruise on the Bosphorus. Boats leave in the mornings and go toward the Black Sea. You can have your lunch at Anadolu Kavagi before walking up the hill to Yoros Castle for an amazing view. Just relax and enjoy the beauty of Istanbul!

9 – Grand Bazaar (Kapalıçarşı)

The Grand Bazaar is one of the largest covered markets the world over, and one of the oldest. As a matter of fact, it’s considered the first shopping mall in the world. Today, it’s one of the most famous attractions in Istanbul. It includes 61 covered streets, more than 4000 shops, and 26,000 employees.

Its construction began not long after the conquest of Istanbul, in an attempt to revive the city’s economy. 

For the past couple of years, the Grand Bazaar has been undergoing restoration. 

10 – Spice Bazaar (Mısır Çarşısı)

The Spice Bazaar is the second most popular covered shopping area after the Grand Bazaar. You can buy Turkish delight, dried fruits, nuts, herbs, olives, and different kinds of spices. It now has a total of 85 shops in it. 

There’s also a mosque called New Mosque (Yeni Camii) next to the bazaar. You might want to visit it while you’re in the area, so you can admire its tile-work and gold leaves.

Bonus

It’s impossible to talk about every point of attraction in Istanbul in just one article. But I did want to mention a few more places to visit in Istanbul if you have time: 

• The Chora Church (Kariye Museum)
• Rustem Pasha Mosque
• Eyup Sultan Mosque
• Fatih Mosque
• The Hippodrome
• Dolmabahçe Palace
• Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts
• Carpet Museum
• Pera Museum

In addition to these, you should also visit Ortakoy (a popular neighborhood) and Istiklal Street (a famous street of Istanbul).

Turkish Survival Phrases for Travelers

Here are a few words and phrases that will help you communicate with locals while you visit Istanbul.

English	Turkish
Hello.	Merhaba.
Goodbye.	Hoşçakalın.
Please.	Lütfen.
Thank you.	Teşekkür ederim.
Excuse me.	Afedersiniz.
Do you speak English?	İngilizce biliyor musunuz?
Can you help me?	Bana yardım edebilir misiniz?
I don’t understand you.	Sizi anlamıyorum.
Where is the restroom?	Tuvalet nerede?
How much is this?	Bu ne kadar?

Learn More with TurkishClass101!

I hope this Istanbul travel guide gave you a much better idea of what to expect from this beautiful city and which spots you should definitely see. However, there’s still a lot more to know about the city, country, culture, and language!

You can get practical information on all these things by visiting TurkishClass101.com. We provide numerous audio recordings, tons of vocabulary lists, and free resources (including a Turkish-English dictionary you can refer to). In addition, our Premium PLUS members have access to MyTeacher—a feature that allows you to learn and practice with your very own personal tutor. 

Interested? You can download the app for free and use it wherever you are.

By the way, which of these Istanbul locations are you most interested in seeing, and why? We look forward to hearing from you!

When we’re learning a new language, it’s always a relief to find out that our target language uses a bunch of words from our native tongue.

The good news for you is that there are plenty of English words used in Turkish! Memorizing these words can give you a huge vocabulary boost with very little effort on your part and make the Turkish language seem a little less daunting. 

In this article, you’ll learn about the most common English words in Turkish as well as the language phenomenon known as Turklish. We’ll even introduce you to several English words borrowed from Turkish to show you how deep the vocabulary exchange is between these two languages. 

Let’s get started.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction to Turklish
2. English Loanwords in Turkish
3. English Words of Turkic Origin
4. Words with Similar Spelling / Pronunciation (But Different Meanings)
5. Famous People, Franchise, and Movie Names in Turkish
6. Learn More with TurkishClass101!

Introduction to Turklish 

Although we will mainly talk about loanwords in this article, we’ll start by introducing you to the concept of Turklish (Türkilizce). This refers to native Turkish speakers using a mixture of Turkish and English words when speaking.

As we all know, English is the dominant language in almost all aspects of life, from science to technology. Hollywood movies have undoubtedly played a role in spreading the influence of English even farther.

There are around two million Turkish people living and studying in English-speaking countries such as the U.S.A., Canada, the U.K., and Australia. These people often use a combination of Turkish and English when communicating with each other—a phenomenon that came to be known as Turklish in 1994. Furthermore, it’s common for Turks who also speak English to use Turklish in corporate or international companies in Turkey.

Of course, Turkish linguists are opposed to the use of Turklish. They say it ruins the Turkish language and that people, especially those who use this new language hybrid within Turkey, do so just to evoke admiration and to sound more knowledgeable than they really are.

Here are a few examples of Turklish:

• Check etmek              –       To check
• Feedback vermek      –       To give feedback
• Cool görünmek          –       To look cool
• Download etmek        –       To download
• Spoiler vermek           –       To give away a spoiler
• Mail göndermek         –       To send mail
• Print etmek                  –       To print
• Save etmek                 –       To save
• Login olmak                –       To login
• Logout olmak              –       To logout
• Register olmak           –       To register
• Password’ü unutmak   –       To forget password
• Post etmek                  –       To post

English Loanwords in Turkish

With the progress of technology and the growing popularity of social media, the use of English seems inevitable—even in countries where English is not an official language. 

Aside from Turklish phrases like those mentioned above, there are also borrowed English words in the Turkish language that retain their original (or a similar) meaning and spelling. But while these words may look similar on paper, they’re normally pronounced according to Turkish phonology. 

A lot of Turkish people (especially the younger generations) love to use these loanwords. Some might even do so because they think it will make them sound cool. However, linguists are not very happy about this situation.

Can you guess what any of these loanwords are? Let’s take a look. 

Loanwords spelled exactly the same way

The list of English loanwords in Turkish is pretty long. The examples below have exactly the same meaning and spelling as their English counterparts, but the majority of them are pronounced differently. 

Please note that on our list, you may also notice a few words that are not originally English—such as sauna (Finnish) and yoga (Sanskrit)—but which have become an integral part of the language over time. 

Atom	Holding	Mini	Plan	Silo
Bar	Ideal	Minimum	Poker	Salon
Banker	Jet	Net	Pop	Siren
Bravo	Kilogram	Normal	Printer	Slogan
CV	Laptop	Modern	Problem	Spiral
Depo	Latin	Motel	Program	Tablet
Diploma	Lens	Online	Protein	Taboo
Fan	Liberal	Organ	Radar	Tank
Film	Limit	Oval	Real	Trend
Final	Link	Park	Reform	TV
Form	Market	Partner	Risk	Video
Global	Metal	Patent	Robot	Vitamin
Gram	Meteor	Pedagog	Sauna	Yoga
Hamburger	Midi	Pilot	Set	Zebra

Loanwords spelled differently

Below is a list of English words in the Turkish language with slightly different spellings than their English counterparts. 

English	Turkish	English	Turkish
Abnormal	Anormal	Active	Aktif
Academy	Akademi	Adaptation	Adaptasyon
Acetone	Aseton	Address	Adres
English	Turkish	English	Turkish
Action	Aksiyon	Advocate	Avukat
Actor	Aktör	Balcony	Balkon
Acid	Asit	Balloon	Balon
Acne	Akne	Bank	Banka
Bazaar	Pazar	Laser	Lazer
Cake	Kek	Mask	Maske
Card	Kart	Material	Materyal
Catalog	Katalog	Mission	Misyon
Comic	Komik	Negative	Negatif
Dance	Dans	Obese	Obez
Diesel	Dizel	Office	Ofis
Diet	Diyet	Panic	Panik
Discipline	Disiplin	Party	Parti
Editor	Editör	Project	Proje
Elastic	Elastik	Reference	Referans
Empathy	Empati	Score	Skor
Factor	Faktör	Service	Servis
English	Turkish	English	Turkish
Filter	Filtre	Technic	Teknik
Group	Grup	Tour	Tur
Hobby	Hobi	Unit	Ünite
Honor	Onur	University	Üniversite
Industry	Endüstri	Vision	Vizyon
Inventory	Envanter	Version	Versiyon
Jury	Jüri	Yacht	Yat
Kangaroo	Kangru	Zeppelin	Zeplin

English Words of Turkic Origin

Now, let’s see the other side of the coin! This language exchange has gone in both directions, and there are several English words from Turkish. 

Here are some Turkish words in the English language that have exactly the same meaning in both languages:

English	Turkish	English	Turkish	English	Turkish
Aga/Agha	Ağa	Doner Kebab	Döner Kebap	Pastrami	Pastırma
Ayran	Ayran	Fez	Fes	Pilaf	Pilav
Bairam	Bayram	Kaftan	Kaftan	Seljuk	Selçuk
Baklava	Baklava	Kalpak	Kalpak	Shaman	Şaman
English	Turkish	English	Turkish	English	Turkish
Balkan	Balkan	Khan	Han	Shish Kebab	Şiş Kebap
Boza	Boza	Kismet	Kısmet	Tughra	Tuğra
Bulgar	Bulgar	Kurbash	Kırbaç	Turk	Türk
Bulgur	Bulgur	Kurus	Kuruş	Yogurt/Yoghurt	Yoğurt
Dolmush	Dolmuş	Pasha	Paşa	Yurt	Yurt

Words with Similar Spelling / Pronunciation (But Different Meanings)

Now let’s cover another interesting concept: words that are spelled or pronounced the same way in English and Turkish, but have completely different meanings. Learning these might help you remember certain Turkish words more easily!

Same Spelling, Different Meanings

The only thing these words have in common is that they’re spelled the same way in both languages. Other than that, their pronunciation (in most cases) and their meanings are different.

English/Turkish	Meaning in Turkish	English/Turkish	Meaning in Turkish
An	Moment	Mum	Candle
At	Horse	Nine	Grandma
Can	Life	On	Ten
Cam	Glass	Pat	Aster
English/Turkish	Meaning in Turkish	English/Turkish	Meaning in Turkish
Fare	Mouse	Post	Fleece
Gel	Come	Pot	Blunder
Gem	Bit	Saf	Pure
Gene	Again	Seven	Loving
Ham	Raw	Son	Final/Last
Hat	Line	Sun	Offer
Her	Every	Sure	Sura
His	Feeling	Tan	Dawn
Men	Preclusion	Ten	Skin
Mine	Enamel/Verbena	Top	Ball

Same Pronunciation, Different Meanings

The following words are pronounced the same way, but have different meanings and spellings:

English	Turkish	Meaning in Turkish	English	Turkish	Meaning in Turkish
Car	Kar	Snow	Pick	Pik	Peak
Cut	Kat	Floor/Layer	Tape	Teyp	Stereo/Cassette Recorder
English	Turkish	Meaning in Turkish	English	Turkish	Meaning in Turkish
Cup	Kap	Container	Tick	Tik	Twitch/Teak
I	Ay	Moon	Top	Tap	Worship/Adore

Famous People, Franchise, and Movie Names in Turkish

All proper names are written in Turkish just as they are in English, though they may be pronounced differently. Examples include: 

Brand Names

• Nike
• Skechers
• Nine West
• Calvin Klein
• Levi’s

Food Chains

• McDonald’s 
• Burger King
• Subway
• Starbucks
• Arby’s

Celebrities

• Johnny Depp
• Julia Roberts
• Clint Eastwood
• Halle Berry

Series and movie names, however, are usually translated into Turkish. This is probably for commercial reasons, as marketers try to come up with Turkish names that will appeal to the culture and draw more attention so they can get higher ratings and make more money.

Here are some examples you might find interesting:

Name of the movie	Translated into Turkish
Mission Impossible	Görevimiz Tehlike (Our Mission is Danger)
Two for the Money	Kirli Para (Dirty Money)
A Beautiful Mind	Akıl Oyunları (Games of the Mind)
Rush Hour	Bitirim İkili (Crack Couple)
Sliding Doors	Rastlantının Böylesi (Such a Coincidence)
Name of the movie	Translated into Turkish
Sweet November	Kasım’da Aşk Başkadır (Love is Different in November)
Good Will Hunting	Can Dostum (My Best Friend)
Suicide Squad	Gerçek Kötüler (Real Villains)

Learn More with TurkishClass101!

Now that you’ve learned all of these English words used in Turkish, we hope that learning the language won’t be so daunting for you anymore. To make your language learning process even smoother and more worry-free, continue exploring TurkishClass101.com! 

We provide an array of practical learning materials, including numerous audio recordings, tons of vocabulary lists, and free resources (including our Turkish-English dictionary). It’s our aim to help you master the language and get a feel for the culture.

Don’t forget that you can also sign up for a Premium PLUS account to use our MyTeacher service, which will allow you to learn and practice with a private teacher.

Best of all, you can download the app for free and use it wherever you are.

Before you go, let us know in the comments if any of the words on our list surprised you or if you have any questions. We look forward to hearing from you!

I don’t know how you feel, but quotes always make me excited, no matter their country of origin. They open my eyes and my heart. It’s intriguing to ponder what people lived and experienced, whether good or bad, that inspired their words of wisdom! Some of these quotes inspire us, some motivate us, some make us think, and some teach us something!

We believe that quotes can also give you greater insight into a country’s language and culture. 

Are you ready to discover some great Turkish quotes with me? In this article, we’ll look at several Turkish quotes with translations in English, as well as some popular quotes from other languages translated into Turkish. This will give you the best of both worlds! 

Table of Contents

1. Quotes About Trust
2. Quotes About Hope
3. Quotes About Time
4. Quotes About Knowledge and Ignorance
5. Quotes About Money
6. Quotes About Other Topics
7. Rumi Quotes in Turkish
8. Learn More With TurkishClass101

1. Quotes About Trust

What does trust mean to you? Here are some Turkish trust quotes to help you gain cultural insight into how the Turkish perceive it. 

1	Quote in Turkish	Kadınlar beğenince değil, güvenince âşık olur.
	Literal Translation in English	“Women fall in love when they trust, not when they like.“
	This is an anonymous quote which shows the importance of trust for women.
2	Quote in Turkish	Bir ölümün bir de kaybolan güvenin telafisi yok bu dünyada.
	Literal Translation in English	“There is no compensation for either death or lost trust in this world.”
	This is another anonymous quote. It implies that losing trust in someone is as bad as death; just as trust cannot be recovered, neither can death be cured.
3	Quote in Turkish	İşin içine bir kere güvensizlik girdi mi, hiç bir şey eskisi gibi olmuyor.
	Literal Translation in English	“When there is distrust, nothing is as it was in the past.”
	This is another anonymous quote. It means that distrust damages relationships.

2. Quotes About Hope

Feeling discouraged or afraid of the future? Maybe one of these Turkish quotes about hope will motivate you to keep moving forward!

4	Quote in Turkish	En geveze kuş ümittir. Kalbimizde hiç susmaz.
	Literal Translation in English	“The most talkative bird is hope. It never stops in our hearts.”
	This is a quote by Cenap Şahabettin, who was a Turkish writer and poet. It means that our hearts are full of hope.
5	Quote in Turkish	Her kışın bir baharı, her gecenin bir sabahı vardır.
	Literal Translation in English	“Every winter has its spring and every night has its morning.”
	This is a quote by Bediüzzaman Said Nursi, who was an Ottoman scholar and the founder of the Nurism movement. Corresponding quote in English: “Every cloud has a silver lining.”
6	Quote in Turkish	Tünelin ucunda ışık görünmese bile, ışık varmış gibi yürümek ve ışığın görüneceğine inanmak gerekir.
	Literal Translation in English	“Even if there is no light at the end of the tunnel, it is necessary to walk as if there is light and believe that the light will appear.”
	This quote is by Amin Maalouf, who was a Lebanese-born French author. This quote encourages you to be hopeful even in hopeless situations.

3. Quotes About Time

Time plays an important role in our lives. The following Turkish quotes on life focus on the concept of time and how it applies to us.

7	Quote in Turkish	Boş zaman yoktur, boşa geçen zaman vardır.
	Literal Translation in English	“There is no free time, there is wasted time.”
	This is a quote by Tagore, who was a Bengali poet, short-story writer, playwright, essayist, painter, and composer. This quote points out the fact that making good use of our time is important.
8	Quote in Turkish	Bir insanın bir insana verebileceği en güzel hediye, ona ayırabileceği zamandır.
	Literal Translation in English	“The best gift a person can give to a person is the time he/she can devote to him/her.”
	This is a quote by Dale Carnegie, who was an American writer and lecturer. It reminds us how valuable it is to spend time with our loved ones.

4. Quotes About Knowledge and Ignorance

The world over, great thinkers have much to say regarding knowledge and ignorance. Following are some quotes in Turkish that touch on these topics.

9	Quote in Turkish	Bildiğim tek şey hiçbir şey bilmediğimdir.
	Literal Translation in English	“All I know is that I know nothing.”
	This deep quote is from the Greek philosopher Socrates. It tells us that no matter how much we know, there is always much more to learn, and we should never stop searching and learning.
10	Quote in Turkish	Cahile söz anlatmak, köre renk tarifi gibidir.
	Literal Translation in English	“To persuade an ignorant is like describing colors to a blind person.”
	This is a quote from İmam Evzai, who was a scholar and writer. The quote implies that it’s very difficult to deal with ignorant people.
11	Quote in Turkish	Dünyada her kötülük, daima cehaletten gelir.
	Literal Translation in English	“Every evil in the world always comes from ignorance.”
	This quote is from Albert Camus, who was a French Algerian philosopher, author, and journalist. It emphasizes how bad and dangerous ignorance is.
12	Quote in Turkish	Eylem halindeki cehaletten, daha korkunç bir şey olamaz.
	Literal Translation in English	“Nothing is scarier than ignorance in action.”
	This is a quote by Goethe, who was a German poet, novelist, playwright, critic, theatre director, scientist, and statesman. This quote also underlines the danger of ignorance.
13	Quote in Turkish	Cehalet, gönüllü talihsizliktir.
	Literal Translation in English	“Ignorance is voluntary misfortune.”
	This is a quote from De Segur, who was a French general and historian. With this quote, he meant that people choose to be ignorant, and that it’s a bad choice because it leads to misfortune.

5. Quotes About Money

Money is a crucial element of modern life, making it essential to manage it well. Here are a couple of quotes about money to shed some light on the topic.

14	Quote in Turkish	Para iyi bir hizmetçi, kötü bir efendidir.
	Literal Translation in English	“Money is a great servant, but a bad master.”
	This is a quote from Francis Bacon, who was an English philosopher and statesman. In saying it, he meant that those who know how to use and manage their money are those who make their money work for them. If people are not good masters of their money, then their money will start controlling them.
15	Quote in Turkish	İnsanın kazandığı paradan değil, paranın kazandığı insandan korkulur.
	Literal Translation in English	“It’s not to be scared of the money that man earns, but the man who is earned by money.”
	This quote is from Necip Fazıl Kısakürek, who was a Turkish novelist, playwright, poet, and Islamist ideologue. If someone is making money by spending some effort, that’s good; but if he or she is being bought by money, then it’s dangerous.

6. Quotes About Other Topics

Below are a few more Turkish quotes about life that didn’t quite fit into the other categories. Enjoy!

16	Quote in Turkish	Biz ayrı dünyaların insanlarıyız.
	Literal Translation in English	“We are from different worlds.”
	This quote has been used in many Turkish movies, usually between two lovers. It’s also used as a joke between friends in daily life.
17	Quote in Turkish	Açıklamalarla zamanınızı boşa harcamayın: insanlar sadece duymak istediklerini duyarlar.
	Literal Translation in English	“Don’t waste your time with explanations: people only hear what they want to hear.”
	This is a quote from Paulo Coelho, a Brazilian lyricist and novelist. He wanted to point out that some people are prejudiced, egocentric, and not open to new ideas or thoughts; if they’re not willing to listen, no matter what, they won’t hear you.
18	Quote in Turkish	Sevelim, sevilelim, bu dünya kimseye kalmaz.
	Literal Translation in English	“Let’s love, be loved, this world shall be left to no one.”
	This is by Yunus Emre, a poet and mystic who had a considerable impact on Turkish literature. He had great poems and quotes about love and human destiny. With this quote, he emphasized the fact that life is short and nobody is permanent in the world; he suggested not wasting the limited time we have and to love each other instead.
19	Quote in Turkish	Herkesin haksız olması, senin haklı olduğunu göstermez.
	Literal Translation in English	“The fact that everyone is wrong does not show that you are right.”
	Some people say this quote belongs to Aristotle, and some say it belongs to Camus. Based on my internet research, it seems to be anonymous.  This is a quote to awaken those who always consider themselves right.
20	Quote in Turkish	Herkes kalbinin ekmeğini yer.
	Literal Translation in English	“Everyone eats the bread of his/her bread.”
	Corresponding quote in English: “One reaps what one sows.”  This is a quote used by Seda Sayan, a Turkish singer and actress.
21	Quote in Turkish	İmkânın sınırını görmek için imkânsızı denemek lazım.
	Literal Translation in English	“It’s necessary to try the impossible, to see the limitations of the possibility.”
	This quote is from Fatih Sultan Mehmet, who was one of the well-known sultans in the Ottoman Empire and the Conqueror of Istanbul.  This is a very motivational quote about not giving up.

7. Rumi Quotes in Turkish

Some of the most famous Turkish quotes are those from Rumi, a poet, theologian, scholar, and Sufi mystic. He influenced many cultures, and today he’s considered a symbol of peace and tolerance.

I personally think that each and every one of his quotes is very valuable, but I’ll only include a few for the sake of this article. 

I’m curious to know if you’ve also found these Rumi quotes in Turkish inspiring and motivational. Let me know in the comments!

22	Quote in Turkish	İyi dostu olanın aynaya gereksinimi yoktur.
	Literal Translation in English	“The one who has a good friend does not need a mirror.”
	The meaning of this quote is a little deeper than it sounds. If your friend is good, you don’t need a mirror to see your imperfections. He or she will warn you about your imperfections and help you overcome them.
23	Quote in Turkish	Ya olduğun gibi görün, ya göründüğün gibi ol.
	Literal Translation in English	“Either look as you are or be as you look.”
	This quote is about being yourself and being honest about who you are.
24	Quote in Turkish	Bilmez misin ki cevap vermemek de cevaptır.
	Literal Translation in English	“Don’t you know that not answering is also the answer?”
	Sometimes silence means a lot. This quote suggests being wise with how you use your silence and your words.
25	Quote in Turkish	Ne kadar bilirsen bil, söylediklerin karşındakilerin anlayabileceği kadardır.
	Literal Translation in English	“No matter how much you know, what you say is as much as anyone can understand.”
	When communicating with others, we should consider the knowledge and experience of the other person and try to be as clear as possible. Otherwise, the knowledge we have won’t be conveyed or get us to the point.
26	Quote in Turkish	Bazı insanlar bize armağandır, bazıları ise ders.
	Literal Translation in English	“Some people are gifts to us, others are lessons.”
	Some people are like gifts; they make us happy and we treasure them. Others teach us lessons related to the bad experiences they bring to our lives.
27	Quote in Turkish	Gönülden dile yol olduğu gibi, dilden de gönüle yol vardır.
	Literal Translation in English	“As there is a path from heart to the tongue, there is also a path from tongue to the heart.”
	Rumi used this phrase at the end of a conversation with his son. He said: “If you don’t want anybody to harm you, then don’t say bad things and don’t have bad thoughts about him/her.” In essence, it means: “Kindness opens all the doors.”

8. Learn More With TurkishClass101

In this article, we presented you with several Turkish language quotes from Turkey and from around the world. From now on, you can impress your Turkish friends, colleagues, or even your boss, by using these quotes at just the right time.

Which one was your favorite, and why? 

Do you want to go even deeper into the Turkish language and culture? Then create your free lifetime account on TurkishClass101.com! We offer numerous audio lessons, tons of vocabulary lists, and free resources such as our Turkish-English dictionary.

Don’t forget that by signing up for a Premium PLUS account, you can take advantage of our MyTeacher service and practice with your own private teacher.

Better yet, you can download the app for free and use it wherever you are.

Last but not least, please continue to provide us with feedback about all of the resources provided at TurkishClass101.com!

Happy learning, and stay safe out there.

Will you be having a job interview with a Turkish company? Are you getting ready to work in Turkey or travel there for a business trip? If you answered “yes” to one of these questions, then here comes the next question: Do you think you’re ready for the challenge?

If not, don’t panic. Today, we’ll cover some basic business terms in Turkish and common Turkish business phrases. By the end of this article, you’ll be able to greet your colleagues or your future boss, introduce yourself, make travel arrangements, participate in meetings, and take care of correspondence in Turkish.

Let’s get started and make your transition to the Turkish business environment that much smoother!

Table of Contents

1. Turkish Terms Used in Business
2. Greetings and Introductions in Business
3. Interacting with Coworkers
4. Participating in a Meeting
5. Taking Care of Business Communications
6. Going on a Business Trip
7. Learn More Words, Terms, and Phrases with TurkishClass101

1. Turkish Terms Used in Business

First, let’s cover the very basics:

• İş (“Business”)
• İş adamı (“Businessman”)
• İş kadını (“Businesswoman”)

From this point on, we’ll classify the basic business terms in Turkish based on category so that you can remember them easily.

Company-related words

Here are some useful terms you can use when talking about a company:

Turkish	English
Şirket	Company
Kuruluş	Enterprise
Kurum	Corporation
Firma	Firm
Hissedar	Shareholder
Küçük ve orta ölçekli işletme	Small- or medium-sized business
Kâr amacı gütmeyen kuruluş	Non-profit organization
Anonim şirket	Joint-stock company
Çok uluslu şirket	Multi-national company
Uluslararası şirket	International company
Kurumsal firma	Corporate firm
Perakende	Retail
Toptan	Wholesale
Ana merkez	Headquarter
Şube	Branch
Yan kuruluş	Subsidiary
Bayi	Dealer
Ofis	Office
Büro	Office / Bureau
Departman	Department

You may also find our vocabulary list of Words and Phrases for HR and the Recruitment Process useful! 

Work-related terms

Here are some useful words for talking about jobs and work:

Turkish	English
Çalışmak	To work
İş	Business / Work / Job
Pozisyon	Position
İşveren	Employer
Personel	Personnel
Çalışan	Employee
İşçi	Worker
Patron	Boss
İş arkadaşı	Colleague
Kariyer	Career
Yönetim	Management
Üst	Superior
Müdür	Manager
Direktör	Director
Alt kademe	Subordinate
Staj	Internship / Apprenticeship
Stajyer	Intern / Apprentice
Sözleşme	Agreement
Kontrat	Contract
Vardiya	Shift
Fazla mesai	Overtime

Make sure to check out our Workplace vocabulary list to learn even more words along with their pronunciation.

Words about money 

Money is a very important instrument in nearly every aspect of life, especially in business. Let’s take a look at money-related terms in Turkish:

Turkish	English
Para	Money
Maaş	Salary
Ücret	Wage
En düşük ücret (Asgari ücret)	Minimum wage
Gelir	Income / Revenue
Net gelir	Net income / Net revenue
Brüt gelir	Gross income / Gross revenue
İkramiye	Bonus
Kâr	Profit
Bordro	Payroll
Hisse	Share
Vergi	Tax
Ön ödeme	Advance payment
Banka	Bank
Banka hesabı	Bank account

Want to learn more? Head over to our list of Money-Related Expressions for Everyday Life! 

2. Greetings and Introductions in Business

Greetings and introductions are very important in both business and social life. When doing business with Turkish companies, first impressions matter, so you need to have a good and impressive start!

Greetings

When greeting someone, you can use any of the following words, regardless of how formal the situation is.

• Merhaba. (“Hello.”)
• Günaydın. (“Good morning.”)
• İyi günler. (“Good day.”) *
• İyi akşamlar. (“Good evening.”) *

(*): You can also use these to say goodbye in both formal and informal situations.

If the situation is very informal, you can say:

• Selam. (“Hi.”)

To say goodbye in a formal manner, you can use one of these phrases:

• Hoşçakalın. (“Goodbye.”) [Literally: “Stay pleasantly.”]
• Görüşmek üzere. (“See you.”) [Literally: “Hope to see you.”]

To say goodbye to a coworker you’re close with, you can use any of the following words:

• Bay bay. / Bay. (“Bye bye.” / “Bye.”)
• Hoşçakal. (“Goodbye.”) [Literally: “Stay pleasantly.”]
• Görüşürüz. (“See you.”)

You can see our vocabulary lists on Common Ways to Say Hello and the Most Common Ways to Say Goodbye for more info!

Self-introductions

Giving a proper self-introduction is just as important as greeting. Here are some useful phrases you can use to introduce yourself when socializing, networking, or engaging in other business situations. 

• Ben Mary. (“I’m Mary.”)
• Benim adım Mary. (“My name is Mary.”)
• Benim ismim Mary. (“My name is Mary.”)

• Otuz yaşındayım. (“I’m thirty years old.”)
• Amerikalıyım ama artık Türkiye’de yaşıyorum. (“I’m American, but I live in Turkey now.”)
• Yale Üniversitesi’nden mezun oldum. (“I have graduated from Yale University.”)
• Ben yeni Satın Alma Müdürüyüm. (“I’m the new Purchasing Manager.”)

Don’t forget to read our article Turkish Greetings: How to Introduce Yourself in Turkish for more-detailed information and more useful phrases.

Job interviews

The job interview is a significant aspect of business life and might even have an impact on your future. It’s relatively easy to fill in a job application, pass a test, and even carry out a conversation over the phone, but what will happen when you’re having a face-to-face job interview in Turkish? 

Don’t worry! Below are some examples of questions that may be asked during the interview and some useful business phrases in Turkish one could use to answer them.

1. Bana eğitiminizden bahseder misiniz? (“Can you tell me about your education?”)

• Harvard üniversitesinden mezun oldum. (“I graduated from Harvard University.”)
• Finans okudum. (“I studied finance.”)
• Harvard Üniversitesi’nde işletme yüksek lisansı yaptım. (“I have an MBA degree from Harvard University.”)                                                         

2. Daha önce nerelerde çalıştınız? (“Where have you worked before?”)

• 4 yıl Unilever’de muhasebe departmanında çalıştım. (“I have worked at Unilever for four years in the accounting department.”)
• Şu an P&G’de finans müdürü olarak çalışıyorum. (“Currently, I’m working as a financial manager at P&G.”)

3. Kaç dil biliyorsunuz? Bunlar neler? (“How many languages do you speak? What are they?”)

• Ana dilim İngilizce. (“My mother tongue is English.”)
• Almanca biliyorum. (“I know German.”)
• Ve biraz da Türkçe. (“And also a little bit of Turkish.”)

Don’t get discouraged if you don’t understand something. Feel free to ask them to repeat what they said.

• Sorunuzu tekrar edebilir misiniz lütfen? (“Could you please repeat your question?”)
• Pardon anlayamadım. (“Pardon me, I couldn’t understand.”)

3. Interacting with Coworkers

Did you ace your job interview? Congratulations! Now it’s time to meet your new coworkers. Here are some practical Turkish business phrases you can use to communicate with your new work team.

Asking for help

Here are some business Turkish phrases that you can use to get help. Note that when the letters in parentheses are added, the questions become formal.

• Bana yardım edebilir misin(iz) lütfen? / Bana yardımcı olabilir misin(iz) lütfen? (“Can you help me, please?”)
• Bunu bana anlatabilir misin(iz) lütfen? (“Can you explain this to me, please?”)
• Bu sistemi nasıl kullanacağımı gösterebilir misin(iz)? (“Can you show me how to use this system, please?”)
• Bahsettiğin(iz) dokümana nasıl ulaşabilirim? (“How can I access the document you mentioned?”)
• Bilgisayarın şifresini verebilir misin(iz)? (“Can you give the password of the computer?”)

Showing appreciation 

No matter where you are in the organizational hierarchy, showing appreciation toward your colleagues and subordinates is an important element of motivation.

• Tebrikler! / Tebrik ederim! (“Congratulations!”)
• Katkılarınız için teşekkürler. (“Thanks for your contribution.”)
• Bu büyük bir başarı. (“This is a great success.”)
• Başarılarınızın devamını dilerim. (“I wish you continued success.”)
• İyi iş çıkardınız! (“Good job!”)

Expressing concerns

Of course, things in the garden aren’t always rosy! There will be times when you’ll have concerns you want to express. Here are some Turkish phrases for business to give you a voice in the matter:

• Ben bunu anlamadım. (“I didn’t understand this.”)
• Bana bu konuda bir bilgi verilmedi. (“I wasn’t informed about this.”)
• Bana bu konuda bir eğitim verilmedi. (“I wasn’t trained on this topic.”)
• Bunun için bütçemiz yok. (“We don’t have a budget for this.”)
• Bu kadar zamanda bu işi yetiştiremeyiz. (“We can’t get this job done within this time frame.”)
• Bu dokümanda bir hata var. (“There is an error in this document.”)
• Bununla ilgili bir veri yok. (“There is no data related to this.”)
• Bu toplantıyı ertelemeliyiz/öne çekmeliyiz. (“We must postpone/bring forward this meeting.”)

There are also a couple of idioms that you can use. Be careful not to sound like you’re complaining, though! 

• İşim başımdan aşkın. (“I’m overly busy.”)
• Başımı kaşıyacak vaktim yok. (“I don’t have time to catch my breath.”)

You can find more Essential Idioms to Make You Sound Like a Native Speaker on our website! 

Making apologies

Everyone makes mistakes, and the best way to stay on good terms with your colleagues or boss is to offer the proper apology. Here are some phrases you can use to do so:

• Özür dilerim, fevri davrandım. (“I apologize, I acted impulsively.”)
• Üzgünüm. (“I’m sorry.”)
• Yardımcı olamadığım için üzgünüm. (“I’m sorry, I couldn’t help.”)
• Bugün olanlar için üzgünüm. (“I’m sorry for what happened today.”)

If you want to learn more apology phrases, read our blog post on How to Say Sorry in Turkish. 

Making plans for after-work social activities 

If you want to ask your colleagues to go out after work, you can use any of the phrases below. Note that when the letters in parentheses are added, the questions become formal.

• İş çıkışı bir bira içmeye gidelim mi? (“Shall we go for a beer after work?”)
• Mesai sonrası bize katılmak ister misin(iz)? (“Would you like to join us after work?”)

Here are some questions you can ask to get to know your colleagues better during after-work activities:

• Hangi departmanda çalışıyorsun(uz)? (“Which department are you working in?”)
• Hangi proje üzerinde çalışıyorsun(uz)? (“Which project are you working on?”)
• Kaç yıldır burada çalışıyorsun(uz)? (“How many years have you been working here?”)

Make sure you check out our list of the Top 15 Questions You Should Know for Conversations to get more ideas!

4. Participating in a Meeting

Meetings are an indispensable aspect of business life. Let’s review some practical Turkish phrases for business meetings!

• Toplantı (“Meeting”)
• Toplantı ne zaman? (“When is the meeting?”)
• Toplantı nerede? (“Where is the meeting?”)
• Toplantı hangi odada? (“In which room is the meeting?”)
• Toplantı ne kadar sürer? (“How long will the meeting take?”)
• Herkes buradaysa, toplantıya başlayalım. (“If everyone is here, let’s start the meeting.”)
• Başka fikri olan var mı? (“Does anybody have any other ideas?”)
• Size katılıyorum. (“I agree with you.”)
• Ne yazık ki size katılmıyorum. (“Unfortunately, I don’t agree with you.”)
• Herhangi bir önerisi olan var mı? (“Does anybody have any suggestions?”)
• Sanırım bir sonraki konuya geçebiliriz. (“I think we can move on to the next topic.”)
• Çok verimli bir toplantı oldu. (“It was a very productive meeting.”)

5. Taking Care of Business Communications

Communication is an essential element of business. In this section, we’ll look at phrases you can use in Turkish business emails and over the phone.

Emails or letters

Nowadays, electronic correspondence is often used in place of traditional business letters. However, there are still situations where letters are sent out to public authorities or other businesses.

Anyhow, whether you’re writing a Turkish business letter or an email, there will be a:

Salutation Sentence

• Sayın Yetkili (“To whom it may concern”)
• Sayın Pam Carlton (“Dear Pam Carlton”)
• P&G Satın Alma Müdürlüğü’ne (“To the Purchasing Manager of P&G”)
• Merhaba Mehmet Bey (“Hello, Mr. Mehmet”) * 
• Bay Johnson merhaba (“Hello, Mr. Johnson”) **                   

(*) This is mostly used in email. Note that Mehmet is the person’s first name.

(**) This is mostly used in email. This time, the person’s last name is used.

Body and Conclusion of the Email

• Parting words
❖ Saygılarımla (“Sincerely yours”)
❖ Sevgiler (“Sincere/warm regards”)
❖ Selamlar (“Greetings” / “We salute you”) **
• Name, last name, and signature

(*) This is informal.

(**) This is neither formal nor informal. It’s somewhere in-between.

Business calls

While audio conference tools are very popular these days, phone calls are still an active part of worklife in Turkey.

Alo (“Hello”) is the most popular way to answer the phone in Turkish. You can use it when talking to your colleagues, but a receptionist wouldn’t normally answer the phone that way. In Turkey, business receptionists would probably start by saying the company name, and then ask:

• Size nasıl yardımcı olabilirim? (“How may I help you?”)

Here’s a possible answer:

• Mehmet bey ile görüşmek istiyorum. (“I want to talk to Mr. Mehmet.”)

Or:

• Beni muhasebe departmanına bağlayabilir misiniz? (“Can you connect me to the accounting department?”)

Here are a few more Turkish business phrases a receptionist might use:

• Hatta kalın lütfen. (“Please stay on the line.”)
• Sizi bir dakika bekleteceğim. (“I will have you wait for a minute.”)
• Mehmet Bey’in hattı meşgul. (“Mr. Mehmet’s line is busy.”)
• Mehmet Bey şu anda toplantıda. (“Mr. Mehmet is in a meeting now.”)
• Herhangi bir mesajınız var mı? (“Do you have any messages?”)
• Daha sonra tekrar arayabilir misiniz? (“Can you call again later?”)
• Notunuzu ileteceğim. (“I will forward your note.”)

Want to be prepared for your next Turkish phone call? Check out our list of Useful Phrases for a Phone Call to learn more phrases and hear their pronunciation.

6. Going on a Business Trip

Here are a few phrases you can use when buying a ticket or checking in at a hotel:

• Merhaba. 23 Nisan için İstanbul’a bir uçak bileti istiyorum. (“Hello. I want a flight ticket to Istanbul for April 23.”)
• Cam kenarında bir koltuk istiyorum. (“I want a seat by the window.”)
• Tek kişilik bir oda istiyorum. (“I want a single room.”)
• Akşam yemeği saat kaçta? (“What time is dinner?”)

Prepare for your travels well in advance with our list of the Top 30 Travel Phrases You Should Know!

7. Learn More Words, Terms, and Phrases with TurkishClass101

By now, you’ve learned many Turkish business phrases that you can start practicing today. Do you think you’re ready to participate in a meeting or go through your job interview in Turkish? 

If you think you need more practice with Turkish phrases for business, visit TurkishClass101.com! We provide numerous audio recordings, tons of vocabulary lists, and free resources (including our Turkish-English dictionary), all of which you can refer to for detailed information about the Turkish language and culture.

Note that we also provide the Premium PLUS service MyTeacher, which allows you to practice with a private tutor. If you’re busy or prefer learning on your own time, you can download the app for free and use it wherever you are.

Happy Turkish learning, and good luck with your business endeavors!

Do you think first impressions matter? I think they definitely do! Never underestimate the power of a friendly hello and a sincere goodbye! 

In one of our previous articles, we covered different ways of saying hello in Turkish. Now, let’s move forward and discuss how to give the perfect Turkish goodbye in any situation. Like in any other language, there are numerous ways to say goodbye in Turkish, and the one you use depends on the context.

In this article, we’ll teach you many different ways to say goodbye in Turkish so you can leave a good impression. We’ll start with the most common ones! Start with a bonus, and download the Must-Know Beginner Vocabulary PDF for FREE!(Logged-In Member Only)

Table of Contents

1. The Most Common Ways of Saying Goodbye in Turkish
2. More Specific Ways to Say Goodbye
3. Gestures Used to Say Goodbye in Turkey
4. Practice Your Turkish Language Goodbyes with TurkishClass101!

1. The Most Common Ways of Saying Goodbye in Turkish

In Turkish, there are both formal and informal ways of saying goodbye. In the following sections, we’ll show you the most common ones in each category so you can be sure you’re using the best Turkish word for goodbye in any situation!

A- Informal 

You can use the following Turkish goodbye phrases with friends, family, and other people you’re close to.

Turkish	English	Tips
Baybay.	“Bye-bye.”	This is the easiest one, and it can save you in a pinch if you forget the other ones.
Bay.	“Bye.”	This is usually used among teenagers.
Hoşçakal.	“Goodbye.”	Literally, it means “Stay pleasantly.”
Görüşürüz.	“See you.”	Literally, it means “We see each other.”
Sonra görüşürüz.	“See you later.”	Literally, it means “We see each other later.”
Kendine iyi bak.	“Take care.”	The exact meaning is “Take care of yourself.”

B- Formal 

You can use these expressions when saying goodbye to older people or people you don’t know very well. 

Turkish	English	Tips
Hoşçakalın.	“Goodbye.”	Literally, it means “Stay pleasantly.”
Görüşmek üzere.	“See you.”	Literally, it means “Hope to see you.”
Tekrar görüşmek üzere.	“See you again.”	Literally, it means “Hope to see you again.”
Kendinize iyi bakın.	“Take care.”	Literally, it means “Take care of yourself.”

2. More Specific Ways to Say Goodbye

Now, let’s look at how to say goodbye in Turkish when a generic phrase just won’t do. 

A- Bye until ___. / See you ___.

Here are some useful phrases to use when you know you’ll be seeing the person again: 

Turkish (Informal)	Turkish (Formal)	English
Şimdilik hoşçakal.	Şimdilik hoşçakalın.	“Bye for now.”
Perşembe görüşürüz.	Perşembe görüşmek üzere.	“See you on Thursday.”
Haftaya görüşmek üzere.	Haftaya görüşmek üzere.	“See you next week.”
Salıya dek hoşçakal.	Salıya dek hoşçakalın.	“Bye until Tuesday.”
Cumaya kadar hoşçakal.	Cumaya kadar hoşçakalın.	“Bye until Friday.”

B- When someone is traveling

When you’re seeing someone off, it’s always nice to wish them well during their travels. 

Turkish (Informal)	Turkish (Formal)	English
İyi yolculuklar.	İyi yolculuklar.	“Have a good trip.”
Güle güle git, güle güle gel.	Güle güle gidin, güle güle gelin.	The literal translation is “Go by laughing, come by laughing.”
Yolun açık olsun.	Yolunuz açık olsun.	“May your way be open.”
Allah’a emanet ol.	Allah’a emanet olun.	“May Allah be with you.”

C- Saying goodbye on the phone

When you’re ending a phone call, you can use any of these phrases to say goodbye, regardless of how formal or informal the situation is:

• İyi günler. (“Have a good day.” / Literally: “Good days”)
• İyi akşamlar. (“Have a good evening.” / Literally: “Good evenings”)
• İyi geceler. (“Goodnight.” / Literally: “Good nights”)

Keep in mind that these phrases aren’t limited to phone calls; you can also use them when saying goodbye in other situations.

And here are two phrases you can only use in informal situations:

• Öptüm. (“I kissed you.”)
• Öpüyorum. (“I kiss you.”)

D- Saying goodbye forever 

If you’re saying goodbye to someone you may never see again, there are a few ways you can wish them well for the last time:

• Elveda. (“Farewell.”)
• Yolun açık olsun. (“May your way be open.”)
• Allah’a emanet ol. (“May Allah be with you.”)

E- When you have to leave

If you have to head off somewhere, but someone else is staying behind, you can use this phrase:

• Allahaısmarladık. (“Bye-bye.” / Literally: “Entrust you to God.”)

If you’ve been invited to someone’s home and it’s time to leave, you can say goodbye with one of these phrases:

• Bize de bekleriz. (“Visit us, too.” / Literally: “We wait for you to our place as well.”)
• Bize de buyrun. (“Visit us, too.” / Literally: “We wait for you to our place as well.”)

F- When someone else is leaving

If you’re seeing someone off, you can say: 

• Güle güle. (“Goodbye.”)

If someone has visited you at your house, and they need to leave now, you can say:

• Yine bekleriz. (“Come again.” / Literally: “We wait for you again.”)

G- Other situations

When someone is going on vacation or leaving for a holiday, you can say:

• İyi tatiller. (“Have a good vacation.”)

When someone is going to a social event such as a party, a concert, or a movie, you can say:

• İyi eğlenceler. (“Have fun.”)

When you, or the person you’re talking to, is going to bed, you can say:

• İyi geceler. (“Goodnight.” / Literally: “good nights”)
• İyi uykular. (“Sleep well.” / Literally: “good sleeps”)
• Allah rahatlık versin. (“Goodnight.” / Literally: “May Allah give you comfort.”)

When saying goodbye in the Turkish language, don’t forget to throw in some slang if you’re with friends! 

• Kaçmam lazım. (“I have to run.” / Literally: “I have to escape.”)
• Ben çıktım. (“I’m leaving.” / Literally: “I’m out.”)
• Ben gittim. (“I’m gone.” / Literally: “I went.”)

We covered a lot of words and phrases! To hear and practice their pronunciation, please refer to the audio recordings in our “Goodbye in Turkish” vocabulary list. 

3. Gestures Used to Say Goodbye in Turkey

In most cultures, people have certain gestures they use when saying goodbye, and Turkey is no different! 

There are many gestures that you’re likely familiar with already: 

• Waving to a friend or family member
• Blowing a kiss to someone you’re close to
• Giving someone you’re close to a kiss on the cheek or a hug 
• Shaking hands with people you don’t know well

But there are quite a few gestures that are unique to Turkey!

For example, in Turkish culture, it’s completely normal for men to kiss each other on the cheeks when greeting or saying goodbye. To better illustrate why this is so important, let me share one of my memories with you: 

I was living in the U.S., and my parents came to visit me. I had a Turkish friend whose husband was American, and my parents and I got together with them many times. After a while, my dad kissed this gentleman on the cheeks when seeing them off, thinking that they were becoming friends. Guess what? The next day, my friend’s husband kindly asked me to tell my dad not to kiss him again. Although he was familiar with Turkish culture, this parting gesture was very bothersome for him. Of course, we respected his opinion and my dad shook hands with him from then on. If you experience something similar while in Turkey, don’t be surprised!

Another gesture that’s common in Turkey, but not in the U.S., is to kiss someone’s hand and then put that person’s hand on your own forehead. This is done as a symbol of respect when you’re saying hello or goodbye to older people. Some people might prefer not to kiss the hand, and will instead put the hand on their chin and then on their forehead.

4. Practice Your Turkish Language Goodbyes with TurkishClass101!

After reading all of this information on how to say goodbye in Turkish, will you be able to say “goodbye” to me once you reach the end of this article? (I’m sure you can do it!)

If you think you still need to practice your goodbyes, though, you can explore TurkishClass101.com for relevant lessons and materials. And don’t forget our premium MyTeacher program, which allows you to practice one-on-one with a private teacher. 

Is that all? Of course not! TurkishClass101 also has tons of vocabulary lists and other free resources (like this Turkish-English dictionary) to help you get a better grasp of Turkish.

And better still, you can download the app for free and use it wherever you are.

Last but not least, please continue to provide us with feedback about all of the resources provided at TurkishClass101.com!

Hoşçakalın, görüşmek üzere…

Any time we set out to learn something new—whether it be cooking, sewing, ballet, or biology—it intimidates us. Not knowing what we’ll face makes us worry. Furthermore, we question our ability to learn that specific thing because we’ve never done it before. These same concerns pop up when someone starts learning another language. 

But is Turkish hard to learn? Or is it easier than you think? 

The answer is simple: It might be different from the languages you know and speak, but it’s not difficult.

Yes, it will take some time and effort to learn Turkish, but as we all know, nobody becomes an expert right away. 

In this article, we’ll show you the easy parts of Turkish and help you understand the more challenging parts. This way, you’ll know what areas to really focus on when studying. TurkishClass101 will help you eliminate any prejudice you may have about the Turkish language and answer the question “How easy is Turkish to learn?”

Now, let’s start by talking about the easy features of Turkish.

Table of Contents

1. What Makes Turkish Easy to Learn?
2. So What Makes Turkish Hard to Learn?
3. How to Start Learning Turkish
4. TurkishClass101 is Awesome for Learning Turkish!
5. Utilize TurkishClass101 to Learn Turkish Today!

1. What Makes Turkish Easy to Learn?

Turkish uses the Latin alphabet, which gives most learners an advantage because more than 6000 languages worldwide use the Latin-based alphabet. There might be additional letters (or even missing letters) compared to other Latin-based languages, but still, it’s not like you’ll need to rediscover America! You’ll just need to learn how the letters sound.

Great news for those who aren’t familiar with genders or gender-related conjugations: Turkish doesn’t have any grammatical gender. That’s one less thing to worry about! 

Can you guess what else you won’t have to worry about? The article “the” doesn’t exist in Turkish. This means you don’t have to do anything special for nouns that function as subjects in a sentence. However, if a sentence has a noun that functions as an object, it will require a suffix:

• “The notebook is in my bag.” (Defter çantamın içinde.) 

“Notebook” is used without an article in Turkish.

• “I put the notebook in my bag.” (Defteri çantamın içine koydum.)

Here, “notebook” takes the suffix “i” in Turkish to indicate the article “the,” which is not a separate word in Turkish.

Let’s continue with another convenience. There are no accents in Turkish as there are in some languages (like French), so you won’t have to constantly ask yourself whether the accent is to the left or to the right! We only use the circumflex for loanwords, which is not a big deal!

The convenience doesn’t end there: Turkish also has a flexible word order. Turkish does use the SOV (Subject-Object-Verb) order, which is different from English, but you don’t need to use this order all the time. For example, you can put an object or a verb at the beginning of a sentence without changing its meaning; you’ll only be changing which word is emphasized. Therefore, changing the word order a little bit isn’t usually a problem. However, you have to place the suffixes correctly when you change the order of the words.

Here are some pairs of sentences which are all correct despite having a different word order. 

• Ne yapacaksın bugün? – “What will you do today?”
• Bugün ne yapacaksın? – “What will you do today?”

• Buraya gel! – “Come here!”
• Gel buraya! – “Come here!”

• Bugün çok yorgunum. – “I’m very tired today.”
• Çok yorgunum bugün. – “I’m very tired today.”

2. So What Makes Turkish Hard to Learn?

Whenever a student asks me why Turkish is hard to learn, I always tell them that the question needs to be rephrased: “Is Turkish hard to learn?” I try to break the prejudices first. Then, I answer by letting them know that while there will be challenges, the language itself is not hard. 

That said, let’s look at some characteristics that make Turkish difficult to learn for foreigners.

Suffixes and vowel harmony

Suffixes are one of the most challenging aspects of the language for new Turkish-learners, because these suffixes don’t exist in most other languages.

Suffixes are added;

• based on the person/subject that a verb alludes to.
• if the subject is plural.
• when definite nouns or pronouns are used as an object. Then, they take the “-ı, -i, -u, -ü” suffixes based on the vowel harmony rules.
• when using possessive pronouns, because there aren’t separate words for them in Turkish. However, the “-m, -ım, -im, -um,-üm” suffixes (in conjugated forms) come after the pronoun to make it possessive.
• based on the tenses.
• when negativity is used.
• when interrogative particles are used.

Once you learn when to use suffixes, the rules for their application, and the vowel harmony, it won’t seem nearly as difficult as it does now.

The pronunciation of letters that don’t exist in English

There are six letters in the Turkish alphabet that don’t exist in English: -ç, -ğ, -ı, -ö, -ş, -ü.

The letter ç, which is the “ch” sound in English (as in “challenge” or “chair”), and the letter ş, which is the “sh” sound in English (as in “shell” or “shame”) are usually pronounced correctly. However, new learners often struggle with the other four.

• ğ is pronounced like the “ou” syllable in the words “ounce” and “our.” 
• ı is pronounced like the second “o” in the word “color.”
• ö is pronounced like the “u” in the word “turn.”
• ü is pronounced like the “u” in the word “pure.”

Practicing the pronunciation of words that contain these letters will help you overcome any initial difficulties you might have with them.

Conjugation

Conjugation can make Turkish difficult when you first start studying the language. However, as you learn the rules and practice, you’ll be much less intimidated by it.

You need to know the factors that affect verb conjugation in Turkish, which are:

• Person / Subject
• Number of subject (singular or plural)
• Politeness level
• Tense

You should also note that there are passive voice, causative verbs (verbs formed by adding the causative suffix after the verb root), reflexive verbs, and a verb of mutual action in addition to verb conjugation.

3. How to Start Learning Turkish

Have you decided Turkish isn’t so bad after all? Here are some tips from TurkishClass101.com on how to get started with your Turkish studies! 

Alphabet

I’d recommend starting with the alphabet. As I mentioned earlier, not only do some of the letters look different, but they’re also pronounced differently. Make sure to learn how the consonants and vowels sound. Then, additional effort may be required to learn how the letters that don’t exist in your mother tongue are pronounced.

Vocabulary

Learning vocabulary is also essential. You need to start building up your vocabulary (nouns, adjectives, verbs), so once you start learning basic grammar, you can start applying the vocabulary you’ve learned.

You can expand your vocabulary by reading and listening. Make sure to write down the words you don’t know, and always use a dictionary. You can also make flashcards to help you remember words and their meanings. Remember that you need to repeat and use a word many times to memorize it.

Basic Grammar

Once that’s out of the way, start learning basic grammar so you can start making sentences. It might be a good idea to start with pronouns, then word order, sentence structure, and conjugation.

Practice

Finally, you need to put together all you’ve learned and put it to practice. I put “practice” at the end, but that doesn’t mean you have to learn everything before you start practicing. You have to practice as you go, and don’t shy away from making mistakes. On the contrary, be bold and use every opportunity to use the new things you’ve learned:

• You should listen to Turkish radio channels and Turkish music. This will help expand your vocabulary, improve your pronunciation, and give you better overall language comprehension.
• You should read Turkish blogs, articles, and books. This will expand your vocabulary even further and improve your comprehension.
• You should watch Turkish TV shows or videos to improve your vocabulary, pronunciation, and language comprehension.
• Try practicing with native Turkish-speakers whenever possible, as they can help point out and correct your mistakes. This will definitely boost your speaking ability! 

4. TurkishClass101 is Awesome for Learning Turkish!

Would you like to learn and practice Turkish in the quickest, easiest, and most fun way? If yes, all you need to do is visit TurkishClass101.com.

Here are some fantastic benefits you can expect when you sign up:

All-in-one resource

Our website teaches you everything you need to know about Turkish and gives you endless opportunities to practice. It teaches you grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation, and helps you build your listening, writing, reading, and speaking skills. We even teach you about the country’s culture!

Free resources

TurkishClass101.com has many free resources you can use. 

Here, you can learn the Turkish language basics, practice your Turkish pronunciation, and study the entire Turkish alphabet. Furthermore, you can learn about Turkish grammar, memorize the 100 Most Common Words, and master a few Key Turkish Phrases.

To learn more vocabulary, you get free access to our themed vocabulary lists, receive a word of the day, and can utilize our Turkish-English dictionary. 

Premium services

There’s also MyTeacher, a Premium PLUS service of TurkishClass101 that you can use to practice with a private teacher.

This service provides:

• One-on-one interaction with your personal teacher
• Guidance and ongoing assessment 
• Weekly assignments 
• Constructive feedback
• Badges for the assignments you complete

Mobility when learning

Don’t fall behind! Keep learning Turkish wherever you are, and never let you location be a barrier in your language-learning. 

How? Download the app for free and use it anywhere, anytime.

5. Utilize TurkishClass101 to Learn Turkish Today! 

Now you know the easiest and the most challenging parts of learning Turkish! We’ve given you advice on where to start and how to facilitate your learning with TurkishClass101.

Don’t lose any time; check out TurkishClass101 and utilize all of the resources mentioned above. Also, make sure to provide us with feedback about your experience with TurkishClass101!

Before you go, we’re curious: Do you find the Turkish language easy or hard so far? Let us know in the comments, and feel free to ask any questions you still have!