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Celebrating International Women’s Day in Turkey

Celebrating International Women’s Day in Turkey

International Women’s Day in Turkey, called Uluslararası Kadınlar Günü, is a very significant holiday, as it seeks not only to promote women’s rights, but to unite women from various backgrounds. In this article, you’ll learn all about Women’s Day, Turkey’s women’s rights, and more facts about the holiday.

Let’s get started.

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1. What is International Women’s Day?

International Women’s Day, celebrated in numerous countries around the world, is a special day set aside to honor women, show appreciation toward them, and most importantly, promote greater kadın hakları, or “women’s rights.” Women’s Day in Turkey has a particular focus on kızkardeşlik, or “sisterhood,” as women from a variety of backgrounds unite with a common goal.

Looking at the International Women’s Day history, it was first celebrated in the United States in 1909, the year that the Socialist Party of America set up an event in New York. The idea of a Women’s Day quickly spread to Europe, and many European countries celebrated their first International Women’s Day in 1911.

Since the early 2000s, women’s rights in Turkey have slowly made gains as a result of Turkey’s desire to become part of the EU. For example, in 2004, Turkey updated its laws to acknowledge the individuality of women as people, raised the legal age of marriage to eighteen, and determined that the man and woman in a marriage are equal. Later, in 2012, Turkey also signed the Istanbul Convention.

2. When is International Women’s Day?

A Group of Girls With Their Arms Around Each Other

Each year, International Women’s Day is celebrated on March 8.

3. Women’s Day Celebrations in Turkey

A Woman Smelling a Bouquet of Flowers

In Turkey, International Women’s Day is marked by many protests and marches, organized solely by women. During these protests, Turkish women speak out against and hold signs condemning many of the troubles that women in the country face. Some examples of these troubles are “domestic violence” (aile içi şiddet), “harassment” (taciz), and a remaining lack of “equality” (eşitlik) between men and women.

As we mentioned earlier, on International Women’s Day, Turkey’s women come together from various backgrounds to fight for feminism and equal rights. This is especially important, considering the discrimination often held against certain groups of women, particularly those who are nonreligious. Not only do the protests take a stand for women’s özgürlük, or “freedom,” from gender inequality, but they also promote a sense of unity and togetherness among Turkey’s feminist community.

Unfortunately, some of these protests have recently been met with violence and other forms of opposition.

4. International Women’s Day Color

Do you know what the official International Women’s Day color is?

Purple (mor) is recognized as the official color for this holiday. Other common colors that people wear on this day are white, green, pink, and sometimes red.

5. Essential Turkish Vocab for Women’s Day

Gender Signs Representing Equality on Blackboard

Ready to review some of the vocabulary words from this article? Here’s a list of the most important Turkish vocabulary for International Women’s Day!

  • Mor — “Purple”
  • Uluslararası Kadınlar Günü — “International Women’s Day”
  • Kadın — “Woman”
  • Kadın hakları — “Women’s rights”
  • Eşitlik — “Equality”
  • Oy hakkı — “Suffrage”
  • Kızkardeşlik — “Sisterhood”
  • Toplumsal cinsiyet — “Gender”
  • Özgürlük — “Freedom”
  • Taciz — “Harassment”
  • Aile içi şiddet — “Domestic violence”
  • Yürüyüş — “Parade”

To hear the pronunciation of each word, and to read them alongside relevant images, be sure to check out our Turkish International Women’s Day vocabulary list!

Final Thoughts

We hope you enjoyed learning about International Women’s Day in Turkey with us, and that you learned some valuable information today. Do you celebrate Women’s Day or a similar holiday in your country? Let us know in the comments!

If you’re fascinated with Turkish culture and want to learn more, check out the following pages on TurkishClass101.com:

Whatever your reasons for developing an interest in Turkish culture or the language, know that TurkishClass101.com is the best way to expand your knowledge and improve your skills. With tons of fun and immersive lessons for learners at every level, there’s something for everyone!

Create your free lifetime account today, and start learning with us.

Dünya Kadınlar Günü kutlu olsun! (“Happy International Women’s Day!” in Turkish) from the TurkishClass101 family!

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Holidays in Turkey: Atatürk Remembrance Day

Every year, the Turkish people commemorate one of the greatest leaders the country has known: Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. In this article, you’ll learn about how Turkey honors Ataturk’s memory, and explore some of Ataturk’s contributions to Turkey—and the world. In short, you’ll gain a clear picture of what the Turkish people remember Ataturk for, and why it’s significant.

As any successful language-learner can tell you, understanding a country’s culture is a step you can’t miss!

At TurkishClass101.com, we hope to make every aspect of your language-learning journey both fun and informative! Let’s get started, and delve into this Turkish national holiday.

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1. What is Atatürk Remembrance Day?

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk passed away of cirrhosis on November 10, 1938, at 09:05 in Dolmabahçe Palace. His casket, draped in a flag, was placed on a catafalque for a moment, while residents of Istanbul mourned deeply. Following the funeral prayer and cortege, during his mausoleum’s construction, Atatürk rested in a marble tomb in the Ethnography Museum of Ankara for fifteen years. After the completion of Anıtkabir, his casket was transferred to his final resting place.

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was not only an extraordinary leader and a revolutionary officer, who advocated peace, democracy, secularism, basic rights, and freedom, but he was also an academic research enthusiast. Even though today he might be considered to be ultra-nationalistic by some, he has always been admired and respected internationally as a leader, for his long-sightedness, ideas, and military achievements. One of his most famous sayings summarizes his ideas: “Peace at home, peace in the world.”

Mustafa Kemal was granted his surname, which is the combination of the words “father” and “Turk,” by the parliament right after the surname law in 1934.

2. When is Ataturk Commemoration Day?

The Turkish Flag

Turks celebrate Ataturk Remembrance Day each year on November 10, the date of this beloved figure’s death.

3. Ataturk Memorial Day Traditions & Celebrations

Placing a Wreath

Every year on November 10 at exactly 09:05, sirens sound throughout the country. All traffic stops, drivers and travelers get out of their vehicles, and people in their offices take a break and stand up. In schools, students will already be expecting this time and join the rest of the country.

Life stops at this time, and while the sirens wail, everybody in the country stands up as a gesture of respect. Following the sirens, in schools and government agencies, people sing the National Anthem.

4. Six Important Ataturk Principles

Can you name the six principles of Atatürk’s that have affected recent Turkish history?

These principles are:

  1. Republicanism
  2. Populism
  3. Secularism
  4. Reformism
  5. Nationalism
  6. Statism

5. Must-Know Vocabulary for Ataturk Remembrance Day

Ataturk

Here’s some essential vocabulary for Ataturk Remembrance Day!

  • Mustafa Kemal Atatürk — “Mustafa Kemal Ataturk”
  • Türk Bayrağı — “Turkish flag”
  • Anıtkabir’e çelenk koymak — “Place a wreath on the Mausoleum of Ataturk”
  • Yas tutma — “Mourning”
  • Saygı duruşu — “Moment of silence”
  • Askeri geçit — “Military parade”
  • Bayrak asmak — “Fly a flag”
  • Bayrak sallama — “Flag-waving”
  • Anma töreni — “Commemorative ceremony”
  • Atatürk büstü — “Bust of Ataturk”
  • Atatürk rozeti — “Ataturk badge”
  • İstiklal Marşı — “Turkish National Anthem”
  • Anıtkabir — “The Mausoleum of Ataturk”

To hear the pronunciation of each word, and to see them accompanied by relevant images, visit our Ataturk Remembrance Day vocabulary list!

Final Thoughts

We hope you enjoyed learning about this Turkish national holiday with us!

Did you learn anything new? Does your country have a similar holiday celebrating a beloved historical figure? Let us know in the comments! We always look forward to hearing from you!

Being able to discover a country’s culture may be the most rewarding and exciting aspect of trying to master its language. If more cultural information is what you’re after, be sure to check out the following pages on TurkishClass101.com:

For even more Turkish learning opportunities, be sure to create a free basic account today! By upgrading to Premium Plus, you can further accelerate your learning with your own personal Turkish tutor. You really can master the language, and we’ll be here with constant support and effective learning materials every step of the way!

Happy Turkish learning!

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Interesting Turkish Body Gestures

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While body language is always a useful way of expressing or emphasizing our feelings, language learners can especially benefit from it! Imagine you’re in the country of your target language but lack the verbal communication skills necessary to get your point across. In this situation, it would be crucial to know the most common body and hand gestures in that country. 

If you plan on visiting Turkey in the near future and don’t have enough time to learn the language, you should at least become familiar with the different Turkish gestures. Keep in mind, however, that you need to be very cautious about relying solely on gestures for communication. A positive gesture in your country could be a negative one in Turkey (or another country). Being mindful of what each gesture means and when it’s used will help you avoid many embarrassing situations! 

In this article, we’ll talk about Turkish hand gestures and Turkish body gestures, so that you won’t have to feel helpless when you’re trying to communicate with a Turkish person who doesn’t speak your own language.

Before we start though, let me share with you an interesting and funny gesture I heard about many years ago. Every time I think of it, it cracks me up… 

A tourist tried to explain something several times via gestures, but he finally felt so helpless that he showed his bottom, made a sound, and opened his arms to the sides as if asking where something was. Obviously, he was trying to ask where the restroom was! It sounds like a joke, doesn’t it? But it really happened!

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  1. Introduction to Turkish Communication
  2. Greetings
  3. Positive Gestures
  4. Negative Gestures
  5. Other Gestures
  6. Learn More About the Turkish Language and Culture with TurkishClass101

1. Introduction to Turkish Communication

Turkish people are known to be friendly and sincere. Perhaps this is why they don’t give others much personal space, especially when it comes to family members and close friends.

They also tend to be touchy. While in Turkey, you’ll often find women—or even men—walking arm in arm. It’s not uncommon to see men putting their arms around each other. It has nothing to do with sexuality; it’s just part of the culture.

Turkish people like chit-chatting and use a lot of gestures in the process, especially to emphasize their words, ideas, and feelings.

Now let’s see what kind of Turkish body language gestures are used in different situations. 

2. Greetings

Offering a proper greeting is essential in making a great first impression. After learning how to say hello in Turkish, you should also become familiar with the following Turkish greeting gestures. 

1. Waving your hand

This gesture is used in informal situations to say both “hello” and “goodbye” to someone while they’re at a distance. 

2. Raising your hand and then putting it down

This one is used in both formal and informal cases. It’s used to say both “hello” and “goodbye” if there’s some distance between you and the person you’re greeting.

Greeting from a Distance

3. Bowing your head

When you bow your head, it can mean “Hello,” or “Nice to meet you, too.”

4. Shaking hands

This is done in formal settings. It’s the most common way of greeting someone you don’t know, someone you’ve just been introduced to, or someone with whom you have a business relationship. 

5. Kissing two cheeks

This is a very common informal greeting. Friends, family members, and others who have a close relationship kiss each other on each cheek. Don’t be surprised if you also see men doing this. As mentioned earlier, this is just part of the culture and has nothing to do with one’s sexuality.

6. Putting your right hand on your heart

This is usually used by religious people who don’t want to shake hands with the opposite sex. It’s also used to say “Thank you,” or “I appreciate it.”

7. Opening your hands palms-up

This is an informal gesture. It’s a way of saying “What’s up?” to someone who is far from you.

8. Taking someone’s right hand in your right hand, kissing it, and taking it to your forehead

Depending on your cultural background, this one may be very unfamiliar to you. It’s done to show respect. Someone who is younger does this to someone who is older, regardless of the gender. It’s used when saying both “Hello,” and “Goodbye.”

3. Positive Gestures

Here are some Turkish hand gestures that have a positive connotation.

1. Thumbs-up

Like in most cultures, this means “good” or “I like it” in Turkish.

Thumbs-up

2. Holding your hand half up in the air, palm towards your face, fingers moving towards yourself

This is an informal gesture that means, “Come here.”

3. Closing your four fingers (except the index finger) and moving the tip of your index finger towards yourself

This one also means, “Come here.” It’s informal and normally used when someone is trying to go away or escape from you.

4. Shaking your head up and down

This is a sign of approval. It means “Yes,” or “I agree.” It’s typically used in informal situations, though it can also be used in formal situations.

5. Making a circle with your thumb and index finger while lifting the other fingers 

This one means “Good,” or “I like it.”

6. Making a V sign with your index finger and middle finger

Like in most other cultures, this means “peace” in Turkish.

Peace Sign

7. Raising your index finger or your hand

This is a way of asking for permission to speak. Usually, students use it in their classes to be given permission to talk by their teachers.

8. Putting your palm up and bringing your fingers in towards the thumb and moving it up and down

This is an informal gesture meaning “Good,” or “Delicious.”

9. Putting your index finger on your lips

This is an informal gesture meaning “Be quiet.”

Be Quiet

10. Rubbing your index finger and thumb together

This gesture is used to say “money” or to ask “How much?” It’s used in informal situations.

4. Negative Gestures

Now, let’s look at the other side of the coin: negative Turkish hand gestures. (While we won’t be covering any truly insulting Turkish gestures here, you can become familiar with them in this YouTube video.)

1. Thumbs-down

It means “Not good,” or “I don’t like it.” It’s used in informal situations.

Thumbs-down

2. Twisting one hand up in the air as if changing a light bulb

It’s used to say “crazy” or to ask “Are you crazy?” It’s used among friends and in other informal situations.

3. Crossing your fingers

It means to get crossed with someone. This one is normally used by kids.

4. Shaking your head from one side to the other

This is a sign of disapproval, meaning “No,” or “I don’t agree.” It’s typically used in informal situations, though it can be used in more formal contexts as well. 

5. Other Gestures

Let’s see some other Turkish gestures, what they mean, and when they’re used.

1. Raising and lowering your shoulders

It means: “I don’t care.” / “I don’t know.” / “I’m not sure.” It’s used in informal conversations.

2. Placing your hand in front of you, palm down, and tipping it from left to right several times

It means “so-so” or “more or less.”

3. Using your index finger to pull down the bottom lid of one eye

This means “I don’t believe you,” or “I highly doubt that.” It’s mainly used by kids. 

4. Raising two hands together as you look towards the sky

This can either be a sign of praying or a way of saying, “Oh my God.”

Praying

5. Writing on air or writing on the palm of one hand with the other one

This gesture is used to ask for the bill in a restaurant. It’s used in informal settings.

    Click here to see a demonstration of some of the Turkish gestures explained above. The video also shows additional Turkish body language gestures you can learn!

6. Learn More About the Turkish Language and Culture with TurkishClass101

By now, you should know a lot more about Turkish body language gestures than you did before! Use them with peace of mind, knowing that native Turkish speakers will correctly understand what you mean.

Which of these body gestures were most fascinating to you? Are any of them similar to those in your country? 

For more information on the Turkish language or culture, you should continue exploring TurkishClass101.com and start benefiting from our numerous audio recordings, vocabulary lists, blog posts, and free resources. And don’t forget about our MyTeacher service for Premium PLUS members, which allows you to study and practice with a personal tutor. 

What are you waiting for? You can download the app for free and use our learning platform wherever you are.

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

Happy learning!

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A New Language: Turkish Slang for Texting and the Web

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Have you ever heard of “Turkish bird language?” If you have, please note that I’m not talking about Turkish whistling language, which farmers use. When I was a kid, my friends and I used to talk in a bird language, putting “ge, ga, gi, gu, gö, gü” after each syllable. It wouldn’t have sounded like Turkish to a foreigner learning the language.

Nowadays, Turkish slang for the internet is very popular. And guess what? When you read these words and expressions, you might think they don’t sound like Turkish either. They remind me of the good old days! You need to know about these slang words and abbreviations to figure out this new language!

Let’s start with regular Turkish slang words and then continue with internet and text slang.

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Table of Contents

  1. What is Slang?
  2. Turkish Internet/Text Slang
  3. Sample Turkish Internet Slang Phrases
  4. Go Beyond Turkish Slang

1. What is Slang?

Computer Words

Essentially, slang is a more informal and playful way of using a given language. It’s often very different from how people usually speak or write in that language.

1- Why is it used?

People, especially the young generation, use slang a lot because they think:

  • It’s fun and witty.
  • It’s friendlier.
  • It expresses nuances better than formal language.
  • It communicates more quickly.
  • Parents and others won’t understand what they’re talking about.
  • It’s understood within a certain group.
  • It shows that they belong to a certain group.

2- What is internet or text slang?

These days, nearly everyone has a smartphone, so the internet, social media usage, and text messaging are very popular. They became the most common channels for chatting.

Young people use abbreviations, acronyms, and slang words when chatting. By using these special characters, they type faster and save time. Even though the older people think it’s nonsense, younger people think it’s cool!

People of many different disciplines have been studying and discussing internet and text slang as a social topic. Some psychologists think it leads to a lazier generation who will look for shortcuts in other areas of their lives. Linguists think it’s unnecessary and it ruins languages.

3- How is internet or text slang different?

Internet and text slang and the slang we use in daily life are alike in the sense that they may both include swear words. However, internet and text slang consists of abbreviations, acronyms, symbols, and characters not usually found in the spoken word.

2. Turkish Internet/Text Slang

Computer Sentences

Everything we discussed above also relates to Turkish slang. In this article, I will talk about Turkish internet words and Turkish text slang words, and will provide translations for you. Daily slang in Turkish will be covered in another article, and for the purpose of this article, I won’t mention Turkish internet slang swear words, either. (You can refer to Wikibooks if you’re curious about this topic.)

Turkish internet slang phrases include:

  • Slang words
  • Abbreviations and acronyms
  • Characters that stand for emotions/emoticons

Slang Words

Some Turkish slang words are also used in Turkish internet slang phrases and as Turkish text slang words. Here are some examples:

  • Bro:
    • This is the short form of the word “brother” in English. It’s used as “friend.”
  • Mal:
    • This word in Turkish means “goods” or “estate.” However, in slang, it means “stupid” or “idiot.”
  • Cool:
    • This Turkish slang term comes from English. It’s used with its original English meaning.
  • Efso:
    • This is the short form of the word efsane in Turkish. It means “legend.”
  • Popi:
    • This word is used for the word popüler in Turkish, which means “popular” in English.
  • Ponçik:
    • This is a word that doesn’t exist in Turkish. Boys and girls call each other ponçik, which basically means “nice” or “cute.”
  • Sayko:
    • When the word “psycho” in English is pronounced, it’s written as sayko in Turkish. It’s used with the same meaning in English.
  • Ciciş:
    • This refers to somebody who is “nice and sweet.”
  • Kanka / Kanks / Kanki / Panpa:
    • All of these words are used to say “buddy.”
  • Kıro / Kro:
    • Both of these words mean “yokel.”
  • Cringe:
    • This is used to express embarrassment on behalf of somebody else.
  • Challenge yapmak:
    • This Turkish texting slang means “to call out.”
  • Like atmak:
    • This one is used to express the act of liking something on Facebook.
  • Sahiplemek:
    • This means that two people are compatible with each other.
  • Trip atmak:
    • This means “to attitudinize.”
  • Trollemek:
    • This one means “to create trouble.”
  • Keklemek:
    • This word is “to deceive.”
  • İfşalamak:
    • This one means “to reveal.”
  • Abrvtns and Acrnyms:
    • This means “abbreviations” and “acronyms.”

Now, here comes the fun part, if you like to solve puzzles!

Abbreviation Puzzle

Usually, three-letter abbreviations are used to shorten words. In most cases, vowels are omitted and sometimes acronyms are used.

Refer to the table of abbreviated Turkish slang expressions below to see the commonly used abbreviations and acronyms when texting. If you’d like to test yourself, you can easily close the second column!

Abbreviation/Acronym Turkish English
Slm Selam Hi
Mrb Merhaba Hello
Nbr Ne haber? What’s up?
Nslsn Nasılsın? How are you?
Nrd Neredesin? Where are you?
Nzmn Ne zaman? When?
Tmm / Tm / Ok / Okey / Oki Tamam OK
Tbr Tebrikler. Congratulations.
Tşk Teşekkürler. Thank you.
Kib Kendine iyi bak. Take care.
Grşz Görüşürüz. See you.
Hg Hayırlı günler. Have a good day.
Inş İnşallah Hopefully
Muck / Mck / Mujk Öpüyorum. Kisses
Ss Seni seviyorum. I love you.
Sçs Seni çok seviyorum. I love you very much.
Ajkm / Aşkm Aşkım My love
Cnm Canım My soul
Tnşlm Tanışalım. Let’s get to know each other.
Abv Allah belanı versin. God damn you.
Aeo Allaha emanet ol. Literal translation: Be entrusted to God. (Used when saying bye)
Bgn Bugün Today
Yrn Yarın Tomorrow
E Evet Yes
H Hayır No
Dm Usually, this is the abbreviation used by those who want to send/receive private messages. Direct message
By / Bb Güle güle Bye / Bye bye
Knk Kanka / Dostum Buddy / My friend
Ayn Aynen Exactly
Mük Mükemmel Perfect
Arv Allah rahatlık versin Literal translation: Hope God gives comfort.

It’s used when someone is going to sleep, sort of like “Goodnight, have a nice sleep.”

Gt Geri takip Follow back
Kt Karşılıklı takip Follow mutually

I wonder how well you did guessing the shortened words!

Internet Slang

Some Turkish people, especially those who speak English, might also use the following acronyms that are commonly used in English:

  • LOL: Laugh out loud
  • Bff: Best friends forever
  • Np: No problem
  • OMG: Oh my God!
  • Thx: Thanks

Characters That Stand for Emoticons

There are so many emoticons/emojis that can be used these days. However, in the past, we used to use some characters that stood for emotions. Some people still use them, especially those who are middle-aged.

Happy and Unhappy Faces

Here are the most frequently used ones:

: ) or : -) Smiley or happy face
:))) or :)) Very happy
: ( or 🙁 Unhappy
😀 Laughing
; ) or ;‑) Wink
😛 Tongue sticking out
@}->– or @}‑;‑’‑‑‑ or @>‑‑>‑‑ Rose
Heart

3. Sample Turkish Internet Slang Phrases

Texting Slang

Let’s look at some Turkish slang phrases in action and have a little more fun. 🙂

Person Text message Proper Turkish English
1 mrb aşkm 🙂 nslsn? Merhaba aşkım, nasılsın? Hello my love, how are you?
2 iim, sen? İyiyim, ya sen? I’m fine and you?
1 İi, tşk İyiyim teşekkürler. I’m fine, thanks.
2 nzmn gidiosun? Ne zaman gidiyorsun? When are you going?
1 yrn Yarın Tomorrow.
2 Özlicem. kib Özleyeceğim. Kendine iyi bak. I’ll miss you. Take care.
1 Sen de. sçs Sen de. Seni çok seviyorum. You, too. I love you very much.
2 Sçs, muck Seni çok seviyorum. Öpüyorum. I love you very much. Kisses.
1 muck Öpüyorum. Kisses.

Wow, did you count how many words they saved when texting? It’s incredible!

Texting Is Fun!

I don’t use a lot of abbreviations when I’m texting. Therefore, it’s a little difficult for me to create different examples. Here’s another one that I got from this website:

Person Text message Proper Turkish English
1 Nbr knk? Knsr vr glcn mi? st 23:30 da Ne haber, kanka? Konser var, gelecek misin? Saat 23:30’da. What’s up, buddy? There is a concert. Will you come? It’s at 23:30.
2 Nrd knk? Where is it, kanka? Where is it, buddy?
3 Stdyumda Stadyumda. It’s at the stadium.
4 Oki. glcm Tamam. Gelicem. OK. I will come.

You can click here to see more examples.

4. Go Beyond Turkish Slang

I’m sure this article will prevent you from falling behind in understanding Turkish internet slang phrases and Turkish text slang words in your daily life. However, please don’t forget that you’ll need proper Turkish, especially at work, school, or in formal meetings or gatherings. Turkish internet words won’t help you much when you need to communicate in formal Turkish.

TurkishClass101 will help you build a strong grammar infrastructure and improve your vocabulary. We have tons of vocabulary lists with audio recordings, and free resources including a dictionary you can easily refer to.

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

Don’t forget that there’s also MyTeacher, which is a Premium PLUS service of TurkishClass101 that you can use to practice with a private teacher.

As usual, we can’t wait to hear your feedback about your experience with the services offered at TurkishClass101!

Before you go, let us know in the comments what the most popular slang words and phrases are in your own language. We’re curious!

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10 Untranslatable Turkish Words and Phrases

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Where would you place yourself on the Turkish-language proficiency scale? 

If you’re an intermediate or advanced learner, you already have a strong vocabulary and a good working knowledge of Turkish grammar and syntax. You might be tempted to think there’s not much more to learn…

Now, sit back for a moment and think about your own native language. 

Aren’t there any words or phrases that are almost impossible to translate into Turkish? Even if you could translate these terms, they wouldn’t retain their original meaning or feeling. Well, there are words like this in every language! 

Untranslatable Turkish words are the next stop on your language learning journey. Learning these terms will give you additional insight into Turkish culture and strengthen your language skills by allowing you to add flavor and nuance. 

Are you ready to learn the most important Turkish words with no English equivalent? Here are some beautiful untranslatable Turkish words I’ve chosen for you.

Start with a bonus, and download the Must-Know Beginner Vocabulary PDF for FREE! (Logged-In Member Only)

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  1. Kolay gelsin.
  2. Eline sağlık. / Emeğine sağlık.
  3. Geçmiş olsun.
  4. Vıdı vıdı etmek.
  5. Güle güle otur
  6. Sağlık olsun.
  7. Güle güle kullan. / Güle güle giy.
  8. Hoş buldum. / Hoş bulduk.
  9. Hayırlı olsun.
  10. Ölümü gör. / Ölümü öp.
  11. Learn More About the Turkish Language with TurkishClass101

1. Kolay gelsin.

1TurkishKolay gelsin
LiterallyMay it come easy to you.
Equivalent in EnglishGood luck. / More power to you.

This untranslatable Turkish phrase is said to someone who is working hard (either physically or mentally). Below is an example of how this phrase might be used in a conversation. 

A: I have to go home and cook.
B: Tamam o zaman. Kolay gelsin. / Tamam o zaman. Sana kolay gelsin. (OK, then. Good luck. / OK, then. Good luck to you.)

[Keep in mind that the formal version of the phrase in the example would be: Size kolay gelsin.]

2. Eline sağlık. / Emeğine sağlık.

These are other untranslatable Turkish phrases. They are also used frequently. 

2TurkishEline sağlık. / Emeğine sağlık.
LiterallyHealth to your hand. / Health to your effort.
Equivalent in EnglishGod bless your hands. / Good job. / Thank you.

Eline sağlık is used to compliment someone who has cooked something for you, or to say “good job” to someone who has made/produced something in general.  

Emeğine sağlık is used to congratulate someone on their efforts toward accomplishing something.

Here are some examples for you:

  • Eline sağlık yemek çok güzel olmuş. (God bless your hands, the food is very good.)
  • Yaptığın tabloyu çok beğendim, emeğine sağlık. (I liked the painting you made, good job.)

A Family Sitting Down to a Nice Dinner

Thank you for the meal.

3. Geçmiş olsun.

3TurkishGeçmiş olsun.
LiterallyMay it pass.
Equivalent in EnglishIt’s translated as “get well soon.”

This untranslatable Turkish phrase is often used as a “get well” wish when someone is sick, though it can also be used in other contexts. For example, you could say this to someone once they’ve completed a difficult task—in this case, it would mean “I’m glad it’s over.”

Below are some examples:

  • Dün hasta olduğunu duydum. Geçmiş olsun. (I heard you were sick yesterday. I hope you get well soon.)
  • Mezuniyet projeni teslim etmişsin. Hadi geçmiş olsun. (You handed in your graduation project. I’m glad it’s over.)

4. Vıdı vıdı etmek.

Hmmm, why does this one have reduplicative words in it? Let’s scroll down and see.

4TurkishVıdı vıdı etmek.
LiterallyVıdı vıdı is an untranslatable phrase in Turkish that actually doesn’t mean anything. Etmek is a helping verb, but even when it’s put together with the reduplicative, the phrase is not translatable. It just means something along the lines of “nagging.”
Equivalent in EnglishThe term refers to blabbing around in a way that annoys other people. In other words: to nag, to keep talking about and criticizing everything, or to not like anything. 

You can use this phrase whenever someone is nagging. Here’s an example for you:

  • Vıdı vıdı edeceğine, gel de yardım et. (Come and help me instead of nagging.)
Nagging

5. Güle güle otur

5TurkishGüle güle otur
LiterallySit by laughing
Equivalent in EnglishEnjoy your place/house.

These unique words in Turkish are used when someone buys a new house or moves into a new place.

Example: 

  • Yeni evinde güle güle otur. (Enjoy your new house.)

A Family of 5 That Has Just Moved into a New House

Enjoy your new house.

6. Sağlık olsun.

6TurkishSağlık olsun.
LiterallyMay it be health.
Equivalent in English

The word sağlık means “health.” This phrase is used to console someone who has endured a sad situation or suffered harm. It can also be used as a general phrase of motivation or reassurance after something bad has happened. 

Below are a couple of sample conversations using this phrase.

A: Özür dilerim, bana verdigin kalemi kaybettim. (I apologize, I lost the pen you gave me.)
B: Sağlık olsun. (No problem.)

A: Sana kek yaptım ama yandı. (I made a cake for you, but it’s burnt.)
B: Sağlık olsun. (No problem.)

7. Güle güle kullan. / Güle güle giy.

7TurkishGüle güle kullan. / Güle güle giy.
LiterallyUse it by laughing. / Wear it by laughing.Güle güle is also used to say goodbye.
Equivalent in EnglishEnjoy it.

You can say these unique Turkish words after someone thanks you for something you gave him/her as a gift or when someone shows you something he/she has bought. 

Here are a couple of examples:

  • Yeni bilgisayarını çok beğendim, güle güle kullan. (I liked your new computer, enjoy it.) 
  • Bu elbise yeni mi? Çok şık, güle güle giy. (Is this dress new? It’s stylish, enjoy it.)

A Woman Trying on a New Red Dress

Enjoy your new dress.

8. Hoş buldum. / Hoş bulduk.

8TurkishHoş Buldum / Hoş Bulduk
LiterallyI / We found pleasant.
Equivalent in English

When someone welcomes you to their home, you say hoş bulduk to thank them and to let them know you’re glad to be there.

Examples: 

A: Hoşgeldin! (Welcome!) [This is singular.]
B: Hoş buldum. / Hoş bulduk. (Thank you. / Good to be here.)

[Although only one person is welcomed, the answer can be either singular or plural.]

A: Hoşgeldiniz! (Welcome!) [This is plural, a.k.a. the polite form.)
B: Hoş bulduk. (Thank you. / Good to be here.) [The answer is plural.]

Welcome

9. Hayırlı olsun.

Hayırlı olsun is a phrase that can be used in many different situations. It’s used, for example, when someone…

  • …buys something new.
  • …gets a new job.
  • …gets engaged.
  • …gets a promotion.

9TurkishHayırlı olsun.
LiterallyMay it be good.
Equivalent in EnglishCongratulations. / Good luck with it.

Examples:

A: Pazartesi yeni bir projeye başlıyorum. (I’m starting on a new project on Monday.)
B: Hayırlı olsun. (Congratulations.)

A: Kızım bugün ilkokula başladı. (My daughter started elementary school today.)
B: Hayırlı olsun. (Congratulations.)

10. Ölümü gör. / Ölümü öp.

Most foreigners find this one interesting. That doesn’t surprise me—I personally wonder why and how someone came up with it, too. It sounds pretty weird when translated…ready to see what I mean? 

10TurkishÖlümü gör. / Ölümü öp.
LiterallySee my dead body. / Kiss my dead body.
Equivalent in EnglishTo insist that someone does a certain thing

This phrase is used to convince an unwilling person to do something. For example, when you want someone to tell you a secret he/she knows about or when you want someone to eat more of the food you’re offering.

Examples:

  • Bu tatlıyı tatmazsan ölümü gör. (The person insists that the other person should taste the dessert.) 
  • Ölümü öp, neler olduğunu söyle. (The person is forcing the other person to tell him/her what had happened.)

11. Learn More About the Turkish Language with TurkishClass101

You just learned 10 untranslatable Turkish phrases! That means it’s time to start practicing, so you can use them with confidence when the time comes. 

Before you go: I’m curious to know your “mosts.” What did you think was the most interesting one? Most useful? Most unguessable? Let us know in the comments and see what other Turkish learners thought! 

If you want to add more untranslatable Turkish words to your vocabulary, then you should visit TurkishClass101.com and start benefiting from our numerous audio recordings, vocabulary lists, blog posts, and free resources (including this dictionary).

Don’t forget that there’s also our Premium PLUS MyTeacher service, which allows you to study and practice the language with a private teacher. Your tutor can provide you with personalized assignments, record audio pronunciations for you, give you extra insight on Turkish culture, and more. 

Do you know what else is good about it? You can download the app for free and use it wherever you are.

Happy learning. 

Start with a bonus, and download the Must-Know Beginner Vocabulary PDF for FREE! (Logged-In Member Only)

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Best Turkish Movies for Learning Turkish

Wouldn’t it be fun learning Turkish by watching Turkish movies? You’ll be glad to hear that today, movies are an effective way of teaching a foreign language. They’re used both as a visual and an auditory tool.

Further, Turkish movies reflect the real life, popular culture, and art of the Turkish society. They’re also a good way to learn about daily conversations and improve pronunciation. Turkish movies with English subtitles will not only help you increase your vocabulary, but also help you understand how and where the words are used. In other words, Turkish movies will help you develop your skills for verbal communication and comprehension. You can watch Turkish movies on Netflix or YouTube.

Table of Contents

  1. How Can Turkish Learners Make the Most of Watching Movies?
  2. General Info about Turkish Films
  3. Movies to Watch
  4. Conclusion: How TurkishClass101 Can Help You Learn More Turkish

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1. How Can Turkish Learners Make the Most of Watching Movies?

Top Verbs

Watching a movie, whether it’s a Turkish prison movie or a Turkish cat movie (such as Kedi), will increase your exposure to the language. However, in order to get the most out of these Turkish movies, you should pay attention to the following:

  • First of all, try to learn what kind of movie you’ll be watching. This is critical because it will be more helpful to choose the type of movie you enjoy.
  • Since repetition is important in learning a foreign language, watch the movie more than once.
  • Turkish movies with English subtitles are helpful, but try to limit subtitle use to your first watch. After the first time, you should watch it without the subtitles.
  • Don’t use a dictionary while watching the movie. I can hear you saying, “I can stop it, use the dictionary, and then resume it.” No, no, that’s not a good idea at all. Do not look up words. However, you can make a note of the words that you need to look up later.

Dictionary

  • Back to the importance of repetition; repeat the words and phrases that are frequently used in the movie.
  • Try to summarize what’s going on in the film from time to time.

Use these tips to watch Turkish movies for your maximum benefit and enjoyment!

2. General Info about Turkish Films

Movie Genres

Before introducing our list of Turkish films, let’s go over some Turkish terminology related to movies.

· Sinema / Sinema filmi – “Movie”

· Film – “Film”

· İzlemek / Seyretmek – “To watch”

· Oyuncu – “Actor / actress”

· Yönetmen – “Director”

· Korku – “Horror”

· Komedi – “Comedy”

Now that you have an idea of the terminology and vocabulary you should know about Turkish movies, we’ll give you a little information on the different types of Turkish movies out there!

a. Turkish Horror Movies

There are quite a few Turkish horror movies. However, they’re not as popular as horror movies in the USA because the movie sector in this arena is still developing. Dabbe, Siccin, Ses, and Gen are some Turkish horror movies you may stumble across in your search for a good scary film.

b. Turkish Cat Movies

Yes, we’re really including this. There’s a Turkish-made documentary film about the wild cats of Istanbul, called Kedi, (or “Cat” in English). It’s a heartwarming movie, and highly acclaimed in Turkey and the United States.

c. Turkish Prison Movies

Some popular Turkish prison movies are: 72. koğuş, Duvar, Uçurtmayı vurmasınlar, Tatar Ramazan, and Yol. The film Yol won numerous honors, including the Palme d’Or at the 1982 Cannes Film Festival.

d. Turkish Comedy Movies

There are a lot of Turkish comedy movies. Here are some of them: Hababam Sınıfı, Salako, Vizontele, Tosun Paşa, Dondurmam Gaymak, and Organize İşler.

Comedy Movie

e. Other Types of Turkish Movies

There are also many drama, romance, and historical movies in Turkish. However, you may find that adventure, sci-fi, and fantasy movies are a little more popular. These include movies like G.O.R.A and A.R.O.G.

f. Turkish Movies 2018

If you’re looking for newer Turkish movies that are highly acclaimed, check out some of the best Turkish movies 2018: Müslüm, Kelebekler, Bizim için Şampiyon, Ahlat Ağacı, Sibel, Börü, and Ölümlü Dünya.

Improve Pronunciation

3. Movies to Watch

1 – Süt Kardeşler – “The Foster Brothers”

This is a 1976 Turkish comedy film directed by Ertem Eğilmez. Its cast consists of famous actors and actresses, including: Kemal Sunal, Şener Şen, Halit Akçatepe, Hale Soygazi, Adile Naşit, and Ayşen Gruda.

It’s the story of a famous writer named Hüseyin Rahmi Gürpınar.

Miss Melek lives in a mansion. She thinks Ramazan, who is Şaban’s friend, is her foster son and Ramazan stays with her. When she realizes she made a mistake, she introduces Ramazan to her brother Hüsamettin as her son-in-law, Bayram, because Hüsamettin is a short-tempered character. Things get complicated when the real Şaban comes to the mansion. Meanwhile, a gulyabani (a ghoul from Turkish folklore) haunts the mansion.

Here’s a quote from the movie:
Ben garip bir dilenciyim sokak sokak gezerim’.
“I am a strange beggar, wandering around the streets.”

This movie is recommended for Turkish learners at the beginner level.

2 – Selvi Boylum Al Yazmalım – “The Girl with the Red Scarf”

This is a 1978 Turkish romantic drama film, directed by Atıf Yılmaz. The cast consists of Türkan Şoray, Kadir İnanır, and Ahmet Mekin.

It’s about a village girl who falls in love with a truck driver from İstanbul. They get married and have a child. One night, the husband (Ilyas) helps a man, and his life changes from then on. He leaves his wife and his son. He goes back to his ex-girlfriend. After that, the wife (Asya) takes her son and goes away, without a clue where she’ll end up.

A man called Cemşit helps them, and Asya’s son comes to know him as a father. Asya decides to marry Cemşit, and they live happily for many years. Then one day, İlyas suddenly shows up and Asya finds herself in a dilemma between him and Cemşit; between love and logic.

One of the most famous quotes of this film is:
Sevgi neydi? Sevgi, sahip çıkan dost, sıcak insan eli. İnsan emeğiydi. Sevgi iyilikti. Sevgi emekti.
“What was love? Love is a friendly, warm human hand that is looking out for. It was human effort. Love was goodness. Love was effort.”

The film won three awards, and was voted one of the ten Best Turkish Films in a poll carried out by the Ankara Cinema Association.

3- Muhsin Bey – “Mr. Muhsin”

This is a 1987 Turkish drama film, written and directed by Yavuz Turgul. The actors and actresses are Şener Şen, Uğur Yücel, and Sermin Hürmeriç.

Mr. Muhsin is a middle-aged music producer, and Ali Nazik is a young man who dreams of becoming a celebrity. It starts out as a simple adventure they share, and then turns into a self-esteem issue for Mr. Muhsin.

The film won the Golden Oranges for Best Film, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor and Best Script, Special Jury Prize at the 6th International Istanbul Film Festival, and St. Sebastian Reward at St. Sebastian Film Festival in 1988. It was also voted one of the ten Best Turkish Films by the Ankara Cinema Association.

Here’s one of the most popular quotes of this film:
Agam, bene açık söyle. Ben kıtıpiyoz bi Ali Nazik’im. Türkücü bile degilem, bi garibem. Senin gibi anlı şanlı biri beni ne yapsın?
“My master, tell me straight. I’m grotty Ali Nazik. I’m not even a folk singer, I’m a weirdo. What would a glorious person like you do with me?”

4 – Uçurtmayı Vurmasınlar — “Don’t Let Them Shoot the Kite”

This is a 1989 Turkish drama film, co-written, co-produced, and directed by Tunç Başaran. This is an example of a Turkish prison movie. The major cast includes Nur Sürer, Ozan Bilen, Füsun Demirel, Rozet Hubeş, Güzin Özipek, Güzin Özyağcılar, and Yasemin Alkaya.

A woman gets sentenced to prison, and must take her son with her. Her son, Barış, becomes friends with another prisoner named Inci, and they form a special bond. The film shows all sides of prison life, and the life İnci and Barış create for themselves.

The film won the Golden Oranges for Best Film, Best Actress, Best Screenplay, and Best Cinematography, at the 26th Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival. It also won 2nd Best Film at the 10th Mediterranean International Film Festival, and Best Turkish Film at the 8th İstanbul International Film Festival. If that’s not enough, it was also voted the Best Turkish Film of the Year at the 1989 Istanbul Film Festival.

Here’s a quote from the movie:
Bak kuşların kanatlarına, güneş sana el sallıyor. Her akşam kuşlarla birlikte uykuya yatar güneş. Gün batımını göremeyenlere kuşların kanatlarıyla el sallar. Biz de el sallayalım.
“Look at the wings of the birds; the sun is waving at you. Every night the sun lies asleep with the birds. He waves with the wings of birds at those who cannot see the sunset. Let’s also wave.”

5 – Babam ve oğlum — “My Father and My Son”

This is a 2005 Turkish drama film written and directed by Çağan Irmak about a family torn apart by the 1980 Turkish coup d’état.

A young man named Sadık leaves his village on the Aegean coast to study journalism in Istanbul. However, his father Hüseyin wants him to study Agricultural Engineering to manage their farm. During his years at the university, Sadık becomes a militant in left wing politics. When his father learns about this, he disinherits him.

Sadık’s wife dies at a park while giving birth to their son, unable to go attend a hospital because of a curfew law. Following this, Sadık gets arrested because of his political activities. He gets tortured and imprisoned for three years, and after some time he starts having health problems.

A few years after being released, he finds out that he will die and takes his son back to his family’s farm. After Sadık passes away, his family raises his son.

The cast for this film includes:
· Fikret Kuşkan
· Çetin Tekindor
· Hümeyra
· Şerif Sezer
· Ege Tanman

The film won an award for its soundtrack at the World Soundtrack Awards, awarded to Evanthia Reboutsika. The film became one of the highest-grossing Turkish films in history.

Two famous quotes from this film are:

  • İnsan büyüyünce hayalleri küçülür mü?
    “When a person grows up, do his dreams get smaller?”
  • Evlatlar, babalarını hep hatırlamak istedikleri gibi hatırlarlar.
    “Sons remember their fathers as they always wanted to.”

6 – Beyaz melek — “White Angel”

This one is a 2007 Turkish drama film, written and directed by Mahsun Kırmızıgül.

Ali and Reşat bring their father Ahmet, who is suffering from brain cancer, for chemotherapy treatment in İstanbul. However, Ahmet can’t bear the treatment and thinks himself to be a burden. He escapes from the hospital and reaches a nursing home, and the residents of the nursing home accept him. Ali and Reşat find him, but decide to let him stay there because their father is really happy there.

The cast includes:
· Mahsun Kırmızıgül
· Arif Erkin Güzelbeyoğlu
· Yıldız Kenter
· Nejat Uygur
· Yavuz Bingöl
· Erol Günaydın
· Sarp Apak
· Zeynep Tokuş
· Toron Karacaoğlu
· Salih Kalyon

The film won the Remi Award at the 41st WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival and became the second-highest-grossing Turkish film of 2007.

One of the famous quotes from this film is:
Hayat her şeye rağmen yaşamaya değer.
“Life is worth living after all.”

Since the language of this movie is simple and easy to understand, it’s recommended for intermediate Turkish learners.

7 – Hababam Sınıfı — “The Chaos Class”

This is a 1975 Turkish comedy film, directed by Ertem Eğilmez. The story is based on a novel by a well-known author, Rıfat Ilgaz.

A group of lazy, ignorant high school students attending a private school are in no rush to graduate. They’re like a family there and are cared for by the school attendant, Hafize Ana, who treats them like his real sons. They play a lot of tricks and make jokes to frustrate the new principal, who is warm-hearted, but very disciplined.

The film was so successful that eight more sequels followed it.

The cast included:
· Kemal Sunal
· Münir Özkul
· Tarık Akan
· Adile Naşit
· Halit Akçatepe
· Ahmet Arıman
· Cem Gürdap
· Feridun Şavlı
· Sıtkı Akçatepe
· Ertuğrul Bilda
· Kemal Ergüvenç
· Akil Öztuna
· Muharrem Gürses

One of the most popular quotes of this movie is:

– Uçan memeliye örnek ver Damat Ferit.
– Uçan memeliii…uçan memeli… hmmm… hostes.

– “Give an example of a flying mammal Damat Ferit.”
– “Flying mammal…flying mammal…hmmm…stewardess.”

8 – Dünyayı Kurtaran Adam — “The Man Who Saved the World”

This is a 1982 Turkish science, fantasy, and adventure film. Many have dubbed it the Turkish version of Star Wars. It was written by the famous Turkish actor, Cüneyt Arkın, who also played the main character in the movie. It was directed by Çetin İnanç.

The Earth breaks up into many smaller planets because of an alien attack. Two brave Turkish pilots find themselves on a planet which is led by someone really wicked, whose name is “The Wizard.”

At first, the strength of these two pilots wasn’t sufficient to beat the bad guy and strong creatures. However, they get stronger by hitting the rocks and mountains and finally beat the creatures. Following this, they become known as the men who saved the world.

Here’s a well-known quote from the movie:

  • – Ali: Düşmanımız burada.
    – Murat: Öyleyse kalıyoruz iyilikle kötülüğün savaşı başladı.
  • – Ali: “Our enemy is here.”
    – Murat: “In that case, we’re staying. The battle of good and evil has begun.”

9 – Sivas — “Sivas”

This is a 2014 Turkish drama film directed by Kaan Müjdeci. The movie is about an eleven-year-old boy named Aslan and his relationship with a fighting dog named Sivas.

One day, he and his brother witness a dog fight in which one of the dogs is wounded. Aslan wants to take him home, but his brother Şahin doesn’t let him at first; however, they do end up taking the dog home later. What does fate hold in store for Aslan and Sivas? Watch the movie to find out.

The cast was:
· Doğan İzci
· Çakır
· Hasan Özdemir
· Ezgi Ergin
· Furkan Uyar
· Ozan Çelik
· Banu Fotocan
· Hasan Yazılıtaş
· Okan Avcı

This film won the Special Jury Prize at the 71st Venice International Film Festival.

Here’s a popular quote from the movie:
Ayşe sen prenses olmaya kararını verdin mi?
“Ayşe, did you decide to be a princess?”

10 – Uzak — “Distant”

This is a 2002 Turkish film directed by Nuri Bilge Ceylan.

It’s the story of Yusuf, a young factory worker who loses his job and goes to live with his relative Mahmut in Istanbul. Mahmut is a wealthy and intellectual photographer, whereas Yusuf is illiterate and uneducated. As can be expected, they don’t get along well. In short, Yusuf can’t find a job and Mahmut doesn’t have any goals.

Mahmut takes Yusuf to the countryside where he thinks they can improve their relationship. Mahmut also wants to take pictures there. However, this doesn’t work and Yusuf leaves without telling Mahmut. What happens next?

The cast included:
· Muzaffer Özdemir
· Mehmet Emin Toprak
· Zuhal Gencer
· Nazan Kirilmis
· Feridun Koc
· Fatma Ceylan

This movie was such a success that it won thirty-one awards, a couple of which include Best Actor at Cannes and Best Balkan Movie at the Sofia International Film Festival.

Here is a quote from the movie:

Bazı insanlar çok uzaktalar. Bizim asla gidemeyeceğimiz yerdeler.
“Some people are far away. They are where we can never go.”

Conclusion: How TurkishClass101 Can Help You Learn More Turkish

Make Learning Fun

Now that you know the importance of Turkish films for Turkish learners, would you like to increase your exposure to Turkish and have fun at the same time? If yes, then please visit our site and enjoy some more of our recommended Turkish movies!

Before you go, don’t forget to let us know what you thought of this lesson! Did any of these movies catch your eye? Are there any good ones we missed? We look forward to hearing from you.

Know that your hard work and determination will pay off, and you’ll be speaking Turkish like a native before you know it!

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How to Find a Job in Turkey

Thumbnail

Are you an expat in Turkey? Or maybe you’re just an adventurous soul looking to live in this beautiful country? If so, you’re in for an exciting—but also challenging—experience. For one, you’ll definitely need a job.

I can hear you saying, “Hmm, finding a job! It’s already difficult to find one as a citizen. I can’t imagine searching for one as a foreigner.” You don’t need to worry too much, though. As long as you know where and how to search for your dream job, it shouldn’t be a big deal.

In this article, we’ll provide you with all the info you’ll need on how to find a job in Turkey for foreigners.

Log in to Download Your Free Cheat Sheet - Business Words and Phrases in Turkish Table of Contents
  1. What kind of jobs are available for foreigners?
  2. Ways to search for a job in Turkey
  3. Work Permit
  4. Get a better job by learning Turkish with TurkishClass101

1. What kind of jobs are available for foreigners?

Let’s start by discussing what jobs are available in Turkey for foreigners and in which cities you might want to look for job openings. 

When you think of Turkey, the first thing that comes to mind is probably Istanbul. While this is one of the most populous cities in the nation, there are plenty of other cities you can shoot for during your job search. So why not broaden your horizons and discover other spectacular places in Turkey?

Below are the different types of jobs and their general requirements for foreigners. Work permit requirements for each category will be covered under the heading “Work Permit.”

Six People Dressed in Different Types of Work Uniforms

A- Teaching jobs

Because English is the second language of Turkey, there are a lot of English teaching and ESL positions at private schools from kindergartens to universities. There are also German, Italian, and French teaching schools, but these are located in bigger cities and are unfortunately fewer in number than English teaching schools.

For English speakers, jobs in Turkey teaching English are probably the highest in demand.

A Woman Teaching Words Written on a Blackboard

So, what are the requirements for getting a teaching job in Turkey? You’ll need…

  • …fluency in English or another language, and the ability to speak at a native level. (It’s even better if you’re a native speaker.)
  • …a bachelor’s degree in any field.
  • …a TEFL/TESOL/CELTA certificate (minimum 120 hours online course certification).
  • …a couple of years of language teaching experience.

Some universities also have positions for teaching subjects other than English. However, these positions require higher levels of qualifications. You should have a master’s degree or a PhD in the subject. Of course, you should also be fluent in English.

B- Tourism-related jobs

Turkey’s history dates back 4000 years. The country is home to many historical sites and unique architectural pieces, and it’s surrounded by three major seas. The Aegian and Mediterranean coasts are especially full of resorts. In addition, Turkey is known for its variety of natural formations and its thermal healing waters. Combined, these factors draw in a lot of tourists each year! 

It should come as no surprise, then, that the tourism industry offers many job opportunities for foreigners (especially in the summertime). These are usually positions within a hotel or travel company. Usually, the only requirement is to be fluent in a certain language such as English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, or Russian.

A Woman Pointing Her Finger to Somewhere on a Globe

C- Internships

It’s possible to find internships in bigger cities where many international or multinational companies exist. These opportunities may be short-term, like for the summer period or even a full year.

You’ll need to check with the consulates or embassies of your country to see whether internships are being offered at the moment. To apply for an internship in Turkey, you must be enrolled in a degree program in a college; you’ll also need to get an internship visa from a Turkish embassy or consulate in your own country. Finally, you’ll need to submit some documents (such as a letter from the employer, your transcripts, etc.). If you’re living in Turkey and have a residence permit, the procedure will be easier.

D- Nanny/housecare/elderly care jobs

Nannies who speak English are also popular in Turkey. Wealthy Turkish families like for their children to learn English at an early age, so they often hire English-speaking nannies.

Some people prefer to have foreigners for house care and elderly care because it might be difficult to find Turkish people who will stay with families 24/7 to offer this type of service. That said, caregivers from Turkic countries are usually preferred; because their languages are close to Turkish, they learn the Turkish language more quickly.

E- Others

Of course, there are other types of jobs you can find. These include things like management, marketing, sales, translation, or other technical jobs offered to foreigners by international or multinational companies located throughout Turkey.

F- Establishing your own business

As a foreigner, you might be interested in establishing your own business in Turkey. However, you need to know that it won’t be as easy as it would be in your own country.

If you’ve worked legally without interruption for at least five years in Turkey, you can get an independent work permit to become self-employed. 

There are two ways of working for yourself:

1. You can set up a company owned by yourself (or by you and other people), but then you also have to work for the company.

2. Instead of setting up a business entity, you can have a tax-registered business in your own name.

2. Ways to search for a job in Turkey

There are many ways of job-hunting in Turkey:

A- Networking

Networking is always a good way to find a job. The more connections you have, the greater your chances are of landing the job you want. If someone you know informs you about a job opening—even better, if they refer you—you’ll have an advantage. Make sure to get help from all the connections you have.

B- Turkish websites

There are some Turkish websites you can use for job-hunting. You can register for these websites, add your CV, and set up job alerts based on your qualifications or what you’re looking for. If you don’t know Turkish, you might need help from a Turkish friend (or Google Translate) as these sites are in Turkish:


C- Other websites

Here are other websites you can check to find a job in Turkey:

  • LinkedIn: As you know, LinkedIn is a huge networking platform for professionals, which helps in building connections and finding jobs. You can also apply to jobs in Turkey via LinkedIn. 
  • Learn4Good: This is a very useful website to search for jobs in Turkey. You can also use it to search for jobs in other locations.
  • iAgora: You can find internships and jobs in Turkey via this website.
  • TEFL.com: You can find teaching jobs with the help of this website.
  • ESL Cafe: This site offers international teaching jobs.
  • GoAbroad.com: This website is a good one for finding internships in Turkey.
  • Go Overseas: This is another good one for internship searchers.

D- Newspapers

Some job openings are published in Turkish newspapers. However, you need to understand written Turkish in order to read them.

Finding a Job in the Newspaper

E- Headhunters

There are also headhunters you can contact. Here is a list for you:

  • Manpower
  • Adecco
  • Randstad
  • Michael Page

F- In-person applications

You can always visit HR departments of international or multinational companies or private schools in person.

3. Work Permit

Now that you have a better idea of the types of jobs in Turkey for foreigners and how to find them, you need to know that foreigners working in Turkey require a valid work permit. Anyone working illegally will be fined and can even be deported. Here’s some detailed information about the work permits.

Work Visa

A- General info

A work permit is issued by the Turkish Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MLSS). A foreigner who has entered Turkey as a tourist is not eligible for work permits. A work permit can be obtained in two ways:

  1. If the applicant is in Turkey and he/she has already obtained a residence permit that still has at least six months of validity, a work visa application and the required documents can be sent within Turkey.
  2. A work visa application and the required documents need to be sent to the Turkish embassy or consulate in the applicant’s country if he/she hasn’t arrived in Turkey yet. 

In both cases, during the meantime, the employer should also send the required documents to the MLSS. The MLSS processes the application within ninety days.

When the application is approved, the applicant must go to a Turkish embassy in person to have the work visa stamped into his/her passport. If the applicant has applied from inside Turkey, then the permit can be received from the MLSS office in Ankara.

B- Independent work permit

As mentioned above, an independent work permit is for self-employment. If a foreigner has lived in Turkey for at least five years, he/she can apply for an independent permit. A business plan needs to be submitted during the application. Also, the applicant must present how this entrepreneur’s work will contribute to the Turkish economy.

C- Residence permit

If a foreigner wants to stay in Turkey for more than 90 days, he/she needs to apply for a residence permit. If his/her visa expires during his/her stay and if his/her stay exceeds 90 days, he/she must apply for a residence permit with the local authorities.

Below are the different types of residence permit:

  • short-term residence permit
  • long-term residence permit
  • student residence permit
  • family residence permit
  • humanitarian residence permit
  • victim of human trafficking residence permit

Residence permits are valid for anywhere between 6 months and 5 years, depending on the type of permit and the reason for the application. 

4. Get a better job by learning Turkish with TurkishClass101

In this article, we explained how to find a job in Turkey for foreigners and went into some detail about the process. If you check all of the resources mentioned throughout the article, we’re sure you’ll find a job before you know it! That said, learning to speak Turkish is the best way to put your best foot forward and increase your chances of quickly landing a better job. 

So why lose any more time? Bookmark TurkishClass101 now and start benefiting from our numerous learning materials. Audio recordings, video lessons, vocabulary lists, and free resources (like this dictionary) are just a snapshot of what you’ll find here! 

Don’t forget that, with a Premium PLUS account, you can start using our MyTeacher service. This will allow you to practice the language with a personal tutor and work on personalized assignments to expedite your progress. Your teacher can, for example, help you master the essential business Turkish you’ll need before applying for a job. 

Download the app for free and start learning today! 

Before you go: What are your thoughts on working in Turkey? If you’ve already found yourself a job here, do you have any tips for other aspirants? We look forward to hearing from you!

Log in to Download Your Free Cheat Sheet - Business Words and Phrases in Turkish

Introducing Our Brand New Dashboard!

Hey Listeners!

Guess what? Your language learning goals just got a little easier!

As you’ve probably realized by now, there have been some major improvements made to your dashboard! These updates have been designed to improve your overall experience with the website and help keep you organized and on-track! Here are a few of the changes:

  • Your progress is now tracked right, smack in the middle of the page to keep you motivated and organized.
  • A new, sleek and easy to navigate design allows you to worry less about where to click and more on learning Turkish!
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Stay tuned, as more updates are being rolled out later in the month!

Enjoy your new dashboard,

Team TurkishClass101

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The Top 5 Reasons To Learn A New Language… NOW!

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Are you currently debating whether or not to learn Turkish?

You aren’t alone. Learning a new language requires a huge investment of time, and often money as well. That’s why so many people are hesitant to spend the amount of effort required to become fluent in another language. However, learning a new language can be one of the most rewarding experiences in life and there are a number of reasons why you should start studying one… and start studying now!

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More Opportunities
That’s right. It’s not rocket science. A new language can open up many new doors. You’re able to work in countries other than your own, leading to a world of new opportunities. It can also qualify you for many new jobs in your home country as well! There are tons of employers who look to hire multilingual professionals every year!

Meeting New People
This may be one of the most rewarding parts of learning a new language. You’ll be able to get to know speakers of other languages on a more personal level. Meeting people from around the world is one of the main reasons people begin to study a language, so don’t ever feel like making new friends isn’t a good enough reason to start studying!

Exploring A Different Culture
Whether you decide to live abroad, or you’re just taking a vacation, knowing the local language will give you the ability to better understand the people and culture of a different country. This can open your eyes to not only their country, but your country as well! You can understand how people see your home from their perspective.

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Health Benefits
Good news! Studying a new language actually comes with health benefits! Studying a new language helps keep your brain sharp! By studying every day, you’re helping your mind fight off the old age and stay fresh!

Because It’s Fun
When it comes down to it, learning a new language is just plain fun! There’s always something new to learn and the rewards are endless! Whether your goal is to meet new people or to get a job in a new country, language learning is something that is actually enjoyable!

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Inside: Your New Free App, 34% OFF & Even More Turkish Lessons in 2016

Join the 34 Language Celebration & Get 34% OFF Premium

Hello Listener,

What say you to a cup of tea? How about…a new app, our 34 Language Celebration and 34% OFF Premium and MORE Turkish lessons by real teachers? Bam! Didn’t expect that, did you? The year’s just started and you’re already getting the newest study tools and best deals. So what’s this new app that you’re getting? And what’s this celebration? Keep reading!

In this month’s newsletter:

  1. Join the 34 Language Celebration & Get 34% OFF Premium
  2. New iPhone & iPad App! Get Free Mini-Lessons Every Day
  3. 2016 Lesson Schedule! Your Turkish Lessons for the New Year

1) Celebrate our 34 Languages & Get 34% OFF Premium!
You asked, we listened. And on January 1st, we launched the new websites for Afrikaans, Romanian and Urdu! This brings us to 34 languages that you can now learn! If these were on your wish list, be sure to visit them below. And…as our thank you for helping us grow, get 34% OFF Premium at TurkishClass101 as part of our 34 Language Celebration! Hurry! This ends February 3rd, 2016!

2) New For iPhone & iPad: Learn Turkish in Minutes a Day with This!
With the Daily Dose App, you’ll get a QUICK new lesson covering phrases, slang, grammar, culture or words every day. Learn in minutes a day, every day. It’s currently available for 10 languages, and the Android app and more languages are coming soon. Premium and Premium PLUS users get full access to all of the past mini-lessons and audio and video lessons. Not a Premium user? Take advantage of the 34% discount above!

For iPhone & iPad! Click Here to Download the Daily Dose App for Free!

3) 2016 Lesson Schedule: Your New Turkish Lessons for 2016!
Ready to speak and master more Turkish in 2016? You are because we’ve got you covered with brand new audio and video lessons by real teachers. New TurkishClass101 lessons started this month and come out every week. What lessons can you expect? Check out our publishing schedule below! If you want to unlock complete access to 90+ hours of lessons and our entire Turkish learning system, take advantage of the 34% discount as well!

Click Here to See What Turkish Lessons Come Out Every Week!

To your fluency,
Team TurkishClass101

P.S. Celebrate our 34 Languages & Get 34% OFF Premium!
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Celebrate our 34 Languages & Get 34% OFF Premium!