Turkish learners who have completed the intermediate level, may I have your attention please? You have accomplished quite a bit by finishing this level—congratulations! But are you ready to step up and take your language skills to the next level? If so, then learning advanced Turkish expressions and phrases will be a great way to start adding flavor to your speech and writing. In this article, you’ll have the opportunity to learn over 40 advanced Turkish expressions and phrases, including idioms and proverbs.

This article will not only help you to communicate effectively with native speakers in your daily life but also help you to boost your level of communication at work or in other business relationships. Furthermore, it will be helpful in the academic arena if you are working in the academic industry or attending a school in Turkey.  

Table of Contents

1. Make Your Academic Writing Shine
2. Stand out with Your Resume and Cover Letter
3. Impress Your Colleagues at Business Meetings
4. Get Ahead with Advanced Idioms, Sayings and Proverbs
5. Set the Bar High with TurkishClass101

1. Make Your Academic Writing Shine

Academic writing requires certain technicality and formality you need to adhere to even if you are writing in your own native language. Articulating your ideas powerfully is critical in writing essays, so make sure to use the following advanced Turkish words and phrases if you want your academic writing in Turkish to shine.

Introduction

If you can capture the attention of the readers right at the very beginning, your article will not get lost in the shuffle.

Consider using the Turkish advanced expression and phrases below to get the attention your article deserves:

İlk olarak	İlk olarak tezimin amacını belirtmek isterim.
First of all	First of all, I would like to state the purpose of my thesis.

Genel olarak	Genel olarak bu kavram dünyanın birçok ülkesinde kabul görmüştür.
In general	In general, this concept has been accepted in many countries around the  world.

Body

Pay attention to your flow after the introduction and make sure to maintain the integrity. Make sure that your arguments, examples, comparisons, etc. are clearly expressed. The following advanced Turkish phrases will help you to stay on track.

Bence	Bence bu örnek savımın doğruluğunu kanıtlıyor.
In my opinion	In my opinion, this example proves the correctness of my argument.

Benim bakış açıma göre	Benim bakış açıma göre, bu veriler sonucu değiştirmez.
From my point of view	From my point of view, these data do not change the result.

Buna ilaveten	Buna ilaveten, yaptığım başka bir araştırmayı da paylaşmak istiyorum.
In addition to this	In addition to this, I would like to share another research study that I have done.

Diğer bir deyişle	Diğer bir deyişle, teori ile Pratik farklıdır.
In other words	In other words, theory and practice are different.

Tahmin edildiği üzere	Tahmin edildiği üzere, bu deney sadece 20-30 yaş aralığı üzerinde yapılmıştır.
As projected	As projected, this experiment was only performed on the 20–30 age range.

Conclusion

Wrapping up your ideas and arguments effectively will help the readers to understand your final statement easily. Therefore, use the following advanced Turkish phrases to make sure to get your ideas across.

Özetlemek gerekirse	Özetlemek gerekirse, yukarıda belirtilen tüm faktörler hipotezimin doğruluğunu desteklemektedir.
To sum up	To sum up, all the factors mentioned above support the correctness of my hypothesis.

Sonuç olarak	Sonuç olarak, genç nüfus listelenen tüm koşulları kabullenmektedir.
As a result	As a result, the young population accepts all the conditions that are listed.

2. Stand out with Your Resume and Cover Letter

You might be very talented, experienced, and a perfect fit for the job you are applying for. However, if you do not reflect all of these on your resume or if you don’t use the right keywords on your cover letter, guess what, someone else gets the job! This is not the case when you apply for a job in a foreign language; you can face the same problem even in your own native language.

Therefore, it might be a good idea to note the following advanced Turkish words and phrases you can use when writing your resume and a cover letter for a job you are interested in.

Hedef odaklı	5 yıllık tecrübeye sahip, hedef odaklı bir mühendisim.
Goal-driven	I am a goal-driven engineer with 5 years of experience.

Sonuç odaklı	Sonuç odaklı bir yöneticiyim.
Result oriented	I am a result oriented manager.

Detaylara önem veren	Detaylara önem veren ama bütünü de görebilen biriyim.
Detail oriented	I am detail oriented but can also see the whole picture.

Hedeflere ulaşmak	Hedeflerime ulaşmak her zaman benim için öncelikli olmuştur.
To reach goals	Reaching my goals has always been a priority for me.

Yönetim tecrübesi	Yönetim tecrübem de var.
Management experience	I also have management experience.

En yüksek standartları karşılamak	Her zaman en yüksek standartları karşılamak için elimden gelenin en iyisini yaparım.
To meet the highest standards	I always do my best to meet the highest standards.

İletişim becerileri	İletişim becerilerimi geliştirmek için xxxx seminerine katıldım.
Communication skills	I attended the xxxx seminar to improve my communication skills.

3. Impress Your Colleagues at Business Meetings

Business meetings are different from social gatherings. You must look confident not only with your posture and attitude but also with your words; you must build up trust and sound like you know what you are talking about.

The following advanced Turkish words and phrases will help you to be more confident in business meetings held in Turkish and you will be able to impress your Turkish colleagues:

Bugünkü toplantının gündemi	Bugünkü toplantının gündemi, projenin bütçesinin revizyonu ile ilgilidir.
The agenda of today’s meeting	The agenda of today’s meeting concerns the revision of the project’s budget.

Son teslim tarihi	Projenin son teslim tarihinin 1 Eylül olduğunu hatırlatmak isterim.
Deadline	I would like to remind you that the deadline of the project is September 1st.

Bir strateji belirlemek	Satışları arttırmak için bir strateji belirlemek gerekir.
To set/determine a strategy	It is necessary to determine a strategy to increase sales.

Yol haritası çıkarmak	Yol haritamızı çıkarmalıyız.
To make a roadmap	We have to make our roadmap.

Beyin fırtınası yapmak	İşe beyin fırtınası yaparak başlayalım.
To brainstorm	Let’s start by brainstorming.

Görev paylaşımı yapmak	Bugün görev paylaşımını tamamlamalıyız.
To share tasks	We must complete sharing tasks today.

Lansman yapmak	Ürünün lansmanını önümüzdeki ay mutlaka yapmalıyız.
To make a launch	We should definitely launch the product next month.

Bütçe ayırmak	Ek işler için de bütçe ayırmalıyız.
Allocate a budget	We should also allocate a budget for additional work.

Ekip/Takım çalışması	Bu projeyi ancak ekip çalışması ile bitirebiliriz.
Teamwork	We can only finish this project with teamwork.

Avantaj ve dezavantajları değerlendirmek	Karar vermeden önce avantaj ve dezavantajları değerlendirmeliyiz.
To evaluate/consider the advantages and disadvantages	Before making a decision, we should consider the advantages and disadvantages.

Just a reminder, there’s a concept called “Plaza language/Turkish.” International or multi-national corporations are usually located in high-rise office buildings, which are called Plaza in Turkish. The majority of the employees in these corporations speak English. In meetings and everyday business conversations, employees usually use the following English words as is:

 “feedback, brainstorming, know-how, mobbing,” etc. Furthermore, you can hear phrases that are half Turkish and half English in these offices.

Example: Print almak – to print

Confirm etmek – to confirm

CC’lemek – to CC

Schedule etmek – to schedule

4. Get Ahead with Advanced Idioms, Sayings and Proverbs

Learning advanced Turkish conversation phrases or Turkish advanced words for tourists will definitely improve your communication. However, you also need to be prepared to hear a lot of idioms, sayings, and proverbs in Turkish. If you are not familiar with them, they will not mean anything to you. You will probably attempt to translate them word for word, but you will end up with strange phrases that don’t make any sense. Therefore, I recommend that you start learning the phrases mentioned here.

Expressions used on special occasions

Don’t panic if there is a special occasion and you don’t know what to say to a Turkish person about it. Here are some life-saving Turkish phrases used at special events, good or bad, happy or sad.

İyi ki doğdun	İyi ki doğdun arkadaşım.
Happy Birthday Literally: Fortunately, you were born.	Happy Birthday, my friend.

Afiyet olsun	Afiyet olsun!
Enjoy your meal Literally: May it be healthy!	Enjoy your meal!

Geçmiş olsun	Geçmiş olsun, hasta olduğunu duydum.
Get well Literally: May it pass	Get well, I heard that you were sick.

Mutlu yıllar	Mutlu yıllar!
Happy New Year Literally: Happy years	Happy New Year

Allah analı babalı büyütsün	Çok güzel bir bebek, Allah analı babalı büyütsün.
This is used for newborn babies. Literally: May God let him/her grow up with both a mom and a dad.	Very beautiful baby, may God let him/her grow up with both a mom and a dad.

Nazar değmesin	Nazar değmesin, kızınız çok akıllı.
Literally: May you/something not be touched by the evil eye	May she not be touched by the evil eye, your daughter is very smart.

Çok yaşa	Çok yaşa!
It’s used when someone sneezes. Means bless you Literally: Live long	Bless you!

Başınız sağolsun	Başınız sağolsun, çok üzüldüm.
It’s used when someone dies. Means condolences Literally: May your head be live	Condolences, I’m so sorry.

Sıhhatler olsun	Sıhhatler olsun
It is used after a shower. Literally: May it bring health	May it bring health

Proverbs

Using and understanding proverbs correctly is a sign that you are an advanced Turkish learner, but it’s also an indication that you have started getting to know core values and traditions of Turkey as well because proverbs give you insight about the culture of a country.

Here are a few that will get you started. Click here if you are interested in learning more Turkish proverbs.

Gülme komşuna gelir başına

It means that, if you criticize someone for something, the same thing may happen to you and you may be criticized as well. Literally: Don’t laugh at your neighbor, it happens to you.

Damlaya damlaya göl olur.

Many small make a great. Literally: Drop by drop becomes a lake.

Eşeğe altın semer de vursan eşek yine eşektir

You can put lipstick on a pig, but it’s still a pig. Literally: Even if you saddle a donkey with a golden saddle, the donkey is still a donkey.

Doğru söyleyeni dokuz köyden kovarlar

All truth is not always to be told. Literally: They expel the one who tells the truth from nine villages.

Zararın neresinden dönersen kardır

It is never too late to mend. Literally: Where you come back from the loss is profit.

Görünen köy kılavuz istemez

When something is obvious, it’s not necessary for someone to make an explanation about it. Literally: One does not need a guide when the village is in sight.

Set the Bar High with TurkishClass101

You have learned around 40 advanced Turkish words and phrases with the help of this article. Explore more Turkish advanced expression and phrases with TurkishClass101, which has numerous audio recordings, tons of vocabulary lists, and free resources including the dictionary you can benefit from.

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

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

Last but not the least; please continue to provide us feedback about all the resources provided at TurkishClass101!

Have you completed the intermediate level in your Turkish studies? Would you like to continue improving your language skills in order to stand out and impress native speakers? 

Then you’ve hit the bullseye! You’re at the right address. 

In this article, we will introduce you to all of the essential advanced Turkish words you should know. This includes general vocabulary for everyday life, as well as words related to academia, business, the legal system, and medicine. At the end, we’ll also show you several words you can incorporate into your essays or writing tests to score higher. 

Learning these advanced Turkish vocabulary words will require more diligence and effort, but if you stay focused on the target, you’ll reap the fruits of your hard work.

→ You can also visit our lesson on the 25 must-know advanced Turkish phrases to familiarize yourself with more advanced structures.

Table of Contents

1. Advanced Words for Everyday Life
2. Advanced Academic Vocabulary
3. Advanced Business Vocabulary
4. Advanced Medical Vocabulary
5. Advanced Legal Vocabulary
6. Advanced Vocabulary for Essay Writing
7. Raise the Bar with TurkishClass101

1. Advanced Words for Everyday Life

First, let’s look at advanced Turkish words you’ll find useful in your day-to-day interactions with native speakers. We have categorized these words based on part of speech and included an example sentence for each one. 

Nouns

Maden	Türkiye’nin en büyük altın madeni Kışladağ altın madenidir.
Mine	The Kışladağ gold mine is the largest gold mine in Turkey.

Kapşon	Kapşonunu geçir; dışarıda hava soğuk.
Hood	Put your hood up; it’s cold outside.

Madde	Maddenin üç hali vardır: sıvı, gaz ve katı.
Matter	Matter has three states: liquid, gas, and solid.

Mazeret	Dersi kaçırdım ama geçerli bir mazeretim vardı.
Excuse	I missed the class, but I had a legitimate excuse.

Ciddiyet	Hayatın ciddiyetini yeni fark etti.
Seriousness	(S)he just realized the seriousness of life.

Çare	Ölümden başka her şeyin bir çaresi vardır.
Remedy	There is a remedy for everything except death.

Adjectives

Cimri	Henry çok cimri bir insandır.
Stingy	Henry is a very stingy person.

Art niyetli	Ondan uzak dur; o çok art niyetli biri.
Malevolent	Stay away from him/her; (s)he is a very malevolent person.

Marifetli	O el işlerinde çok marifetlidir.
Skillful	(S)he is very skillful with handicrafts.

Masum	Bence o masum; ben ona inanıyorum.
Innocent	I think (s)he is innocent; I believe him/her.

Suçlu	O suçlu bulundu ve ceza aldı.
Guilty	(S)he was found guilty and was sentenced.

Aç gözlü	Mary hep daha fazlasını ister; o çok aç gözlüdür.
Greedy	Mary always wants more; she is very greedy.

Adverbs

Cesurca	Tebrik ederim, cesurca her şeyi söyledin ona.
Bravely	Congratulations, you bravely said everything to him/her.

Cömertçe	Tüm parasını cömertçe ağlayan çocuğa verdi.
Generously	(S)he gave all his/her money generously to the crying boy/girl.

Ciddi bir şekilde	Bu konuyu ciddi bir şekilde düşünmeni istiyorum.
Seriously	I want you to think about this subject seriously.

Tam olarak	Tam olarak nerede olduğunu bilmek istiyorum.
Exactly	I want to know exactly where you are.

Verbs

Eleştirmek	Eleştir ama lütfen yapıcı ol.
To criticize	Criticize, but please be constructive.

Fısıldamak	Kardeşim annemin duymasını istemediği için kulağıma yavaşça fısıldadı.
To whisper	My sibling whispered softly in my ear because (s)he didn’t want my mom to hear.

Eşleştirmek	Aşağıdaki kelimeleri tanımları ile eşleştirin.
To match	Match the words below with their definitions.

Tepki vermek/göstermek	Bu duruma aşırı tepki gösteriyorsun.
To react	You are overreacting to this situation.

Karşılaştırmak	Bu iki tabloyu karşılaştırman gerek.
To compare	You need to compare these two tables.

Katlamak	Kazaklarını bavula koymadan önce katla lütfen.
To fold	Please fold your sweaters before you put them in the suitcase.

Aşırmak	Mutfaktan bir tane kurabiye aşırdım.
To steal	I stole a cookie from the kitchen.

Fırlatmak	Topu yukarı fırlattım ama pencereye çarptı.
To throw	I threw the ball up, but it hit the window.

Sarkmak	Kollarınızın omuzlarınızdan serbestçe sarkmasına izin verin.
To dangle from	Let your arms dangle freely from your shoulders.

2. Advanced Academic Vocabulary

Do you plan to attend university in Turkey? Then you’ll greatly benefit from learning these advanced Turkish words related to academia. These words will help you understand lectures, write essays, and perform well on tests. 

Nouns

Tez	Tezinizi yazarken net cümleler kullanın.
Thesis / Paper	Use clear sentences when writing your thesis/paper.

Makale	Makale yazarken alıntılama kurallarına dikkat etmen gerekir.
Article	When writing an article, you should pay attention to the rules of citation.

Araştırma	Araştırma konun nedir?
Research	What is your research topic?

Taslak	Makaleni yazmadan önce bir taslak oluşturmalısın.
Outline	Before you write your article, you should create an outline.

Anket	Bu araştırma için on tane anket yaptım.
Survey	I did ten surveys for this research.

Kanıt / Delil	Teorini ispatlamak için kanıt sunman gerekir.
Evidence	To prove your theory, you have to provide evidence.

Alıntı	Lütfen alıntı kurallarına dikkat et.
Citation	Please pay attention to the citation rules.

Veri	Verileri göndermeniz gerekiyor.
Data	You need to submit the data.

Sunum	Araştırmam ile ilgili bir sunum yapacağım.
Presentation	I will make a presentation about my research.

Proje	Bitirme projemi yarın teslim etmem lazım.
Project	I have to deliver my graduation project tomorrow.

Tablo	Verileri Excel tablosuna aktarmak gerekiyor.
Table	It is necessary to transfer the data to the Excel table.

Satır	Tablo 50 satırdan oluşmaktadır.
Row	The table consists of 50 rows.

Sütun	Tablo 50 sütundan oluşmaktadır.
Column	The table consists of 50 columns.

Verbs

Göstermek	Bu çalışmanın sonuçlarını göstermek gerek.
To demonstrate	It is necessary to demonstrate the results of this study.

İçermek	Bu dosya tüm verileri içermektedir.
To include / To involve	This file includes all the data.

Analiz etmek	Analiz etmeden sonuca varamazsın.
To analyze	You can’t come to a conclusion without analyzing it.

Çözmek	Bu soruyu çözmek için tam 20 dakika harcadım.
To solve	I spent 20 minutes solving this question.

Deney yapmak	Deney yapmak için laboratuvara gidiyorum.
To experiment	I’m going to the lab to do an experiment.

Sunmak	Yarın projemi sunacağım.
To present	I will present my project tomorrow.

Ölçmek	Tabloyu oluşturmak için önce malzemeleri ölçmek lazım.
To measure	In order to create the table, we first need to measure the materials.

Yorumlamak	Öncelikle bu rakamları yorumlamak lazım.
To interpret	First of all, these numbers should be interpreted.

Kontrol etmek	Kendini kontrol etmeyi öğrenmelisin.
To control	You have to learn to control yourself.

Tartışmak	Bilim adamları bu konuyu kendi aralarında tartıştılar.
To discuss	Scientists discussed this topic among themselves.

Kanıtlamak	O hipotezini kanıtladı.
To prove	(S)he proved his hypothesis.

Etkinleştirmek	Şifreni etkinleştirmeyi unutma!
To activate	Don’t forget to activate your password.

3. Advanced Business Vocabulary

Impress your colleagues by using the following advanced Turkish vocabulary words related to the business world. 

Genel müdürlük	Genel müdürlük başka bir yere taşındı.
Headquarters	The headquarters moved to another location.

Vizyon	Çalıştığım şirket vizyonunu geliştiren bir şirket olduğu için çok şanslıyım.
Vision	I’m very lucky that the company I work for is a company that enhances its vision.

Misyon	Bir şirketin vizyonu kadar misyonu da önemlidir.
Mission	A company’s mission is as important as its vision.

Strateji	Pandemi dolayısıyla satış stratejimizi değiştirmemiz gerek.
Strategy	Because of the pandemic, we need to change our sales strategy.

Kâr	Bu yılki kâr marjımız %10 daha yüksek.
Profit	Our profit margin is 10% higher this year.

Yatırım	Bu yıl yatırımlarımızı artırmamız lazım.
Investment	This year, we need to increase our investments.

Fon	Yeterince fonumuz yok.
Fund	We don’t have enough funds.

Masraf	Sabit masraflarımızı düşürmemiz gerek.
Expense	We need to reduce our fixed costs.

Mali	Bu yıl mali açıdan güçlüyüz.
Financial	This year, we are strong in terms of finances.

Faiz oranı	Faiz oranları düştü.
Interest rate	Interest rates have dropped.

Varlık	Araçlar sabit varlık olarak kabul edilir.
Asset	Vehicles are considered fixed assets.

Mal	Bu mallar için büyük bir depoya ihtiyacımız var.
Merchandise / Goods	We need a large warehouse for these goods.

Malzeme	Malzeme ihtiyaç listesi üzerinde çalışıyorum.
Material	I am working on a material requirements list.

Envanter	Yarın envanter sayımı yapılacak.
Inventory	There will be an inventory count tomorrow.

Departman	Satınalma departmanında çalışıyorum.
Department	I work in the purchasing department.

Muhasebe	Bordro kesintilerinizi muhasebe departmanına sorabilirsiniz.
Accounting	You can tell the accounting department about your payroll deductions.

İnsan Kaynakları	Özgeçmişinizi insan kaynakları departmanına gönderin.
Human Resources	Send your CV to the human resources department.

Satış	Satış hedeflerimizi belirledik.
Sales	We determined our sales goals.

Satın alma	Onların merkezi bir satın alma departmanları var.
Purchasing	They have a central purchasing department.

Sözleşme	Yeni bir satış sözleşmesi yaptık.
Contract	We made a new sales contract.

4. Advanced Medical Vocabulary

Another set of important words in Turkish for advanced learners is medical vocabulary. Whether you plan to attend medical school in Turkey or happen to find yourself in the ER during your travels, knowing these words and terms will prove quite useful. 

Nouns

Acil servis	Baş ağrım beni öldürüyordu, bu yüzden acil servise gitmem gerekti.
Emergency room	My headache was killing me, so I had to go to the emergency room.

Yoğun bakım	Teyzem henüz yoğun bakımdan çıkmadı.
Intensive care	My aunt has not left intensive care yet.

Ameliyathane	Ameliyat için beni ameliyathaneye götürmek üzereler.
Surgery room	They are about to take me to the surgery room for the operation.

Tansiyon	Tansiyonum yüksek; hemen hastaneye gitmem lazım.
Blood pressure	My blood pressure is high; I have to go to the hospital.

Alerji	Baharda alerji belirtileri artıyor.
Allergy	Allergy symptoms increase in the spring.

Bağışıklık	Bağışıklık sistemini güçlü tutman gerek.
Immunity	You need to keep your immune system strong.

Röntgen	Acilen röntgen çektirmem gerekiyor.
X-ray	I urgently need to get an X-ray.

Kalp krizi	Arkadaşım yakın zaman içinde kalp krizi geçirdi.
Heart attack	My friend has recently had a heart attack.

Kanser	Amcam kanserden öldü.
Cancer	My uncle died of cancer.

Ameliyat	Ameliyat gayet başarılı geçti.
Surgery	The surgery was very successful.

Anestezi	Ameliyat genel anestezi ile yapıldı.
Anesthesia	The surgery was carried out under general anesthesia.

Teşhis	Sam’in teşhisinde çok geç kaldılar.
Diagnosis	They were too late for Sam’s diagnosis.

Travma	Okulda çıkan yangının ardından öğrenciler travma tedavisi gördü.
Trauma	The students were treated for trauma after the fire at school.

Yara	Şaşırtıcı bir şekilde, yara kendi kendine iyileşti.
Wound	To my surprise, the wound healed itself.

Tedavi	O kanser tedavisi görüyor.
Treatment	(S)he is getting cancer treatment.

Reçete	Doktor reçete yazdı mı?
Prescription	Has the doctor written a prescription?

Yan etki	Bu ilacın bilinen bir yan etkisi yoktur.
Side effect	This medicine has no known side effects.

Aşı	Corona aşısını uzun bir süre bekledik.
Vaccine	We have waited for the Coronavirus vaccine for a long time.

İğne	Doktor başımın ağrısı için iğne yaptı.
Injection	The doctor gave me an injection for my headache.

Adjectives

Bulaşıcı	Corona bulaşıcı bir virüstür.
Contagious	The Coronavirus is a contagious virus.

Steril	Ameliyathaneler mutlaka steril olmalı.
Sterile	Surgery rooms must be absolutely sterile.

5. Advanced Legal Vocabulary

As you approach an advanced level in Turkish, you’ll benefit from picking up at least a few words related to the legal system. This will allow you to follow the news with greater ease, engage in more complex conversations, and even avoid unfortunate misunderstandings. Here’s the advanced legal vocabulary in Turkish you should start learning: 

Nouns

Hukuk	Hukuk önünde herkes eşittir.
Law	Everyone is equal before the law.

Adalet	Adalete inanıyorum.
Justice	I believe in justice.

İnsan hakları	İnsan hakları hakkında hiçbir şey bilmiyorlar.
Human rights	They know nothing about human rights.

Avukat	Bu konuda with avukata danışmam lazım.
Lawyer	I need to consult with a lawyer on this matter.

Hâkim	Hâkim davayı erteledi.
Judge	The judge adjourned the case.

Noter	Bu belgenin bir noter tarafından onaylanması gerekiyor.
Notary	This document needs to be certified by a notary.

Tanık / Şahit	Tanık hırsızın kaçtığını söyledi.
Witness	The witness said the robber escaped.

Mahkeme	Mahkemede çok heyecanlandım.
Court	I got very excited in court.

Hapishane	Hapishanede kavga çıktı.
Jail / Prison	A fight broke out in prison.

Sabıkalı	Onun bir sabıkalı olduğunu duyduğumda şok oldum.
Criminal	I was shocked when I heard he was a criminal.

Şüpheli	Şüpheli polis koruması altındaydı.
Suspect	The suspect was under police protection.

Dava	Onları dava açmakla tehdit ettim.
Lawsuit	I threatened to file a lawsuit against them.

Duruşma	Avukat duruşma sırasında kalp krizi geçirdi.
Trial	The lawyer had a heart attack during the trial.

Soruşturma	Soruşturma henüz bitmedi.
Investigation	The investigation is not over yet.

Para cezası	Hapis yerine para cezası aldı.
Fine	(S)he got a fine rather than prison.

Adjective

Kanuni / Yasal	Uyuşturucu kullanmak kanuni/yasal değildir.
Legal	It’s not legal to use drugs.

Verbs

Savunmak	Avukatım seni iyi savunacaktır.
To defend	My attorney will defend you well.

İhlal etmek	Trafik kurallarını ihlal ettiği için para cezası aldı.
To violate	(S)he was fined for violating traffic rules.

Beraat etmek	Arkadaşım nihayet suçsuz bulundu ve beraat etti.
To be acquitted	My friend was finally found not guilty and has been acquitted.

Teşhis etmek	Sonunda şüpheliyi teşhis edebildi.
To identify	Finally, (s)he was able to identify the suspect.

6. Advanced Vocabulary for Essay Writing

Are you attending school in Turkey? Then there are a few advanced Turkish words and phrases you should know in order to write better essays, score higher on exams, and impress your teachers. 

Nouns

Önemli nokta	Kitabın önemli noktası ana karakterin psikolojisiydi.
Highlight	The highlight of the book was the main character’s psychology.

İçerik	İçerik belirleme konu seçimi kadar önemlidir.
Content	Content determination is as important as topic selection.

Uygulama	Uygulama bazen teoriden daha önemlidir.
Practice / Application	Practice is sometimes more important than theory.

Terminoloji	Doktorun dediklerinden hiçbir şey anlamadım; sürekli tıp terminolojisi kullanıyor.
Terminology	I did not understand anything the doctor said; he was constantly using medical terminology.

Adjectives

Yüzeysel	Yüzeysel bir yaklaşımdan uzak durmalısın.
Superficial	You should avoid a superficial approach.

Ayrıntılı	Bunu daha ayrıntılı bir şekilde anlatmalısın.
Detailed	You should explain this in a more detailed way.

Gerekli	Örneklerin verilmesi gereklidir.
Necessary	Providing examples is necessary.

Geçerli	Bana geçerli bir neden söylemelisin.
Valid	You must tell me a valid reason.

Geçersiz	Bu veriler geçersiz.
Invalid	This data is invalid.

Adverbs

İstikrarlı bir şekilde	Jack, öğretmeni onu uyardığından beri her gün istikrarlı bir şekilde okula zamanında geliyor.
Consistently	Jack has been coming to school consistently on time every day ever since his teacher warned him.

Kesinlikle	Sana kesinlikle katılıyorum.
Definitely	I definitely agree with you.

Tamamen	Bu durumda tamamen sen haklısın.
Exactly	In this case, you are exactly right.

Verbs

İfade etmek	Yanlış anlaşılmak istemiyorsan kendini daha iyi ifade etmelisin.
To express	If you don’t want to be misunderstood, you should express yourself better.

Yönlendirmek	Tüm çabalarınızı kitabınızı yazmaya yönlendirin.
To direct	Direct all your efforts into writing your book.

Etkilemek	Okuyucuları etkilemek istiyorsan daha içten yazmalısın.
To impress	If you want to impress readers, you have to write more sincerely.

Vurgulamak	Ana fikri daha çok vurgulamalısın.
To emphasize	You should emphasize the main idea more.

Algılamak	Bu sessizliği kabullenme olarak algılama.
To perceive	Don’t perceive this silence as acceptance.

Keşfetmek	Senin nasıl bir hayal dünyan olduğunu keşfetmek istiyorum.
To explore	I want to explore what kind of a fantasy world you have.

Maruz kalmak	Nükleer santralde meydana gelen kaza nedeniyle çok sayıda kişi radyasyona maruz kaldı.
To be exposed to	Many people were exposed to radiation because of the accident at the nuclear plant.

Ortaya çıkarmak	Tanık onun aradığı cevapları ortaya çıkardı.
To reveal	The witness revealed the answers (s)he was looking for.

Onaylamak	Bu siparişi onaylıyorum.
To confirm	I’m confirming this order.

Desteklemek	Bu fikrini destekleyecek argümanlar bulmalısın.
To support	You need to find arguments to support this idea.

Reddetmek	Teklifi neden reddettiğini bana hemen söylemelisin.
To reject	You need to tell me right now why you rejected the offer.

Düzene sokmak/düzenlemek	Bütçemizi düzenlemek için elimizden gelenin en iyisini yapmalıyız.
To regulate	We must try our best to regulate our budget.

Kısıtlamak	Aslında o, onun faaliyetlerini kısıtlamak istemedi.
To restrict	Actually, (s)he didn’t mean to restrict his/her activities.

7. Raise the Bar with TurkishClass101

You now have easy access to a long list of advanced Turkish words in a variety of categories. Make sure to add the most relevant words to your flashcard deck and start practicing right away! 

You can learn even more advanced Turkish words at TurkishClass101.com by making use of our vocabulary lists, free resources, and online Turkish dictionary. For 1-on-1 coaching and personalized assignments, you can upgrade to Premium PLUS and take advantage of our MyTeacher service. 

Not sure where to start? We recommend checking out our advanced Turkish lesson series, which contains 25 lessons and assignments designed for advanced learners like yourself.  

What’s more, you can download the free app to learn Turkish wherever you are! 

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

Happy learning!

Are you a non-native Turkish speaker? And are you planning to study or work in Turkey? Do you need to have a competitive advantage when applying for a job or university?

If you answered “Yes” to some or all of these questions, then you’re reading the right article!

We’ll clue you in on the best Turkish language proficiency test to help you achieve your goals as a language-learner and test your Turkish language proficiency.

Table of Contents

1. General Information About the Turkish Proficiency Exam
2. Listening Test
3. Reading Test
4. Writing Test
5. Speaking Test
6. How to Pass the Turkish Proficiency Exam
7. FAQs
8. TurkishClass101 is the Road to TYS

1. General Information About the Turkish Proficiency Exam

The Turkish proficiency exam we’re going to talk about today is the TYS, Türkçe Yeterlik Sınavı (“TPE, Turkish Proficiency Exam”).

It’s an internationally recognized exam, developed by the Yunus Emre Institute Exam Center. It’s designed according to the standards of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages to measure people’s proficiency in Turkish as a foreign or native language. In this article, we’ll concentrate on Turkish as a foreign language.

At the end of this exam, based on the number of points a test-taker gets, he or she will get the appropriate certificate for their Turkish proficiency level. These certificates help foreign students when enrolling in schools or universities. This is especially true for foreign students who get the chance to attend a Turkish university, as passing the TYS Turkish exam gives them an automatic pass for the preparation class.

In addition, taking this test helps those who want to work in a Turkish firm (either in Turkey or abroad).

Now, let’s see the content of this exam.

A- What’s inside the TYS exam?

First of all, the exam complies with the requirements of the European Language Portfolio (ELP).

It consists of four sections:

1. Reading
2. Writing
3. Listening
4. Speaking

These tests are given in three sessions:

• Reading / Listening
• Writing
• Speaking

In the exam, you have to achieve at least fifty percent success in each section, and a total between:

• 55-70 to get a B2 certificate
• 71-88 to get a C1 certificate
• 89-100 to get a C2 certificate

Results are evaluated by the experts at the Yunus Emre Institute Exam Center.

Please note that this exam is neither an A1 Turkish exam nor an A2 Turkish exam. It’s more advanced and the certification starts at the B2 level. You can take the Turkish language A1 test or the A2 Turkish exam at TOMER, Istanbul University or Anadolu University.

B- Where and when can you take the exam?

It’s given three times a year; you can check the calendar for TYS on the official website. You can take the exam not only in Turkey, but also abroad; there are 43 countries and 48 centers. Click here to see those countries and important details about the centers such as the address, phone number, and email address.

You can register online by clicking here.

2. Listening Test

The listening test contains six texts. There are thirty questions, which include fill-in-the-blanks, true/false, multiple-choice, and matching questions. The texts used in the listening test are usually dialogues, introductions, interviews, advertisements, opinion columns, academic and literary texts, reports, and analyses.

You can get up to 25 points in the listening test, and the test takes 45 minutes.

Here are some audio files and questions you can use to test yourself.

3. Reading Test

The reading test also contains six texts. The question types and the types of texts used in this section are the same as those in the listening test. However, there are forty questions in the reading section.

You can get up to 25 points in this section, and the duration is 60 minutes.

To get some practice, check out the sample questions at the official site.

4. Writing Test

The writing test has two parts. The first one measures the test-taker’s guided writing skills. For this part, you may be asked:

• To complete a text
• To complete a form
• To write a summary of a text
• To interpret a table, an image, or a graph
•  To write a petition

You can get up to 10 points in this section, and the time given is 20 minutes.

In the second part, attendees are asked to write an original essay on a given subject. This one is worth 15 points and lasts for 40 minutes.

The writing test is usually evaluated by at least two experts.

Visit the official website to see some sample questions.

5. Speaking Test

This test also consists of two parts. In the independent speaking section, the candidate is given a subject and one to three minutes to get prepared. After he or she completes his/her preparation, they can begin speaking. The candidates are given approximately 5 minutes to talk.

This part is worth 10 points. This link will give you an idea about the subjects you can expect during the speaking test.

The second part is in the form of a conversation. The candidate is given a subject, about which an interviewer will ask various questions for the candidate to answer. The expected time is 10 minutes.

This part is worth 15 points.

The speaking test is usually evaluated by at least two experts.

Here, you can review a sample topic that can be asked about in the exam.

6. How to Pass the Turkish Proficiency Exam

In order to pass the Turkish test, there are things you need to do before and during the test.

You need to study Turkish grammar and try to expand your vocabulary by reading Turkish blogs, articles, and newspapers. This will not only help you with your vocabulary, but it will also help you understand Turkish better.

You can also practice writing about different subjects and have a native speaker correct the text for you. In addition, talking to native speakers is a great way to improve your speaking skills.

In order to improve your listening and comprehension skills, you can listen to Turkish radio channels or watch TV, videos, and movies in Turkish.

Of course, it’s also a good idea to practice the sample questions provided on the official website of the TYS exam, some of which we’ve referred to in this article.

Now, here are some tips you can apply during the Turkish test to help you succeed:

• Use the time effectively during the test.
• Read the instructions very carefully.
• Read the provided texts and the questions carefully.
• Be alert.
  • There may be tricky questions where you need to understand the language’s nuances.
  • Some idioms might be used, and they may confuse you.
  • There might be multi-part-questions, so be careful not to accidentally skip them.
• In the writing and speaking tests, you can create quick outlines, bullet points, and make notes of some examples you can think of.
• Make sure to review what you wrote as the time allows you to. If you can use your time effectively, this shouldn’t be a problem.

7. FAQs

There are some FAQs on the official website of this Turkish language proficiency test. We’ll outline a few of them here:

1. How much do I have to pay for the Turkish language test?

You can find information about the fees on their website.

2. Are there any discounts? If yes, under which circumstances, and how much can I get?

Below are the circumstances under which you can get a discount:

• Those who are registered for the Turkish language courses at Yunus Emre Institute get a 50% discount.
• The staff of Yunus Emre Institute gets a 50% discount.
• Students who are registered for the Turcology departments of foreign universities with whom Yunus Emre Institute has a cooperation protocol get a 50% discount. Students who are registered at other departments in these universities get a 25% discount.
• Students who are abroad but enrolled in the Turkish system of education foundation get a 50% discount.
•  Local staff of the representation offices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Education, TIKA, Anadolu Agency, Ministry of Religious Affairs, Turkish Red Crescent, Turkish Airlines, and the Ministry of Education Foundation of Turkey abroad get a 50% discount.

 3. When are the results announced?

The results are announced fifteen days after the date of the exam.

4.  For how long is the certificate valid?

It’s valid for two years.

5.  I lost my certificate. What should I do?

Candidates who lose their certificate can request a new one only once by writing a letter to the center where they took the exam. However, they have to pay the printing fee, which is 20% of the exam fee.

6. When should I be at the center on the day of the exam?

You have to be at the exam center at least half an hour before the exam.

7. Do I need to bring anything with me on the day of the exam?

You have to have your ID or passport and the exam entry document. You can have water only if it’s in a transparent plastic bottle. Watches, mobile phones, pagers, calculators, purses, etc., are strictly prohibited. Every classroom has a clock so that the candidates can check the time during the Turkish language test.

8. I missed the exam. What will happen to my registration?

The registration of a candidate who didn’t or couldn’t attend the Turkish test, will be canceled and the fee will not be refunded.

8. TurkishClass101 is the Road to TYS

Now you know all about the Turkish language proficiency test and what to expect.

Make sure to start with the A1 Turkish exam and the A2 Turkish exam. Then, once you’re comfortable at those levels, you can aim for the TYS.

Practicing the sample questions will definitely help. However, before doing that, you need to build a strong grammar infrastructure, improve your vocabulary, and practice outside of the test’s bounds.

Don’t lose any time; visit TurkishClass101.com now. To help you get ready for the exam, see our variety of vocabulary lists with audio recordings, and utilize our free resources, including our dictionary.

Don’t forget that there’s also our MyTeacher program, a premium service of TurkishClass101 that you can use to practice with a private teacher (who’s also a native speaker).

As usual, we’ll be looking forward to your feedback about your experience with us so far. Was this article helpful for you? Is there anything you still want to know about the TYS exam? Let us know in the comments. 

Good luck on the exam!

What is the most defining moment you will face this year? From memories that you immortalize in a million photographs, to days you never wish to remember, one thing’s for certain: big life events change you. The great poet, Bukowski, said, “We are here to laugh at the odds and live our lives so well, that death will tremble to take us.” The older I get, the more I agree with him!

Talking about significant events in our lives is part of every person’s journey, regardless of creed or culture. If you’re planning to stay in Turkey for more than a quick visit, you’re sure to need at least a few ‘life events’ phrases that you can use. After all, many of these are shared experiences, and it’s generally expected that we will show up with good manners and warm wishes.

Table of Contents

1. Life Events
2. Marriage Proposal Lines
3. Talking About Age
4. Conclusion

1. Life Events

Do you know how to say “Happy New Year” in Turkish? Well, the New Year is a pretty big deal that the whole world is in on! We celebrate until midnight, make mindful resolutions, and fill the night sky with the same happy words in hundreds of languages. No doubt, then, that you’ll want to know how to say it like a local!

Big life events are not all about fun times, though. Real life happens even when you’re traveling, and certain terminology will be very helpful to know. From talking about your new job to wishing your neighbors “Merry Christmas” in Turkish, here at TurkishClass101, we’ve put together just the right vocabulary and phrases for you.

1- Birthday – doğumgünü

If you’re like me, any excuse to bring out a pen and scribble a note is a good one. When there’s a birthday, even better: hello, handwriting!

Your Turkish friend will love hearing you wish them a “Happy birthday” in Turkish, but how much more will they appreciate a thoughtful written message? Whether you write it on their Facebook wall or buy a cute card, your effort in Turkish is sure to get them smiling! Write it like this:

Doğum günün kutlu olsun

Now that you know the words, I challenge you to put them to music and sing your own “Happy birthday” song in Turkish! It’s not impossible to figure out even more lyrics, once you start discovering the language from scratch.

2- Buy – Almak

If there’s a special occasion, you might want to buy somebody a gift. As long as you’ve checked out Turkish etiquette on gift-giving (do a Google search for this!), it will be a lovely gesture. If you’re not sure what to buy, how about the awesome and universally-appealing gift of language? That’s a gift that won’t stop giving!

3- Retire – emekli olmak

If you’re planning to expand your mind and retire in Turkey, you can use this word to tell people why you seem to be on a perpetual vacation!

Retirement is also a great time to learn a new language, don’t you think? And you don’t have to do it alone! These days it’s possible to connect to a vibrant learning community at the click of a button. The added benefit of a Daily Dose of Language is that it keeps your brain cells alive and curious about the world. After all, it’s never too late to realize those long-ignored dreams of traveling the globe…

4- Graduation – mezuniyet

When attending a graduation ceremony in Turkey, be prepared for a lot of formal language! It will be a great opportunity to listen carefully and see if you can pick up differences from the everyday Turkish you hear.

5- Promotion – terfi

Next to vacation time, receiving a promotion is the one career highlight almost everyone looks forward to. And why wouldn’t you? Sure, it means more responsibility, but it also means more money and benefits and – the part I love most – a change of scenery! Even something as simple as looking out a new office window would boost my mood.

6- Anniversary – yıl dönümü

Some anniversaries we anticipate with excitement, others with apprehension. They are days marking significant events in our lives that can be shared with just one person, or with a whole nation. Whether it’s a special day for you and a loved one, or for someone else you know, this word is crucial to know if you want to wish them a happy anniversary in Turkish.

7- Funeral – cenaze

We tend to be uncomfortable talking about funerals in the west, but it’s an important conversation for families to have. Around the world, there are many different customs and rituals for saying goodbye to deceased loved ones – some vastly different to our own. When traveling in Turkey, if you happen to find yourself the unwitting observer of a funeral, take a quiet moment to appreciate the cultural ethos; even this can be an enriching experience for you.

8- Travel – gezmek

Travel – my favorite thing to do! Everything about the experience is thrilling and the best cure for boredom, depression, and uncertainty about your future. You will surely be forever changed, fellow traveler! But you already know this, don’t you? Well, now that you’re on the road to total Turkish immersion, I hope you’ve downloaded our IOS apps and have your Nook Book handy to keep yourself entertained on those long bus rides.

9- Graduate – mezun olmak

If you have yet to graduate from university, will you be job-hunting in Turkey afterward? Forward-looking companies sometimes recruit talented students who are still in their final year. Of course, you could also do your final year abroad as an international student – an amazing experience if you’d love to be intellectually challenged and make a rainbow of foreign friends!

10- Wedding – evlilik

One of the most-loved traditions that humans have thought up, which you’ll encounter anywhere in the world, is a wedding. With all that romance in the air and months spent on preparations, a wedding is typically a feel-good affair. Two people pledge their eternal love to each other, ladies cry, single men look around for potential partners, and everybody has a happy day of merrymaking.

Ah, but how diverse we are in our expression of love! You will find more wedding traditions around the world than you can possibly imagine. From reciting love quotes to marrying a tree, the options leave no excuse to be boring!

11- Move – taşınmak

I love Turkey, but I’m a nomad and tend to move around a lot, even within one country. What are the biggest emotions you typically feel when moving house? The experts say moving is a highly stressful event, but I think that depends on the circumstances. Transitional periods in our lives are physically and mentally demanding, but changing your environment is also an exciting adventure that promises new tomorrows!

12- Be born – doğmak

I was not born in 1993, nor was I born in Asia. I was born in the same year as Aishwarya Rai, Akon, and Monica Lewinsky, and on the same continent as Freddy Mercury. When and where were you born? More importantly – can you say it in Turkish?

13- Get a job – iş bulmak

The thought of looking for a job in a new country can be daunting, but English speakers are in great demand in Turkey – you just have to do some research, make a few friends and get out there! Also, arming yourself with a few Turkish introductions that you can both say and write will give you a confidence boost. For example, can you write your name in Turkish?

14- Die – ölmek

Death is a universal experience and the final curtain on all other life events. How important is it, then, to fully live before we die? If all you have is a passport, a bucket list, and a willingness to learn some lingo, you can manifest those dreams!

15- Home – Ev

If home is where the heart is, then my home is on a jungle island completely surrounded by the turquoise ocean. Right now, though, home is an isolation room with a view of half a dry palm tree and a tangle of telephone wires.

If you’re traveling to Turkey for an extended stay, you’ll soon be moving into a new home quite unlike anything you’ve experienced before!

16- Job – iş

What job do you do? Does it allow you much time for travel, or for working on this fascinating language that has (so rightfully) grabbed your attention? Whatever your job, you are no doubt contributing to society in a unique way. If you’re doing what you love, you’re already on the road to your dream. If not, just remember that every single task is one more skill to add to your arsenal. With that attitude, your dream job is coming!

17- Birth – doğum

Random question: do you know the birth rate of Turkey?

If you’re lucky enough to be invited to see a friend’s baby just after they are born, you’ll have all my respect and all my envy. There is nothing cuter! Depending on which part of the country you’re in, you may find yourself bearing witness to some pretty unexpected birth customs. Enjoy this privilege!

18- Engaged – nişanlanmak

EE Cummings said, “Lovers alone wear sunlight,” and I think that’s most true at the moment she says “yes.” Getting engaged is something young girls dream of with stars in their eyes, and it truly is a magical experience – from the proposal, to wearing an engagement ring, to the big reveal!

In the world of Instagram, there’s no end to the antics as imaginative couples try more and more outrageous ways to share their engagement with the world. I love an airport flashmob, myself, but I’d rather be proposed to on a secluded beach – salt, sand, and all!

Engagement customs around the world vary greatly, and Turkey is no exception when it comes to interesting traditions. Learning their unique romantic ways will inspire you for when your turn comes.

Speaking of romance, do you know how to say “Happy Valentine’s Day” in Turkish?

19- Marry – evlenmek

The one you marry will be the gem on a shore full of pebbles. They will be the one who truly mirrors your affection, shares your visions for the future, and wants all of you – the good, the bad and the inexplicable.

From thinking up a one-of-a-kind wedding, to having children, to growing old together, finding a twin flame to share life with is quite an accomplishment! Speaking of which…

2. Marriage Proposal Lines

Ah, that heart-stopping moment when your true love gets down on one knee to ask for your hand in marriage, breathlessly hoping that you’ll say “Yes!” If you haven’t experienced that – well, it feels pretty darn good, is all I can say! If you’re the one doing the asking, though, you’ve probably had weeks of insomnia agonizing over the perfect time, location and words to use.

How much more care should be taken if your love is from a different culture to yours? Well, by now you know her so well, that most of it should be easy to figure out. As long as you’ve considered her personal commitment to tradition, all you really need is a few words from the heart. Are you brave enough to say them in Turkish?

3. Talking About Age

Part of the wonder of learning a new language is having the ability to strike up simple conversations with strangers. Asking about age in this context feels natural, as your intention is to practice friendly phrases – just be mindful of their point of view!

When I was 22, I loved being asked my age. Nowadays, if someone asks, I say, “Well, I’ve just started my fifth cat life.” Let them ponder that for a while.

In Turkey, it’s generally not desirable to ask an older woman her age for no good reason, but chatting about age with your peers is perfectly normal. Besides, you have to mention your birthday if you want to be thrown a birthday party!

4. Conclusion

Well, there you have it! With so many great new Turkish phrases to wish people with, can you think of someone who has a big event coming up? If you want to get even more creative, TurkishClass101 has much to inspire you with – come and check it out! Here’s just some of what we have on offer at TurkishClass101:

• Free Resources: Sharing is caring, and for this reason, we share many free resources with our students. For instance, start learning Turkish with our basic online course by creating a lifetime account – for free! Also get free daily and iTunes lessons, free eBooks, free mobile apps, and free access to our blog and online community. Or how about free Vocabulary Lists? The Turkish dictionary is for exclusive use by our students, also for free. There’s so much to love about TurkishClass101…!
• Innovative Learning Tools and Apps: We make it our priority to offer you the best learning tools! These include apps for iPhone, iPad, Android and Mac OSX; eBooks for Kindle, Nook, and iPad; audiobooks; Roku TV and so many more. This means that we took diverse lifestyles into account when we developed our courses, so you can learn anywhere, anytime on a device of your choice. How innovative!
• Live Hosts and One-on-One Learning: Knowledgeable, energetic hosts present recorded video lessons, and are available for live teaching experiences if you upgrade. This means that in the videos, you get to watch them pronounce those tongue-twisters, as if you’re learning live! Add octane to your learning by upgrading to Premium Plus, and learn two times faster. You can have your very own Turkish teacher always with you, ensuring that you learn what you need, when you need to – what a wonderful opportunity to master a new language in record time!
• Start Where You Are: You don’t know a single Turkish word? Not to worry, we’ve absolutely got this. Simply enroll in our Absolute Beginner Pathway and start speaking from Lesson 1! As your learning progresses, you can enroll in other pathways to match your Turkish level, at your own pace, in your own time, in your own place!

Learning a new language can only enrich your life, and could even open doors towards great opportunities! So don’t wonder if you’ll regret enrolling in TurkishClass101. It’s the most fun, easy way to learn Turkish.

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.

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?

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

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!

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!

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.

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

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!

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!