
It’s usually difficult to start a conversation no matter where you are and whom you are talking to. If you are speaking to someone you don’t know, this gets even more complicated. One step beyond that is starting a new conversation in a foreign language. Can you imagine trying to start a conversation with a stranger in another language? You might feel like you are at a dead end! Trust me; it’s not as scary as you might think, especially if you get certain tips from a native speaker.
I’m here to provide you with some examples of basic Turkish conversation starters you can use in different situations, as the sentences and questions you will use to start a conversation will differ depending on whether you are talking to someone you know or don’t know or where the conversation takes place.
Once you pull the other party into the conversation or find a common interest, then you can take the communication one step further; you get to know the other party more, socialize more, and deepen your relationships.
Afterward, you can start telling an anecdote or talking about memories, good or bad experiences, and making recommendations and compliments.
However, there are a few factors you need to take into consideration when using conversation starters. The first and the most important one is to avoid sensitive topics such as religion, race, and politics, especially when interacting with people you don’t know. Make sure not to offend anybody. The second one is to avoid “yes” and “no” questions as much as possible. If the person you are talking to is shy or not talkative, the conversation might end suddenly, and all your efforts might come to nothing. Last but not least, make sure to use your body language correctly. Don’t forget that body language is a strong tool to express or emphasize your feelings. A friendly smile might change everything.
[There is an article about “Body gestures”, which has not been posted yet at TurkishClas101. It can be referenced when it’s posted.]

- Starting a Conversation with New People
- Starting a Conversation with People We Know
- Conversation Starters for a First Date
- Conversation Starters to Reconnect with a Friend through Text or Email
- Turkish Conversation Starter Practice with TurkishClass101!
1. Starting a Conversation with New People
I believe the best way to interact with people you don’t know is to ask for information or help. Let’s learn conversation starters in Turkish that you can use when you meet Turkish speaking people in different environments.
A- Conversation Starters at a New School
The first days at a new school are usually tough and stressful if you don’t know anyone around you. You need to relax because most probably you are not alone!
Actually, all you need to do is to pluck up the courage and set your eyes on someone who looks friendly and try to start a conversation by using the following Turkish conversation starter examples:
Turkish | English |
Merhaba. Benim adım John. Ben okula yeni başladım. Senin adın ne? | Hello. My name is John. I’ve just started school. What’s your name? |
Bu sandalye boş mu? Oturabilir miyim? (*) | Is this chair available? May I sit? |
Kaçıncı sınıfa gidiyorsun? | Which grade are you going to? |
Affedersiniz, okulda yeniyim. Kütüphane nerede? | Excuse me, I’m new at school. Where is the library? |
(*): This is a yes/no question, but once you get the answer “yes” and sit next to the person you want to talk to, you will have a chance to make a friend.

B- Conversation Starters at a New Job
Business settings are more formal; therefore, people might feel tense during their first days at work. If you are a foreigner, you might be over cautious not to make a mistake and a bad first impression. However, working towards the same vision and mission might make the situation a little easier.
It might be a good idea to learn about Turkish business etiquette in advance to feel more comfortable in your professional relationships with others.
The weather and traffic are popular ice-breakers in Turkish. However, the following basic Turkish phrases will also give you more ideas to make small talk at work:
Turkish | English |
Merhaba. Benim adım Mary. Bugün benim ilk iş günüm. Sizin adınız ne? | Hello. My name is Mary. Today is my first day at work. What’s your name? |
Hangi departmanda çalışıyorsunuz? | Which department are you working at? |
Ne kadar zamandır burada çalışıyorsunuz? | How long have you been working here? |
Affedersiniz, ben yeniyim. Kayboldum. Kafeteryanın yerini tarif edebilir misiniz? | Excuse me, I’m new. I’m lost. Can you please tell me where the cafeteria is? |

C- Conversation Starters for Mingling and Socializing
If you are at a social gathering, you should have fun and enjoy every moment you are there. Don’t make a fuss about meeting new people. Take it easy, you can make small talk about simple things. Nobody is expecting you to talk about nuclear weapons, genetics, or any other serious topics. Don’t forget that others are also there to have a good time and relax!

Below are some questions on how to start a conversation in Turkish that you can use when you want to socialize:
Turkish | English |
Ev sahibini nereden tanıyorsunuz? | How do you know the host? |
Yediğiniz/içtiğiniz şey nedir? Güzel görünüyor | What is it that you are eating/drinking? That looks good. |
Çok trafik vardı. Buraya kolay gelebildiniz mi? | There was a lot of traffic. Did you get here easily? |
Ben biraz yiyecek alacağım. Bir şeye ihtiyacınız var mı? | I’m going to get some food. Do you need anything? |
2. Starting a Conversation with People We Know
It’s easier to start a conversation with the people you know because at least you have a clue about who they are or what they do.
A- Conversation Starters at School
You can talk about school, classes, or just chit-chat if you already know the person you are talking to. Here are some ideas for you:
Turkish | English |
Şimdi hangi dersin var? | Which lesson do you have now? |
Sabah hava çok yağmurlu idi. Buraya iki saatte ancak gelebildim. Senin buraya gelmen ne kadar sürdü? | It was very rainy in the morning. I was able to get here in two hours. How long did it take for you to get here? |
Öğle yemeğinde sana katılabilir miyim? | May I join you for lunch? |
B- Conversation Starters at Work
Starting a conversation with a colleague you know requires less effort. The topics you talk about will depend on how close you are, or if you want to be with this person. If you are distant from him/her, you can pick work-related subjects. If you are closer or want to be closer, you can talk about things other than work. Below are some Turkish conversation starter examples:
Turkish | English |
Proje için yardıma ihtiyacın var mı? | Do you need help with the project? |
İş çıkışı bir şeyler yapalım mı? | Shall we do something after work? |
Haftasonu ne yaptın? | What did you do on the weekend? |
Öğle yemeğini genellikle nerede yiyorsun? | Where do you usually have your lunch? |
C- Conversation Starters for Mingling and Socializing
Mingling and socializing with the people you know should be a good opportunity to get to know them better. The following questions might give you an idea of what to ask.
Turkish | English |
Yaz tatilinde nereye gittin? | Where did you go on summer vacation? |
Son görüşmemizden bu yana neler yaptın? | What have you done since the last time we had met? |
Yeni işin nasıl gidiyor? | How’s your new job going? |
3. Conversation Starters for a First Date
Are you going on a date with someone for the first time? How exciting! This is a great opportunity for you to get to know them, their lifestyle, likes, dislikes, hobbies, etc. However, you should stay calm and try to be natural. You know, however, that there is a possibility of not knowing what to say next!
You can start by complimenting his/her appearance. Don’t forget that you are walking a fine line between sincerity and being disingenuous. Don’t give fake compliments, and don’t exaggerate! Remember the fact that the tone, mimics, and gestures you use when complimenting really matter!
You might want to take a look at our Turkish compliments article.

Here are some compliments and basic Turkish conversation starters you can use on your first date:
Turkish | English |
Çok güzel görünüyorsun. | You look very beautiful. |
Çok şıksın. | You are very chic. |
Nerede büyüdün? | Where did you grow up? |
En sevdiğin renk/film/yemek ne? | What’s your favorite color/movie/food? |
En sevdiğin şarkıcı/aktör/aktris kim? | Who’s your favorite singer/actor/actress? |
Boş zamanlarında ne yaparsın? | What do you do in your spare time? |
You can go into more personal questions if you think you are a good match with him/her.
Bookmark this link for Turkish love phrases. Who knows, maybe you will need it after your first date!
4. Conversation Starters to Reconnect with a Friend through Text or Email
It’s always good to reconnect with an old friend. As long as you are direct and show a willingness to catch up, you can start where you left off. Try some of these sincere phrases:
Turkish | English |
Epeydir görüşemedik. Haftasonu buluşalım mı? | We haven’t seen each other for a long time. Shall we meet at the weekend? |
Görüşmeyeli neler oldu neler. En kısa zamanda görüşelim. | A lot of things have happened during the time we have not seen each other. Let’s meet as soon as possible. |
Seni çok özledim. Bir an önce buluşalım artık. | I missed you very much. Let’s meet soon. |
Sana mutlaka anlatmam gereken bir şey var. Yarın buluşalım mı? | There’s something I must tell you. Shall we meet tomorrow? |

5. Turkish Conversation Starter Practice with TurkishClass101!
Dear Turkish language learners, you have learned the basic Turkish conversation starters, and you now know how to start a conversation in Turkish. From now on, it will be easier for you to meet Turkish native speakers and keep your conversations going with your friends, colleagues, etc.
If you need more Turkish conversation starter examples and want to improve your Turkish language learning skills, then you should visit TurkishClass101, which has numerous audio recordings, tons of vocabulary lists, and free resources, including the dictionary you can refer to.
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 is also 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 we have to offer you at TurkishClass101!

Sound Like a Native with Advanced Turkish Phrases

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.

- Make Your Academic Writing Shine
- Stand out with Your Resume and Cover Letter
- Impress Your Colleagues at Business Meetings
- Get Ahead with Advanced Idioms, Sayings and Proverbs
- 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!

The Most Useful Intermediate Turkish Phrases

Congratulations on completing the beginner level!
As you prepare to continue your Turkish learning journey at the intermediate level, you may be worried about the new challenges and difficulties you’ll need to face. The good news is that learning and practicing the intermediate Turkish phrases listed in this article will take you a long way. Furthermore, you can rely on TurkishClass101.com to help fill in the gaps and get you leveled up in no time.
In this article, we will introduce you to about 30 useful Turkish phrases for intermediate learners. These are phrases that you can use in a variety of circumstances:
- Talking about your memories
- Telling others your plans
- Giving justifications
- Making recommendations and complaints
- Expressing yourself in daily conversations
- Being polite in social and business settings
Don’t miss out on this opportunity to improve your Turkish. Learn these intermediate Turkish phrases today, and start off the next phase of your learning journey on the right foot!

- Memories and Past Events
- Making and Changing Plans
- Giving Justification
- Recommend, Praise, and Complain
- Daily Conversations
- Etiquette Phrases for Social and Business Settings
- Practice Intermediate Turkish Phrases with TurkishClass101
1. Memories and Past Events
Anecdotes and memories are definitely good conversation builders. Sharing your past experiences with someone will also help the other person get to know you better. And that will surely take the relationship one step—maybe even a couple of steps—further.

At the beginner level, you became familiar with the present tense. Now, it’s time to get some exposure to the past tense so that you can talk about a wider range of topics.
- ➜ Need a refresher? You can read our blog post about tenses in Turkish for some useful information.
Here are a few Turkish phrases for intermediate learners that will help you talk about past events and have deeper conversations:
Turkish | English |
Haftasonu partide çok eğlendik. | We had a lot of fun at the party over the weekend. |
O an kendimi çok kötü hissettim. | I felt very bad at that moment. |
Küçük bir evim vardı ama sattım. | I had a small house, but I sold it. |
Köpeğimin öldüğü gün hayatımın en kötü günüydü. | The day my dog died was the worst day of my life. |
Eskiden buz pateni yapardım. | I used to ice skate. |
Gençken çok zayıftım. | I was very thin when I was young. |
Kızımın doğduğu gün hayatımın en mutlu günüydü. | The day my daughter was born was the happiest day of my life. |
2. Making and Changing Plans
As you socialize more and deepen your relationships with the Turkish people around you, the need to make plans will arise. In this section, we’ll show you several Turkish phrases for intermediate-level learners that you can use when making, changing, or discussing plans. Feel free to adjust them for your needs.

Turkish | English |
Bu haftasonu müsait misin? | Are you available this weekend? |
Bu akşamki konsere gidelim mi? | Shall we go to the concert tonight? Literally: Can we go to the concert that is tonight? |
Toplantıyı yarın öğleden sonraya erteleyebilir miyiz? | Can we postpone the meeting to tomorrow afternoon? |
Partiyi iptal etmek zorunda kaldım. | I had to cancel the party. |
Partiye kız/erkek arkadaşımla gelebilir miyim? | Can I come to the party with my girlfriend/boyfriend? |
Bu uçuş ertelendi. | This flight has been delayed. Literally: This flight has been postponed. |
Cumartesi sinemaya gideceğiz, değil mi? | We’re going to go to the movies on Saturday, aren’t we? |
3. Giving Justification
Explaining what you’ve done or what you’ll be doing might be simple for you at this stage. However, you must learn how to give the reasons behind your behavior, beliefs, plans, or goals, as this will allow you to communicate and express yourself more effectively. Once you pick up a few Turkish conjunction words, you’ll find that giving reasons is not that difficult.
Below are some intermediate Turkish phrases that will help you make your points more clear.
Turkish | English |
Toplantıya katılamadım çünkü hastalandım. | I couldn’t join the meeting because I got sick. |
Arabam bozulduğu için geç kaldım. | I’m late because my car broke down. Literally: I was late because my car broke down. |
Sana iki nedenden dolayı katılmıyorum. Birincisi, bana verdiğin süre çok kısa. İkincisi, bu bütçe yeterli değil. | I don’t agree with you due to two reasons. Firstly, the time you gave me is short. Secondly, this budget isn’t sufficient. |
Bana doğruyu söylemedin. O yüzden sana kızgınım. | You didn’t tell me the truth. That’s why I’m angry with you. |
Bana haksızlık etmeseydin sana bu kadar kızmazdım. | I wouldn’t be so mad at you if you hadn’t been unfair to me. |
O özür diledi, böylece tekrar görüşmeye başladık. | (S)he apologized, so we started seeing each other again. |
Uyuya kalmışım. O nedenle gelemedim. | I fell asleep. That’s why I couldn’t come. |
4. Recommend, Praise, and Complain
Sharing your experiences, both good and bad, indicates sincerity in your personal interactions. Your remarks, recommendations, compliments, and complaints can also lead people to make better choices. Therefore, learning how to build sentences for these purposes will be very useful!
- ➜ By the way, don’t forget to read our article titled Learn the Top Turkish Compliments for Any Situation.
Take a look at the sample intermediate Turkish phrases below, and start sharing your opinions and recommendations with native Turkish speakers.
Turkish | English |
O otel çok temiz; kesinlikle tavsiye ederim. | That hotel is very clean; I definitely recommend it. |
Bu kullandığım en iyi makyaj temizleyici; mutlaka denemelisin. | This is the best makeup remover I’ve ever used; you must try it. |
O marka çok kötü; kesinlikle tavsiye etmem. | That brand is very bad; I would definitely not recommend it. |
Müzik alanında çok yeteneklisin, tebrik ederim. | You are very talented in music, congratulations. Literally: You are talented in the area of music, congratulations. |
Bu ödülü en çok sen hakettin. | You deserved this award the most. |
Bana bu şekilde davranmamalıydın. | You shouldn’t have treated me like that. |
Sizi polise şikayet edeceğim. | I will report you to the police. |

5. Daily Conversations
I’m sure you learned many simple sentences for carrying out daily conversations at the beginner level. How about adding more flavor to what you already know? Enrich your everyday conversations with the following Turkish phrases for intermediate learners:
Turkish | English |
Bu çok güzel bir haber. | This is very good news. |
Gelebildiğine çok sevindim. | I’m very glad that you were able to come. |
Şaka mı yapıyorsun? | Are you kidding me? |
Gerçekten mi? | Really? |
Allah korusun! | God forbid! Literally: May God protect! |
Umarım! | I hope so! Literally: I hope! |
Geçmiş olsun, acil şifalar dilerim. | Get well soon; I wish you a quick recovery. Literally: May it pass; I wish you urgent recoveries. |

6. Etiquette Phrases for Social and Business Settings
Customs and traditions differ from country to country. Knowing the cultural etiquette of Turkey will make your interactions more comfortable in both social and professional contexts.
- ➜ A great place to start learning about Turkish culture is in this blog article from TurkishClass101.com.
Since business settings are more formal, foreigners are usually afraid of making mistakes. Some people might cut the conversation short to avoid saying something wrong or accidentally offending someone.

Here are some useful intermediate Turkish phrasesthat you can use confidently to have kind, good, and respectful communicationwith Turkish people in both social and professional settings.
Turkish | English |
Afiyet olsun. | Bon appetit. |
İyi yolculuklar. | Have a nice trip. |
Nasıl yardımcı olabilirim? | How can I help you? |
Benim için bir zevkti. | It was a pleasure for me. |
Rahatsız ettiysem özür dilerim. | I apologize if I bothered you. |
Bir şeye ihtiyacınız var mı? | Do you need anything? |
Şerefe! (only used when drinking alcoholic beverages) | Cheers! Literally: To honor! |
7. Practice Intermediate Turkish Phrases with TurkishClass101
This article introduced you to many Turkish phrases for intermediate-level learners. However, there are many more words, phrases, expressions, and grammar points to explore.
TurkishClass101 makes it easy to learn Turkish online, level up your skills, and start speaking right away. We provide an array of audio recordings, vocabulary lists, and free resources (including this Turkish-English dictionary). What’s more, you can download the app for free and learn Turkish wherever you are.
- ➜ Not sure where to start? We encourage you to check out the intermediate Turkish lessons in our Intermediate lesson pathway.
Don’t forget that there is also our Premium PLUS service, MyTeacher; with MyTeacher, you can learn and practice with a private teacher while receiving real-time feedback.
Last but not least, please continue to provide us with feedback about all the resources we offer you at TurkishClass101.com!

The Best Turkish Podcasts for Language Learners

Learning a new language takes a lot of time and effort. However, finding the time to learn a foreign language is pretty hard in today’s fast-paced world. Traditional wisdom says that you have to sit in a classroom for a certain number of hours, go through long vocabulary lists, read textbooks, and do a lot of exercises to practice. For some of you, this is not only time-consuming but also boring—especially for those who are auditory learners.
But there’s good news: You can balance out your learning experience with entertainment by listening to podcasts. In fact, listening to a Turkish-language podcast is probably one of the most enjoyable ways to learn the language!
In this article, I will provide a list of the best Turkish podcasts for those wanting to learn the language. You can choose the ones that suit your needs and preferences, as I’ve made sure to include podcasts for every proficiency level and spanning a variety of themes. I will also discuss why learning with podcasts is a great idea and give you some tips on how you can make the most of your listening time.
Once you start listening, I hope you find them useful and enjoy tuning in every day!

Enjoy the podcasts!

- Why You Should Use Podcasts to Learn Turkish
- What are the 10 best podcasts for learning Turkish?
- Tips to Learn Turkish More Effectively with Podcasts
- TurkishClass101 – A Single Resource for All!
1. Why You Should Use Podcasts to Learn Turkish
I’m sure you’ve heard that visiting or living in a region where your target language is spoken is the fastest way to learn it. Have you ever wondered why? Because it provides full immersion, allowing you to acquire knowledge by listening to native speakers on a regular basis.
If you can get in the habit of listening to Turkish-language podcasts regularly, it will give you a similar experience. Furthermore, it will help you make better use of the time you’re sitting in traffic or doing housework.

What are the benefits?
Are you wondering what kind of benefits you’ll get when you start using podcasts to learn Turkish? If so, here’s a short list for you:
- They will help you get exposed to more Turkish.
- They will help you learn the correct pronunciation of words and improve your accent.

- They will improve your listening and comprehension skills in an entertaining way.
- They will teach you certain sentence patterns you can use.
- They will teach you how to use the grammar you’ve been learning.
- They will help you enhance your vocabulary.
- They will allow you to learn at your own pace.
Which skill levels are supported?
I have good news for you! There are a variety of podcasts available online. Whether you’re a newbie, an intermediate learner, or an advanced-level speaker, there’s a suitable podcast for you.
If you’re a beginner, podcasts will help you understand what Turkish sounds like and give you the tools to achieve good pronunciation right from the start. There are quite a number of Turkish-language podcasts you can listen to as a beginner.
When you reach an intermediate level in Turkish—which means you can introduce yourself, do shopping, and more—intermediate-level podcasts will help you think, speak, and understand in Turkish. They will also teach you more vocabulary and take your skills up to the next level.
More advanced Turkish learners will have a wide selection of podcasts to choose from on different topics. Such podcasts will help them carry out deeper conversations about science, literature, politics, the arts, etc.
2. What are the 10 best podcasts for learning Turkish?
Now that you know why podcasts are one of the best language learning tools, let’s take a look at our list of the best podcasts for Turkish learners!
Podcasts for Beginners
TurkishClass101
- Frequency: 1 episode per week
- Average Episode Length: 7 minutes
- Active Since: November 2014
The TurkishClass101 podcast offers lessons for every type of learner! Each episode includes both linguistic information and cultural context, not to mention a number of tools you can use to enhance your listening experience and retain more information.
Better still, you can create a free lifetime account on TurkishClass101.com to access additional content and materials: vocabulary lists, flashcards, an online dictionary, a voice recording tool, and more! You can read more about TurkishClass101 toward the end of the article.
Let’s Learn Turkish
- Frequency: 12 episodes per year
- Average Episode Length: 4 minutes
- Active Since: March 2018
This podcast is hosted by a native Turkish speaker and her Spanish-speaking partner, who is also learning Turkish. Each episode covers a different topic about the Turkish language, and the content gets harder as the episodes progress.
Fluent in Turkish
- Number of Episodes: 7
- Average Episode Length: 10 minutes
Despite having a limited number of episodes, this is a great Turkish podcast for beginners as it covers basic vocabulary and grammar points. For example, you’ll learn how to greet people in Turkish and become familiar with common sentence patterns used in Turkey.
Learn Modern Turkish
- Number of Episodes: 12
This is another great Turkish podcast with only a limited number of episodes available. However, it’s a good resource for learning basic Turkish grammar and etymology. Furthermore, it also talks about Turkish history and culture.
Learn Turkish with LinguaBoost
- Frequency: 1 episode per week
- Average Episode Length: 12 minutes
- Active Since: February 2020
Each episode of the Learn Turkish with LinguaBoost podcast contains information about a specific topic, focusing on words and phrases that you’ll use every day. This simple Turkish podcast is hosted by native speakers, and all of the material is translated.
Podcasts for Intermediate Learners
Learn Turkish with Turkish Coffee
- Number of Episodes: 9
- Average Episode Length: 10 minutes
This podcast is fully in Turkish; it doesn’t contain any English. However, the host speaks slowly and clearly. The podcast also comes with a transcript for each episode, so you can follow along more easily. The host usually talks about tips for learning Turkish so that you can enhance your learning process. Best of all, tuning in every day will allow you to kill two birds with one stone: improving your Turkish listening skills and becoming acquainted with Turkish culture.
Turkish Tea Time
- Number of Episodes: 136
- Average Episode Length: 15-20 minutes
This podcast is hosted by an American expat. Each episode covers a specific Turkish grammar rule, though the host often picks hilarious and taboo topics rather than ordinary ones. Although this podcast isn’t producing new episodes, there are many lessons already available for your listening pleasure.
Podcasts for Advanced Students
SBS Turkish
The SBS Turkish podcast is from the Australian Special Broadcasting Service, which provides radio broadcasting in a number of different languages. This is a news podcast that covers events taking place around the world. You’ll sometimes hear English quotes in the news, which will make this podcast even easier for advanced learners. Be informed about what’s going on across the globe while gaining dominion over the Turkish language!
Bilim Kazanı
- Number of Episodes: 40
This Turkish podcast is hosted by three Harvard graduates who perform research and talk with experts about different science-related topics. The podcast hasn’t been active recently, but the existing 40 episodes will be very helpful for advanced Turkish learners. We especially recommend this one for those who are interested in science.
Canlı Bilim
Another science-related podcast, Canlı Bilim consists of live chats with Turkish scientists living in Turkey and abroad. Tune in to explore the world of science while improving your Turkish!
3. Tips to Learn Turkish More Effectively with Podcasts
Now that you’re familiar with the ten best Turkish podcasts for learners of the language, I’ll share some tips for making the most of them.

Dedicate time.
1. Dedicate some time to learning.
2. Choose a podcast that matches your skill level.
3. Choose a podcast on a topic you’re interested in.
4. Try listening to a range of different podcasts.
5. Continuity and routine are important.
6. Support your listening sessions with other learning tools.
7. Practice, practice, practice.
8. Motivate yourself.

Motivation
Are you more of a visual learner? Don’t forget that you can learn Turkish grammar, enhance your vocabulary, and improve your listening and comprehension skills on YouTube, as well! If you want to learn more, TurkishClass101 has an entire article covering the top YouTube channels for Turkish learners.
4. TurkishClass101 – A Single Resource for All!
In this article, I introduced you to the best Turkish-language podcasts for improving your listening skills. Podcasts are undoubtedly a useful and effective tool in language learning. They can enhance your Turkish studies in a way that’s engaging and fun.
However, please don’t forget that TurkishClass101 is a single resource that offers all the tools needed to learn Turkish. We provide our students with numerous audio lessons and recordings, tons of vocabulary lists, and a variety of free resources (including this Turkish dictionary) that you can refer to. You can also utilize our MyTeacher service, which allows you to study and practice 1-on-1 with a native Turkish speaker.
What’s more, you can download the app for free and use it wherever you are.
It’s our goal to help you learn Turkish in a fun and effective manner, all at your convenience. As such, we welcome any feedback or questions you may have.
Last but not least, happy Turkish learning!

The Most Useful Turkish Phrases for Beginners

If you’ve just started learning Turkish, you definitely need to focus on studying the basic grammar rules and picking up as much vocabulary as you can. Obviously, you won’t be able to learn all this overnight! And during this time, you might miss some opportunities or have a hard time getting help in an emergency.
Have I worried you? You can relax now. There is a practical way to prepare for daily conversations, emergencies, and other situations while learning grammar along the way: memorizing standard Turkish phrases for beginners.
In this article, I will teach you phrases you can use to greet people, introduce yourself, order food, go shopping, and get help when you need it. These expressions and patterns will help tide you over until you have a good command of Turkish grammar.

- Greetings, Self-introductions, and Goodbyes
- Courtesy Phrases
- Dining & Shopping Phrases
- Asking for Help in Case of Emergencies
- Other Useful Phrases
- Practice Beginner Phrases with TurkishClass101
1. Greetings, Self-introductions, and Goodbyes
These three components of conversation are essential in building a connection with others. They’re the keys to easier and more effective communication; they can open the door to new relationships, whether that be a friendship, a business partnership, or a romantic relationship.
Don’t wait. Start impressing the Turkish people around you by using the following beginner Turkish phrases for greetings, self-introductions, and goodbyes.

Greetings
A warm greeting makes a huge difference in one’s social life, especially if you’re in a foreign country. Believe me; you can win a Turkish person’s heart with a sincere Merhaba! (“Hello!”). I’m sure they will appreciate the fact that you took the time to learn that word in Turkish.
Now, knowing all this, are you ready to learn some greeting words in Turkish and start building good relationships with the Turkish folks around you?
Let’s begin, then!
Turkish | English | Literally |
Merhaba. | Hello. | – |
Selam. | Hi. | “Greeting.” |
Günaydın. | Good morning. | “Sunlit day.” |
İyi günler. | Good day. | “Good days.” |
Tünaydın. | Good afternoon. | “Sunlit night.” |
İyi akşamlar. | Good evening. | “Good evenings.” |
İyi geceler. | Goodnight. | “Good nights.” |
To learn even more Turkish greetings, we recommend you visit our blog post on how to say hello in Turkish.
Introductions
Introductions are an icebreaker of sorts. A self-introduction can also help you make a good first impression if you manage to get it just right. I believe that first impressions matter, and there’s no guarantee of a second chance if you’re not successful from the start.
To improve your chances of hitting it off with native speakers, memorize and practice these useful Turkish phrases for beginners.
Turkish | English | Literally |
Merhaba, ben Ed. | Hello, I’m Ed. | – |
Memnun oldum. | I’m glad to meet you. | “I was glad.” |
Ben de. | Me, too. | – |
Nasılsınız? | How are you? | – |
İyiyim, teşekkür ederim, ya siz? | I’m fine, thank you. And you? | – |
Nerelisiniz? | Where are you from? | – |
Ben Amerikalıyım. | I’m American. | – |
Kaç yaşındasınız? | How old are you? | “How many ages are you in?” |
Ben 25 yaşındayım. | I’m 25 years old. | “I’m in 25 age.” |
You can also check out our article on how to introduce yourself in Turkish to learn additional phrases and patterns you could use.
Goodbyes
Now that you’ve learned how to say “hello” and introduce yourself in Turkish, let’s see some beginner Turkish phrases for saying goodbye. After all, goodbyes are just as essential as hellos.
Turkish | English | Literally |
Baybay. | Bye-bye. | – |
Hoşçakalın. | Goodbye. | “Stay nicely.” |
Görüşürüz. | See you. | “We see each other.” |
Kendinize iyi bakın. | Take care of yourself. | – |
Make sure to read our article titled How to Say Goodbye in Turkish to discover even more parting phrases for different situations. The article also talks about the gestures we use when saying goodbye in Turkey. Have fun!
2. Courtesy Phrases
Courtesy phrases also play an important role in social life. Different cultures might have different values, but there are still some common courtesy phrases that we use in order to have good, kind, healthy, and respectful interactions. Below are some beginner Turkish phrases you can use to be polite in different contexts.
Turkish | English | Literally |
Teşekkür ederim. | Thank you. | – |
Bir şey değil. | You’re welcome. | “Not one thing.” |
Rica ederim. | You’re welcome. | “I request.” |
Lütfen. | Please. | “Kindly.” |
Problem/sorun değil. | No problem. | “Not a problem.” |
İyi şanslar. | Good luck. | “Good lucks.” |
Afedersiniz. | Excuse me. | “You would excuse.” |
Üzgünüm. | I’m sorry. | – |

3. Dining & Shopping Phrases
Dining and shopping are inevitable parts of our lives. As such, dear Turkish beginners, you’ll need to know some of the phrases below in order to do your shopping and put the old feedbag on!
Dining
Turkey has a number of delicacies waiting for you, so you’d better hurry up and learn these simple Turkish phrases for beginners.
Turkish | English | Literally |
Karnım acıktı. / Ben açım. | I’m hungry. | “My abdomen got hungry.” / “I’m hungry.” |
Karnım tok. / Ben tokum. | I’m full. | “My abdomen is full.” / “I’m full.” |
Susadım. | I’m thirsty. | “I was thirsty.” |
Menüyü görebilir miyim? | May I see the menu? | – |
Su alabilir miyim lütfen? | May I have water, please? | – |
Hesap lütfen! | Bill, please! | – |
Before going to the next topic, I should give you a tip. If you love different tastes, are into international cuisines, and want to find out more about Turkish food, don’t miss our article about Turkish cuisine! It will definitely help you plan each day’s menu while you’re in Turkey. Enjoy!

Shopping
Shopping opportunities are everywhere! While in Turkey, you’ll need to know some basic Turkish phrases for shopping while visiting the malls, supermarkets, drugstores, ticket booths, you name it. Here are just a few phrases to get you started:
Turkish | English |
Alışverişe gitmek istiyorum. | I want to go shopping. |
Alışveriş merkezi nerede? | Where is the mall? |
Bu kaç beden? | What size is this? |
Bu ne kadar? | How much is this? |
Bu halı kaç para? | How much is this carpet? |
Kredi kartı ile ödeyebilir miyim? | Can I pay by credit card? |

4. Asking for Help in Case of Emergencies
Visiting a foreign country can be stressful if you’re not confident in your language abilities. To help relieve some of this stress, I’ve listed below several basic Turkish phrases for beginners that might just save your life in an emergency. I hope you never have to use these phrases, but don’t forget to jot them down—you never know what life will bring you!

Turkish | English | Literally |
Bana yardım edin lütfen! | Please help me! | – |
Bana yardım edebilir misiniz? / Bana yardımcı olabilir misiniz? | Can you help me? | – |
Hastane nerede? | Where is the hospital? | – |
Benim çileğe alerjim var. | I’m allergic to strawberries. | I have allergy to strawberry. |
Yangın var. | There is a fire. | There is fire. |
Ambulans çağırın. | Call an ambulance. | Call ambulance. |
Polisi arayın. | Call the police. | Call police. |
Ben kayboldum; bana yardım edin lütfen! | I’m lost; please help me! | – |
Pasaportumu/cüzdanımı kaybettim. Ne yapmalıyım? | I lost my passport/wallet. What should I do? | – |
5. Other Useful Phrases
I’ve tried to include basic Turkish phrases for beginners for many different situations. However, there are many more! Asking for the time, getting directions, trying to find an English speaker…the list goes on. The phrases below are a good starting point for expanding your vocabulary, but you can also refer to the numerous resources on TurkishClass101.com for a greater selection.
Turkish | English |
Pardon? | Excuse me? |
İngilizce konuşuyor musunuz? | Do you speak English? |
Yavaş konuşabilir misiniz lütfen? | Can you speak slowly, please? |
Anlamadım. | I didn’t understand. |
Türkçe de “___” nasıl diyorsunuz? | How do you say “___” in Turkish? |
Pardon, Ayasofya’ya nasıl gidebilirim? | Excuse me, how can I get to Hagia Sophia? |
Saatiniz kaç? | What time is it? Literally: How many is your watch? |
Our article on Turkish sentence patterns might also help you to begin expressing yourself and fulfilling your daily needs more easily. In addition, it will serve as a foundation upon which you can build a stronger knowledge of Turkish grammar.
6. Practice Beginner Phrases with TurkishClass101
You now know quite a number of basic Turkish phrases for beginners. However, there are many more to explore. Learning Turkish is simple with TurkishClass101, which has numerous audio recordings, tons of vocabulary lists, and other free resources (including this dictionary you can refer to at any time).
Don’t forget that there’s also MyTeacher, which is a Premium PLUS service offered by TurkishClass101 that allows you to practice with a private teacher.
What’s more, you can download the app for free and use it wherever you are.
Last but not least, please continue to provide us with feedback about all the resources we offer at TurkishClass101.com.
Happy learning!

Advanced Turkish Words Worth Learning

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.

- Advanced Words for Everyday Life
- Advanced Academic Vocabulary
- Advanced Business Vocabulary
- Advanced Medical Vocabulary
- Advanced Legal Vocabulary
- Advanced Vocabulary for Essay Writing
- 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.