The Turkish alphabet: 29 letters
Twenty-nine letters, no silent ones: see which three English letters are missing, which six are new, and why c and ç are two different sounds.
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All Turkish lessons
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The eight Turkish vowels
Turkish has eight vowels, sorted by tongue, lips and mouth opening. See how a e ı i o ö u ü differ and why ö is not just o.
Read and practiseDotless ı and dotted i
Learn to tell Turkish ı from i by sound and spelling, and to write the capitals I and İ correctly in words such as ışık, kır and İzmir.
Read and practiseSoft g (ğ): the letter you do not say as g
Turkish ğ is not a g: after a, ı, o, u it stretches the vowel, after e, i, ö, ü it sounds like a light y. Spelling and mouth position, with no recording.
Read and practiseö and ü: the rounded front vowels
Learn to say Turkish ö and ü by rounding your lips while the tongue stays forward, and keep them apart from o and u in pairs such as kör/kor and üç/uç.
Read and practiseTurkish c and ç: j and ch
Say Turkish c like the j in jam and ç like the ch in chair, and see why one cedilla separates cam (glass) from çam (pine tree).
Read and practiseS and Ş: hiss against hush
Tell the hiss of s from the hush of ş with minimal pairs such as taş and tas, kaş and kas, su and şu, and learn the mouth position each one needs.
Read and practiseThe Turkish r: one quick tap
How to say the Turkish r as a single light tap of the tongue tip at the start, middle and end of a word, and how to keep it apart from l in pairs such as kar and kal.
Read and practiseFront k, g and l: kedi, gül, el
Why the k in kedi and the g in gül sound lighter than in kapı and gaz, how l shifts beside e i ö ü, and what the circumflex in kâr does.
Read and practiseDouble consonants: anne, elli, hatta
Fifty is elli, but his hand is eli: hold the doubled consonant in anne, elli and hatta so a long sound is not shortened into a different word.
Read and practiseLetter names: spell it aloud
Spell your name on the phone the Turkish way: consonants are called be, ce, de, and vowels keep their sound. Includes the odd ones, ğ and j.
Read and practiseSyllables: one vowel, one beat
Count the vowels and you have the syllables: a-ra-ba, ki-tap, el-ma. See where one consonant goes, where two split, and why saat is sa-at.
Read and practiseWord stress: the last syllable
Kitap, kitaplar, kitaplarımız: the stress slides to the end each time. Learn the default Turkish word stress by counting syllables, with no recording needed.
Read and practiseReading any word aloud: one letter, one sound
Turkish spelling is a recipe, not a puzzle: read left to right, say every letter once, and a word you have never met comes out right. No recording, just method.
Read and practiseQuestion intonation with mi
Yağdı mı? The peak sits on dı and mı stays light: learn where the voice peaks in Turkish yes/no questions and why a question word needs no mi.
Read and practiseFront and back vowels: kal against kel
Hear the difference between kal and kel, bal and bel, kır and kir: where the tongue sits decides the vowel, the neighbouring k, and the word itself.
Read and practiseThe circumflex: reading â, î and û
A small hat can separate snow from profit: read â, î and û through meaning, vowel length and consonant position, without treating every mark as stress.
Read and practiseRecognizing contractions in spoken Turkish
A missing r can hide a familiar verb: connect casual Turkish forms such as napıyosun with standard spelling, without treating them as new tenses.
Read and practisePlace names and exceptions to final stress
A city name can keep its stress away from the end: practise Turkish place names, compare baby with Bebek, and keep the stress steady when adding a location ending.
Read and practiseSentence focus: make the correction audible
Tomorrow, in the garden, or me? Use Turkish sentence stress to show which detail you are correcting, with written contrasts and guided speaking practice.
Read and practiseTurkish tongue twisters: clear sounds before speed
Short, original tongue twisters put s/ş and c/ç to work together. Keep each word clear as you build longer Turkish sound runs, with no recording required.
Read and practiseConnected speech: finding the words inside the flow
Spaces are visible on paper, but less obvious in speech. Follow consonant-to-vowel links in Turkish, respect pauses and recover the separate words.
Read and practiseRegional accents: sound clues, shared spelling
An unfamiliar vowel need not mean a new word: compare regional Turkish sound clues from the Black Sea, Aegean and southeast with the Istanbul-based standard.
Read and practiseLoanwords with Turkish sounds
Familiar words can hide unfamiliar sounds: practise vowel length in sade and beraber, the consonants in kâr and proje, and contrasts that change meaning.
Read and practiseAttitude in the voice: doubt, irony and courtesy
A compliment can carry a complaint: explore Turkish doubt, irony, courtesy and surprise through paired readings of the same words, with no recording attached.
Read and practiseSyllable meter: counting a Turkish verse line
Seven syllables can carry several stresses. Count original Turkish verse lines, find a pause between words, and distinguish syllable meter from a rigid beat.
Read and practise-ler / -lar: the plural suffix
Two shapes, one slot: -ler and -lar differ by a single vowel, and the plural always sits right after the noun, before our, your and case endings, as in evlerimizde.
Read and practise-de / -da / -te / -ta: in, at, on
Learn the Turkish locative suffix in all four shapes, -de, -da, -te and -ta, how the last vowel and last sound choose one, and why it is Ankara'da with an apostrophe.
Read and practise-den / -dan / -ten / -tan: from, out of
Say where you come from in Turkish. The ablative suffix has four shapes, and after his, her or its it adds an n: evinden, not evden.
Read and practise-e / -a / -ye / -ya: to, towards
Where does -e or -a go, when does a y appear, and why does kitap become kitaba? A guide to the Turkish dative for goals and receivers.
Read and practise-i / -ı / -u / -ü: marking the definite object
Turkish marks a known, specific object with -i, -ı, -u or -ü. See which of the four fits, when a y or a softened k, p or ç steps in, and when no ending is needed.
Read and practise-in / -ın / -un / -ün: of, ’s (the genitive)
Say whose something is with the genitive: Ali'nin, çocuğun, kapının. Four shapes, the buffer n after a vowel, and why the thing owned needs an ending of its own.
Read and practise-im / -ım / -um / -üm / -m: my
Turn ev into evim and araba into arabam: which of five endings follows the last vowel, why vowel-final nouns take only -m, and how kitap becomes kitabım.
Read and practise-in / -ın / -un / -ün: your (evin, araban)
Say your house, your car, your mother in Turkish: the four -in/-ın/-un/-ün shapes after a consonant, the short -n after a vowel, and kitap becoming kitabın.
Read and practise-i / -si: his, her, its
Why is it evi but arabası? Learn the third-person possessive in all eight shapes, when a final consonant softens (kitap, kitabı), and why his and her are the same.
Read and practise-imiz / -ımız / -umuz / -ümüz: our
Learn how Turkish says our: the suffix -imiz and its seven other shapes, chosen by the last vowel and by whether the noun ends in a vowel, as in evimiz and arabamız.
Read and practise-ınız / -iniz / -unuz / -ünüz: your (plural, polite)
Say eviniz, arabanız, kitaplarınız: the ending for your when you address several people or one person politely, with its eight shapes and the vowel it drops after a vowel.
Read and practise-leri / -ları: their house, their car
Evleri, arabaları, kitapları: how the Turkish ending for “their” chooses -leri or -ları, why p, ç, t, k stay hard, and why evleri can also mean one person's houses.
Read and practiseBuffer -n-: evinde, evinden, evine
Learn why Turkish inserts n between the his/her possessive and a case suffix (evi + de = evinde), and why it never appears after my, our or your.
Read and practiseBuffer -y-: the y that joins vowels
Arabaya and kapıyı, not arabaa or kapıı: see where Turkish puts a linking y between a vowel-ending word and -e/-a or -i, and where it never does.
Read and practisebana, sana, ona: pronouns with case endings
How ben, sen and o change before case endings: bana, senden, onu, ona, and why biz and siz stay regular. Includes the full pronoun table.
Read and practiseApostrophes with names: Ankara'da, Ali'nin
Why Turkish writes an apostrophe between a name and its suffix, how the ending is picked, and why Ahmet and Zeynep keep their last letter.
Read and practisemi / mı / mu / mü: the yes-or-no question word
Turn any Turkish statement into a yes-or-no question with mi, mı, mu or mü: which vowel to choose, why it is written apart, and where the person ending goes.
Read and practise-im / -sin / -iz / -siniz: I am, you are, we are
Say who or how you are in Turkish with the person endings -im, -sin, -iz and -siniz, with vowel harmony and the buffer y that follows a vowel.
Read and practise-iyor / -ıyor / -uyor / -üyor: happening now
Make the Turkish present continuous: how the vowel before -yor follows the stem, what happens to bekle- and başla-, and why git- turns into gidiyorum.
Read and practise-miyor / -mıyor / -muyor / -müyor: not doing now
Gelmiyorum and never gelmeyorum: see how the negative -me/-ma narrows before -yor, how the stem's last vowel picks it, and where the person ending goes.
Read and practise-di, -dı, -du, -dü, -ti: the past (geldi, yaptı)
Eight shapes of the Turkish past ending: -di, -dı, -du, -dü and their t forms. See how the stem's last vowel and last sound pick one, as in geldi, yaptı and gördü.
Read and practisePast person endings: -m, -n, -k, -niz, -ler
Geldim, geldin, geldi, geldik, geldiniz, geldiler: how the Turkish past tense marks who did it, why he and she get no ending, and where harmony changes -niz and -ler.
Read and practise-medi / -madı: the negative past
Gelmedim, okumadım, görmedik: attach -me or -ma, then -di or -dı and a person ending to say what did not happen, with just two shapes to learn.
Read and practise-ecek / -acak: will, going to
Tomorrow's plans, promises and forecasts: the future suffix -ecek/-acak, its y buffer after vowels, and the k that turns into ğ in geleceğim.
Read and practise-le / -la: with, by means of
Kalemle, arabayla, benimle: attach -le/-la for 'with' or 'by', add a y after a vowel, and see how it relates to the separate word ile.
Read and practise-inci / -ıncı / -uncu / -üncü: ordinal numbers
Which ordinal shape fits? Choose -inci, -ıncı, -uncu or -üncü by the last vowel, drop the i after a vowel (ikinci) and soften dört to dördüncü.
Read and practise-ca / -ce / -ça / -çe: language names
Almanca, Arapça, İngilizce, Türkçe: the four shapes of the suffix that turns Alman, Arap, İngiliz and Türk into language names, and how to pick one.
Read and practise-li / -lı / -lu / -lü: with, having
Sütlü kahve, şekerli çay: see how the suffix -li, -lı, -lu or -lü says with or having, why its l never changes, and why Ankaralı has no apostrophe.
Read and practiseWithout: -siz / -sız / -suz / -süz
Şekersiz çay is tea without sugar. See how -siz, -sız, -suz and -süz follow the last vowel, why the s never changes, and why çocuksuz keeps its k.
Read and practise-in / -ın / -un / -ün: polite command
Come, look, sit down: build the Turkish command you give to several people or to someone you respect, with four vowel shapes and a y after vowels.
Read and practise-ir / -ar / -er: the aorist (gelir, yapar)
Gelir, yapar, okur: the Turkish general present. See when the suffix is -r, -ir or -ar, and why git turns into gider.
Read and practiseAorist person endings: -im, -sin, -iz, -siniz, -ler
Say who usually does something: -im, -sin, no ending, -iz, -siniz and -ler/-lar after the aorist, with the vowel harmony behind gelirim, yaparsın and görürsünüz.
Read and practise-mez / -maz: the negative aorist
Gelmez, yapmam, içmeyiz: build the negative aorist with -mez/-maz and see why the first person drops the z, so it is gelmem and yapmam, not gelmezim.
Read and practise-ebil- / -abil-: can and may (gelebilirim)
Say what you can or may do in Turkish with -ebil-/-abil-: the two shapes, the buffer y after a vowel, and forms such as gelebilirim, okuyabilirsiniz and gidebilirim.
Read and practise-eme / -ama: cannot, could not
Gelemem is not gelmem: put -eme or -ama before the tense to say you cannot do something, and see why okuyamadım and gidemem change.
Read and practise-meli / -malı: must, have to, should
Gitmeliyim, kalkmalısın, beklemeliler: add -meli or -malı to a verb stem and then a person ending to say what you must or should do.
Read and practise-memeli / -mamalı: must not
Gitmemeliyim, okumamalısın, yapmamalı: put -me/-ma and -meli/-malı on a verb stem to say what must not be done, with two shapes and six person endings.
Read and practise-mek / -mak: the infinitive
Yazmak, görmek, uyumak: why Turkish dictionary verbs end in -mek or -mak, how the last vowel of the stem chooses, and how the infinitive follows verbs like want.
Read and practiseWas and were: -di after nouns (öğrenciydim)
Öğrenciydim, evdeydik, soğuktu: how Turkish puts a noun, an adjective or a place into the past with -di, -dı, -du, -dü, their t forms and the y after a vowel.
Read and practise-miş / -mış / -müş / -muş: the reported past
Gelmiş means 'he came, I hear': build the reported past with -miş, -mış, -müş or -muş, add the person endings, and see when the -di past is the better choice.
Read and practise-dir / -dır / -tir / -tür: is, must be
Tell a fact or a safe guess with -dir and its eight shapes: kapalıdır, sıcaktır, tuzludur, dürüsttür. How the last vowel and sound pick the form, and when to leave it out.
Read and practise-lik / -lık / -luk / -lük: quality, state, job
From güzel to güzellik: add -lik, -lık, -luk or -lük to a word to name a quality, a state or a profession, and see why the final k softens to ğ before a vowel.
Read and practise-ci / -cı / -çi / -çı: the person who does it
Who sells it, drives it or plays it? Attach -ci, -cı, -cu, -cü or -çi, -çı, -çu, -çü to a noun to name the person, and learn which of eight shapes fits.
Read and practiseRelational -ki: evdeki, bugünkü, benimki
Evdeki, dünkü, benimki: how the suffix -ki turns a place or a time into an adjective and an owner into a pronoun, and why bugünkü is spelled with -kü.
Read and practise-eyim / -elim: let me, let’s (gideyim, gidelim)
Offer help and make suggestions in Turkish: -eyim for “let me” and “shall I”, -elim for “let’s”, with the two vowels, the buffer y and the git → gid- change.
Read and practise-meyecek / -mayacak: will not, is not going to
Gelmeyeceğim, yapmayacağız: add -me/-ma before -yecek/-yacak to say what will not happen, and see why the k becomes ğ.
Read and practise-iyordu: was doing, used to do
Geliyordum, yapıyordum, bekliyorlardı: add -du to the present continuous to say what was going on, and see where the plural -lar goes.
Read and practiseSuffix order: evlerimizden
Stem, plural, possessive, case: why it is evlerimizden and not evimlerden, and where the linking n in evinde comes from.
Read and practise-me / -ma: don't, the negative command
Gitme and gelmeyin mean don't: add -me or -ma to the verb stem, then -yin for several people or for politeness, and see why the stem itself never changes.
Read and practiseWith a pronoun: benimle, seninle, onunla
Benimle, seninle, onunla, bizimle: how -le/-la joins a personal pronoun through its genitive form, and why onlar is the one pronoun that stays plain.
Read and practise-se / -sa: the conditional suffix
An extra r matters: compare gelirse with gelsem, choose -se or -sa by the preceding vowel, and build Turkish conditions without changing git- to gid-.
Read and practiseConditional person endings: -m, -n, -k
Who would come? Compare gelsem, gelsen and gelsek, then build all six persons after -se/-sa, including plural or polite gelseniz.
Read and practise-ken / -yken: while, when
While dinner cooks or the soup is hot: attach Turkish -ken and -yken, keep their vowel unchanged, and build yaparken, evdeyken and öğrenciyken.
Read and practise-(y)ınca / -(y)ince: when, on doing
Okuyunca links reading to what happens next. Choose all four vowel forms of the Turkish “when” suffix, add y after a vowel, and spell gidince correctly.
Read and practise-ip / -ıp / -up / -üp: linked actions
Open the door, then wait: connect Turkish actions with -ip, choose all four vowel forms, add linking y and leave tense and person on the final verb.
Read and practiseBy doing: -arak / -erek
A smile, a run, a written word: build Turkish “by doing” forms with -arak/-erek, add the linking y where needed, and practise bekleyerek and giderek.
Read and practise-meden / -madan: without or before doing
A silent drawing session illustrates -meden/-madan: choose the vowel, keep the verb stem intact and add önce to make “before doing” explicit.
Read and practiseAfter doing: eight suffix forms
One action finishes before the next begins: choose the eight Turkish “after doing” forms, keep the final consonants, and write the following word separately.
Read and practise-mişti: pluperfect forms
An earlier past takes -mişti, -mıştı, -muştu or -müştü. Build affirmative, negative and question forms, then attach the right person ending.
Read and practise-irdi / -ardı: past habit endings
Giderdim recalls a former routine. Build the Turkish past aorist, keep -z in negatives, and separate the question particle in oynar mıydın.
Read and practise-ecekti / -acaktı: was going to
An earlier plan takes shape in gidecektim: build Turkish future-in-the-past forms, keep k before the past ending, and place the endings correctly in questions.
Read and practisePassive suffix: -ıl / -il / -ul / -ül
A bridge is built, a window is opened: choose the four Turkish passive suffix forms, attach them to the verb stem and add the past ending in the right order.
Read and practise-ın / -in / -un / -ün / -n: passive endings
From almak to alınmak: keep the final l, choose the passive vowel, and use just -n after a vowel. Build all five forms before adding tense.
Read and practise-dir / -dır: the causative suffix
A tailor, a joke, new shelves: build Turkish causatives with all eight forms of -dir, keep the stem intact, and add tense after the causative.
Read and practiseShort causative: making something happen
One consonant turns waiting into keeping someone waiting. Attach the short Turkish causative and keep both consonants when you add the past tense.
Read and practiseReflexive suffix: washing and dressing
Getting ready involves actions on yourself: choose the five Turkish reflexive suffix shapes, build complete verbs, and distinguish getting dressed from putting on a shirt.
Read and practiseReciprocal verb suffix
A meeting involves more than one person: choose the five Turkish reciprocal suffix forms, build familiar verbs, and avoid a misleading translation of love.
Read and practiseSubject participle: suffix forms
A waiting passenger or the people who came: build Turkish subject participles, choose the vowel, insert a linking consonant and attach plural and case endings.
Read and practiseObject participle: the forms of -dik
The magazine you read needs a verb before its noun in Turkish. Build object participles with all eight suffix shapes, softening and endings for the doer.
Read and practise-me / -ma: verbal nouns
Reading becomes a noun: attach Turkish -me or -ma, then add possession or case. Build okumayı and gelmen, and distinguish an activity from a negative command.
Read and practiseManner adverbs: the four suffix forms
Quietly, clearly or quickly: choose the Turkish adverb suffix by the final vowel and sound, build three word chains, and keep the stem consonant intact.
Read and practiseVerb formation from nouns and adjectives
Cleaning, salting and starting share a Turkish word-building pattern. Choose the verb-forming suffix, attach it directly, and keep it before tense endings.
Read and practiseBecoming: -leş / -laş
A garden grows prettier; a task gets harder. Build Turkish verbs of change with two suffix shapes, keep the base intact, and add infinitive or tense endings.
Read and practiseDiminutive: smallness and affection
A booklet, a tiny table, a dear mum: choose the Turkish diminutive ending, spot stem changes, and add plural or case endings in the right order.
Read and practiseThird-person imperative endings
A cooling soup and an open door show how Turkish expresses “let it happen”. Build all four third-person endings, their plurals and their negative forms.
Read and practise-ecek / -acak: future participles
Tomorrow’s reading takes shape in okuyacağım makale: attach the Turkish future participle, add the subject ending, and keep track of y and ğ.
Read and practise-(y)ış / -(y)iş / -(y)uş / -(y)üş: action nouns
A glance, a return, a way of reading: build Turkish nouns with -(y)ış, choose all eight shapes, and add plural or possessive endings.
Read and practiseDoer and quality: -ici
Readers, printers and constructive ideas share a Turkish suffix. Choose its vowel forms, add linking y where needed, and distinguish it from occupation endings.
Read and practise-er / -ar: equal shares
Two towels per guest, six candles per box: choose Turkish -er, -ar, -şer or -şar, spell dörder correctly, and describe groups with ikişerli.
Read and practise-dığı için: because someone does or did something
A postponed picnic has a reason: build Turkish -dığı için clauses, choose the subject ending, and keep a cause distinct from a purpose.
Read and practiseFamily and household suffixes
One person’s name can stand for a whole household. Build Turkish family forms, add case endings, and see why these words have no apostrophe.
Read and practiseThe whenever/as suffix
Each glance, each reading, each change: choose among eight Turkish suffix forms for recurring events and gradual change, then attach them to longer verb stems.
Read and practiseAs soon as: paired aorist forms
One event triggers the next immediately: build Turkish “as soon as” pairs, preserve stem changes, and keep person endings on the main verb.
Read and practise-a -a / -e -e: repeated action
Reading a passage again and again? Build Turkish repeated converbs with -a, -e, -ya and -ye, and distinguish sustained manner from progress through repetition.
Read and practise-seydi / -saydı: unreal conditions and regrets
A call never made: build arasaydım and getirseydik, compare both vowel patterns, and separate an unreal condition from its imagined result.
Read and practise-se bile / -se de: even if
A plan survives an obstacle: build Turkish “even if” phrases, place the person ending before bile or de, and keep the particle separate even after k.
Read and practise-mişçesine: as if it had happened
A prize imagined, a question seemingly unheard: build all four Turkish “as if” suffix forms and compare their spelling with the separate word gibi.
Read and practise-lan / -len: forming verbs of change
Dust gathers, a shirt gets dirty, a couple marries: choose -lan or -len and learn why a verb’s meaning cannot always be guessed from its base.
Read and practise-gi: nouns from verbs
Affection, knowledge and pressure share a Turkish word-building pattern. Choose its eight suffix forms and add noun endings without inventing new words.
Read and practise-ık / -ik / -uk / -ük: derived nouns and adjectives
A broken plate and an unstitched seam reveal how Turkish -ık/-ik/-uk/-ük forms words: choose the vowel, recognise the meaning and add noun endings.
Read and practiseAction and result nouns
Spelling, measurement and presentation: build established Turkish nouns from verbs, choose the suffix shape and distinguish word formation from possession.
Read and practise-man / -men: established person nouns
Teachers, advisers and experts illustrate a limited Turkish suffix pattern. Recognise established person nouns, choose the vowel and build longer noun forms.
Read and practise-sel / -sal: relational adjectives
Scientific methods and emotional reactions: form Turkish adjectives with two suffix shapes, preserve the stem, and recognise established cultural and national adjectives.
Read and practise-imsi: somewhat, resembling
A bluish curtain or a tangy yogurt: choose all eight Turkish approximation suffix shapes, attach them correctly, and describe a quality in the past.
Read and practiseIrregular causative suffixes
Cooking lentils and dropping a pen reveal two Turkish causative families. Choose the verb’s suffix, apply harmony, and build all six shapes.
Read and practise-leyin: at a time of day
Evening keeps its vowels: attach fixed -leyin in sabahleyin, akşamleyin and geceleyin, recognise öğleyin, and avoid using this ending with clock times.
Read and practise-miştir: confident past assumptions
A parcel that should already be here: build all four Turkish endings for past assumptions, form negatives, and distinguish a likely event from a formal statement.
Read and practiseReported copula: apparently is (-miş)
A room turns out to have been a storeroom: build reported noun predicates in Turkish, including vowel harmony, person endings, negatives and questions.
Read and practiseConditional copula: ise / -(y)sa / -(y)se
A state becomes a condition: turn öğrenci into öğrenciysen, compare attached and separate ise, and place person endings and negation correctly.
Read and practise-sa / -se: wishing with keşke
A quieter evening, a shared swim: build Turkish wishes with -sa/-se, place negation before the suffix, and let the person ending identify who would act.
Read and practise
Vowel harmony: the two-way and four-way rules
Learn how the last vowel of a Turkish word chooses the vowel of its suffix, in the two-way and the four-way patterns, with a table of all eight vowels.
Read and practiseWord order: the verb goes last
Where does the verb go in Turkish? At the end. See the usual subject, time, place, object, verb order and which words may move without changing the meaning.
Read and practisePersonal pronouns: ben, sen, o, biz, siz, onlar
Six Turkish pronouns from ben to onlar, and what surprises most learners: o has no gender, siz is also polite, and the verb ending often makes the pronoun unnecessary.
Read and practiseTo be: personal endings on nouns and adjectives
Turkish has no word for “am” or “are”: the ending does the work. Build öğrenciyim, öğrencisin and öğrenciyiz and see when the y appears.
Read and practisedeğil: I am not, it is not
Learn how değil negates nouns and adjectives, why the person ending sits on değil (değilim, değilsin) and not on the noun, and how verbs are negated instead.
Read and practisemi, mı, mu, mü: yes/no questions
Turn a Turkish statement into a yes/no question with the particle mi, mı, mu or mü: choose its vowel, put it after the right word and add the person ending.
Read and practiseQuestion words: ne, kim, nerede, nasıl, kaç
Ne, kim, nerede, nasıl and kaç ask about things, people, places, manner and number: put them where the answer would stand, and never add mi.
Read and practisebu, şu, o: this, that and he or she
Which Turkish word means this, which means that, and when is it he or she? Learn bu, şu and o, their plurals bunlar, şunlar and onlar, and why the noun carries the plural.
Read and practisevar and yok: there is, there is not
Say what exists and what is missing in Turkish with var and yok: a place in the locative, the thing, then one word, and a question with var mı.
Read and practisePresent continuous: what is happening now
Say what is going on right now with -yor: geliyorum, okuyorum, başlıyorum. Covers the narrow vowel, the lost final a or e, and the person endings.
Read and practiseI am not doing it: -mıyor / -miyor / -muyor / -müyor
Turn gidiyorum into gitmiyorum: where the negative goes, why its vowel changes before -yor, and how to ask Gelmiyor musun? with the question word written apart.
Read and practiseKnown objects: -(y)ı / -(y)i / -(y)u / -(y)ü
A specific object takes the accusative -ı/-i/-u/-ü (kitabı okuyorum), a general one stays bare (kitap okuyorum), because Turkish has no word for 'the'.
Read and practiseGoing to and giving to: the dative in sentences
The dative suffix marks where a movement ends and who receives something. See why the goal can never be left bare and why words ending in a vowel add a y.
Read and practiseWhere and from where: -de and -den in a sentence
Say where you are and where you come from: -de/-da for staying, -den/-dan for leaving, also when the place is a person, as in Ali'de and bende.
Read and practiseSaying “I have”: kitabım var
Say what you have in Turkish without a verb for have: the owner in the genitive, the thing with a possessive ending, then var or yok, as in Benim kitabım var.
Read and practiseAdjectives before nouns: güzel bir ev
In Turkish the adjective comes first and never takes an ending: büyük evlerde, güzel bir ev. See where bir goes and why ev büyük is a whole sentence.
Read and practiseNumbers and quantities: the noun stays singular
After üç, on, kaç, birkaç or çok a Turkish noun stays singular: iki kitap. See why the number already carries the plural and when -ler/-lar still appears.
Read and practiseCommands and polite requests: gel, gelin
Tell one friend gel, but say gelin to a stranger or a group. See how Turkish builds commands from the bare verb stem, and why git becomes gidin.
Read and practiseWanting and needing: istemek and lazım
Ask for tea, say you want to leave, tell a friend you need money: istiyorum for wanting, bana lazım for needing, and how the two sentences are built.
Read and practiseile: with, by means of and “and”
Who did you go with, and how? Learn ile for company, vehicles and tools, the attached forms arkadaşımla and otobüsle, and why benimle replaces ben ile.
Read and practiseJoining sentences: ve, ama, veya, çünkü
Bread and cheese, cold but sunny, home or work: join words and sentences with ve, ama and veya, and give a reason with çünkü.
Read and practiseLiking and disliking: sevmek and hoşlanmak
Sevmek takes the accusative and hoşlanmak the ablative. Learn to say what you like and dislike in Turkish, from Kahveyi seviyorum to Kediden hoşlanmıyorum.
Read and practiseSimple past with -di: what happened
Dün geldim, dün gittim: report finished events in Turkish by adding -di to the bare verb stem and a person ending, with time words such as dün and az önce.
Read and practiseSimple past: gitmedim and gittin mi?
Ask Gittin mi?, answer Gitmedim: how the Turkish past takes -me, the person endings and a bare mi, with the question word written apart.
Read and practiseTime phrases: today, at three, on Saturday
Bugün and yarın need no ending, but a clock time does: saat üçte. See how Turkish says today, at three and on Saturday without extra little words.
Read and practiseevet and hayır: answering yes/no questions
Does evet mean yes or no after Kahve içmiyor musun? Learn to answer negative questions in Turkish: evet agrees with the question, hayır rejects it.
Read and practiseHabits and general truths: the aorist
Tea every morning, water freezes at zero: say what usually happens in Turkish with -ır/-ar endings, as in içerim, gelir and gideriz.
Read and practiseAorist negative: -mez / -maz and questions
Gelmem, gelmezsin, gelmeyiz: build the negative aorist with -mez/-maz, see why ben and biz lose the z, and ask questions such as Gelmez misin?
Read and practiseThe future with -ecek / -acak
Tomorrow, next week, soon: build the Turkish future tense with -ecek/-acak, add the person endings, and see why gelecek becomes geleceğim.
Read and practiseFuture negatives and questions: -meyecek / -mayacak
Gitmeyeceğim, kalmayacak, gelmeyecek misin? Build the Turkish negative future, see why -me never narrows before -yecek, and ask the question with a separate mi.
Read and practiseAli'nin evi: owner and owned
Ali'nin evi, kapının anahtarı: put -in on the owner and a possessive ending on the thing owned, with the right vowel and softening.
Read and practiseNoun compounds: ev kapısı and the izafet
How two Turkish nouns join into one idea: only the second takes -sı or -ı, as in ev kapısı and çay bardağı, and what happens to its final consonant.
Read and practise-ebil- / -abil-: can, may, be able to
Yardım edebilirim means “I can help”: how the suffix -ebil- gives ability, possibility and permission, when a y is needed, and why git becomes gid.
Read and practiseCannot: the inability form -eme / -ama
Gelemiyorum or gelmiyorum? Say in Turkish that you cannot do something with -eme/-ama in the present, past and aorist, and keep it apart from a plain negative.
Read and practise-meli / -malı: should and must
What should you do tomorrow? Add -meli or -malı to the verb stem, then the person ending, and say what you, we or a friend should or have to do.
Read and practisegerek, lazım, zorunda: must and need to
Gitmem gerek, gitmen lazım, gitmek zorundayım: say what you must do, put the person ending on the right word, and say you need not with gerek yok.
Read and practiseThan in Turkish: daha and -den / -dan
Elif senden daha genç: build 'younger than you' with daha and the ablative, and see why Turkish has no separate word for 'than' and how the compared word changes.
Read and practiseen güzel, en büyük: the superlative
En güzel, en hızlı, en çok: say 'the most' with one small word before an adjective, and see which endings go on the noun that follows.
Read and practiseAdverbs of degree: çok, az, biraz, fazla
Çok yorgun, biraz süt, fazla tuzlu: choose between very, a little, little and too much, and put the degree word right before the word it changes.
Read and practisegibi, kadar, için: like, as much as, for
For my grandfather, like me, until evening: how gibi, kadar and için follow a noun, why ben becomes benim before them, and when kadar means “until”.
Read and practiseReasons and results: çünkü, için and bu yüzden
Çünkü gives the reason, bu yüzden gives the result, and için links a noun to its purpose. Learn which goes where, and why it is benim için, not ben için.
Read and practiseSuggestions and offers: let's and shall I
Açalım mı, açayım mı? Learn when -elim means we and -eyim means I, how to ask Shall we? and Shall I?, and how to say let's not with -meyelim.
Read and practiseAsking permission and politely: -ebilir miyim
May I sit here? Build Oturabilir miyim? and Verir misiniz? to ask permission, offer help and make a polite request, with the person ending on mi.
Read and practisePast continuous: what was happening
Rain was falling and the phone rang: use -yordu for the scene and -dı for the event that cuts in, as in Yağmur yağıyordu, telefon çaldı.
Read and practiseVar and yok in the past and future
Vardı, yoktu, olacak: say that something existed, was missing or will happen, and see why the future of var is olmak and not a new ending on var.
Read and practiseWhich verbs take which case
Müziği dinliyorum, not müziğe: which case does each Turkish verb ask for? A short map of dinlemek, beklemek, bakmak, korkmak, konuşmak and kalmak.
Read and practisebiri, bir şey, herkes: someone, something, everyone
Biri geldi, herkes geldi, her şey hazır: the Turkish words for someone, something, everyone and everything, and why her şey is written as two words.
Read and practisePutting events in order: önce, sonra, sonunda
First wash, then eat, finally leave: use önce, sonra and sonunda in the right place, and see why sonunda means at last and not simply then.
Read and practisehiç, hiçbir, kimse: nobody, nothing, never
Say nobody, nothing, no one and never in Turkish: how kimse, hiçbir şey, hiçbir and hiç work with a negative verb, and why Kimse geldi is wrong.
Read and practiseReported past: hearing, inferring and discovering
A snowy street or a message from a friend: choose the Turkish reported past to show how you learned what happened, including discoveries about yourself.
Read and practisePast before past: what had already happened
The film was already running when we arrived: use Turkish past-perfect sentences to separate an earlier event from a later past moment.
Read and practiseFuture in the past: earlier plans and their outcomes
An evening meeting, a changed plan: use the Turkish future in the past to separate what was intended from what actually happened.
Read and practiseUsed to: recalling past routines in Turkish
Morning watering, early closing, evening stories: describe former routines in Turkish and distinguish a past habit from a single completed event.
Read and practiseReal conditions: linking a possible event to its result
A rainy day can change your plans: connect a possible condition to a result in Turkish, including negative conditions and instructions.
Read and practiseUnreal conditions: imagining a different outcome
A missed train, an unmade call: imagine a different outcome in Turkish, link an unreal condition to its result, and distinguish yesterday from now.
Read and practiseWishes and regrets with keşke
A missed call or a wish for tomorrow: express both with keşke, choose the intended time, and see why olsaydı does not always point to the past.
Read and practiseLet someone else do it: the third-person imperative
Elif can wait here, the children can play outside: use the Turkish third-person imperative to give instructions about others or express a wish.
Read and practiseThe passive voice: make the object the subject
A parcel sent, a wall painted: use the Turkish passive to report what happens to something, remove its object ending and name the doer only when useful.
Read and practiseThe causative: who makes the action happen?
A shelf made by a craftsperson, a joke that makes everyone laugh: use the Turkish causative and choose the case of the person carrying out the action.
Read and practiseReflexive and reciprocal verbs: who acts on whom?
Washing yourself, meeting someone, laughing together: distinguish reflexive and reciprocal actions in Turkish without guessing from the verb ending alone.
Read and practiseUsing the Turkish infinitive in sentences
An activity can be the subject of a Turkish sentence. Use infinitive phrases for actions and wishes, and distinguish okumak from okumayı.
Read and practisePurpose clauses: saying what an action is for
A pause, a meeting, a note: connect an action to its goal in Turkish, express a negative purpose, and distinguish a formal intention from being about to act.
Read and practiseThe verbal noun: an action with its own subject
A whole action can be a subject or object in Turkish. Use -me/-ma with a possessive ending, choose its case, and distinguish coming from not coming.
Read and practiseStatements inside sentences: -dik and -ecek
A statement can become the object of “know” or “think” in Turkish. Connect its subject, possessive ending and case, and distinguish present facts from future events.
Read and practiseRelative clauses: identifying the subject with -en
A waiting passenger, a fallen glass: build Turkish relative clauses that identify the subject, keep the description before the noun and distinguish its two sentence roles.
Read and practiseRelative clauses: the thing I did or will do
A notebook you bought, a hotel you will stay in: identify Turkish nouns with relative clauses, mark who acts and distinguish present or past from future.
Read and practiseLinking clauses with -ip: one subject, two actions
Two actions, one conjugated verb: use Turkish -ip to link events, keep tense on the final verb and preserve different subjects with separate clauses.
Read and practiseBy doing: linking actions with -erek
Writing to learn, walking to get somewhere: use Turkish -erek to explain how an action happens, and distinguish a method from a simple sequence.
Read and practiseWhen one event leads to another: -ince
A ringing bell, a cooling cup: connect an event to what follows with Turkish -ince, identify each subject, and make an immediate response explicit.
Read and practiseWhile: connecting actions with -ken
Two actions can share a stretch of time. Use Turkish while-clauses to set the scene, identify each subject and place an event inside an ongoing activity.
Read and practiseBefore or without doing: interpreting -meden
An untasted soup and a table set early: use Turkish -meden to distinguish an omitted action from a later event, and make “before” explicit with önce.
Read and practiseAfter an action: putting Turkish events in order
Curtains open after waking; a conversation follows reading. Connect Turkish events with an after-clause, choose the main tense and make a change of subject clear.
Read and practiseUntil in Turkish: -e kadar and -inceye kadar
Waiting has an endpoint: use a clock time, a destination or an event with kadar, and distinguish “until you arrive” from “when you arrive”.
Read and practiseDirect speech: quoting statements and questions
Someone else's words keep their own voice in Turkish. Practise quoting statements, questions and thoughts, and distinguish a direct quote from an indirect report.
Read and practiseIndirect questions: where, when and whether
An unanswered question can sit inside a Turkish sentence: say what you wonder, retain where or when, and use a positive–negative pair for whether.
Read and practiseAlso, too and but: placing the Turkish particle
A tiny space can change the message: place the Turkish particle after the right phrase to add a person or thing, then recognise its conversational meaning “but”.
Read and practiseShould have: looking back with -meliydi
A missed call, a broken glass: use Turkish past obligation to say what should have happened, and distinguish regret from something that was unnecessary.
Read and practiseWhat you managed to do and will be able to do
A box finally opened, a meeting you cannot attend: distinguish achieved results, past abilities and future possibilities in Turkish.
Read and practiseCompound verbs: quick action, continuation and near misses
A door opens in a flash; a passenger almost falls. Choose Turkish compound verbs by what happens, what continues and what never quite happens.
Read and practiseReported speech: keep the person and timeline clear
A promise retold days later needs a clear timeline. Report Turkish statements, questions and requests while keeping track of who speaks and who acts.
Read and practiseRelative clauses inside relative clauses
A reader, a recommended book, and its author: unpack nested Turkish relative clauses, track each subject, and keep the noun endings that connect the layers.
Read and practiseThe -miş participle: describing a completed change
Dried leaves and washed shirts: use Turkish -miş before a noun to describe a completed change, distinguish passive forms and avoid adding a hearsay meaning.
Read and practiseNegative description with -maz/-mez; evaluation with -ası/-esi
Unbreakable glass and a book worth reading: distinguish Turkish negative participles from evaluative forms, and see why -ası does not itself mean “not”.
Read and practiseWhenever, increasingly, as long as: -dikçe
Each glance brings back a memory; each page makes the text clearer. Use Turkish -dikçe for repetition, gradual change and a condition that continues.
Read and practiseSince an event: -eli / -alı
Three months since a move, silence since a departure: use Turkish -eli to name a starting point, measure elapsed time and describe what has continued.
Read and practiseWithout doing: formal -meksizin and everyday -meden
A text published unchanged: compare Turkish -meksizin with -meden, choose a suitable register, and keep “without doing” separate from “before doing”.
Read and practiseIntensity and comparison: -esiye and -ircasına
Doyasıya enjoyment, ölesiye fear: distinguish vivid intensity from an “as if” comparison in Turkish, without mistaking either for a literal result.
Read and practiseThe Turkish copula: past, reported, conditional and while
A quiet corridor, a reported closure, a condition: choose idi, imiş, ise or iken by meaning, and distinguish a past state from information learned now.
Read and practiseIse: a condition or a contrast?
A quiet room is a condition for working; two bags invite comparison. Read Turkish ise in context and distinguish “if” from “whereas” or “as for”.
Read and practiseAlthough, even if and despite in Turkish
A possible downpour and a real obstacle need different wording. Contrast Turkish concessions, keep the decision unchanged and choose the case after “despite”.
Read and practiseContrasting facts with oysa, hâlbuki and ancak
A missing key, a sturdy table that will not fit: connect contrasting facts with oysa, hâlbuki and ancak, and distinguish “however” from “only”.
Read and practisePaired conjunctions: hem…hem, ne…ne, ya…ya
Both features, neither event, or one of two plans: use Turkish paired conjunctions with parallel phrases, clear scope and the right verb form.
Read and practiseEmphasis and stance: -dir, ya, işte, bile, hatta
Even a grandparent, even an app: Turkish emphasis changes with placement. Distinguish surprise, stronger claims, reminders and confident guesses.
Read and practiseThe Turkish impersonal passive: an action without a subject
A path to the lake needs no named traveller: use the Turkish impersonal passive for directions, shared expectations and events with unnamed participants.
Read and practiseDouble causatives: follow the chain of responsibility
Cooking, commissioning and delegating take different roles: unpack Turkish double causatives, then add the passive and negation without losing who does what.
Read and practiseChoosing a Turkish noun clause: -mek, -me or -dik
Working, wanting someone to work, or knowing they work: choose Turkish noun clauses by meaning, subject and the verb that takes them.
Read and practiseAdvanced postpositions: viewpoint, cause and concession
A cause explains an outcome; an obstacle makes it surprising. Choose göre, dolayı, rağmen or karşın and give the preceding noun or clause the case it needs.
Read and practiseCase choice: verb patterns and changes of meaning
Understanding a task and knowing a trade use different cases in Turkish. Choose complements by meaning, and keep each verb’s case when combining clauses.
Read and practiseWord order: choosing the focus
The same report, a different question: arrange Turkish sentences to highlight what, when or who, and recognise background information after the verb.
Read and practiseFormal address and tactful requests
A respectful opening needs matching endings: keep Turkish address consistent, soften a request with a condition, and distinguish an invitation from a demand.
Read and practiseWritten Turkish: reporting an ongoing process
A progress report needs a clear timeline. Choose formal Turkish predicates for ongoing work, preserve the passive, and keep completed events in the past.
Read and practiseAbout to happen or nearly happened: -mek üzere and -yazmak
A candle about to go out differs from a basket that nearly fell. Contrast Turkish imminence with a near miss, and recognise when üzere expresses purpose.
Read and practiseThe aorist beyond habits: offers, refusals and expectations
A box to carry, a promise to keep: interpret the Turkish aorist in offers, requests, refusals and conditional invitations without mistaking each use for a habit.
Read and practiseProbability: possible events and strong inferences
An empty meeting room is a clue, not proof. Choose Turkish forms for what may happen, what may be true and what must have happened.
Read and practiseReduplication and emphasis: kıpkırmızı, mis gibi
A vivid red, a spotless glass, files opened one by one: distinguish Turkish intensifiers from repeated words and the fixed expression mis gibi.
Read and practiseAs if: impressions with sanki and gibi
A room that seems smaller, a child pretending to sleep: distinguish impressions from facts with Turkish sanki, gibi and -miş gibi.
Read and practiseLinking clauses and adding emphasis
A spare key brings relief; a calendar entry prompts a conclusion. Connect Turkish clauses, distinguish fixed expressions and keep their spelling straight.
Read and practiseLinking an argument: bu nedenle, ayrıca, dolayısıyla
A second advantage is not a consequence: connect Turkish arguments with bu nedenle, ayrıca and dolayısıyla, and keep reasons, additions and conclusions distinct.
Read and practiseTurkish grammar traps for English speakers
Word-for-word translation can change who acts or what a sentence denies. Diagnose English interference in Turkish clauses, verb complements and negatives.
Read and practise
olmak: to be, to become
Olmak means 'become' and 'happen', and gives 'be' only outside the present. Study its forms and see why 'I am a student' needs no olmak at all.
Read and practisegelmek: to come
The stem gel- never changes, but the k of the future -ecek softens to ğ before a vowel: gelecek, geleceğim. Present, past and future forms of gelmek.
Read and practisegitmek: to go, and why git- turns into gid-
Gitmek means to go, but its stem changes: gidiyorum, gideceğim, yet gittim and gitmiyor. See when t turns into d and which case marks where you go.
Read and practiseyapmak: to do, to make
Do homework, do sport, have breakfast, go shopping: see how yapmak takes -ıyor and -tı in six persons, and why it is yaptım and never yapdım.
Read and practiseyemek: to eat, yiyorum and yedim
Eat in Turkish: why the stem ye- turns into yi- in yiyorum, but stays ye- in yedim and yemiyorum, plus yemek as a noun for the meal itself.
Read and practiseiçmek: to drink and to smoke
Tea, water, soup and cigarettes all take one Turkish verb. See içmek in the present, past, future and negative, and why içtim has a t.
Read and practisealmak: to buy, to get, to take
How almak (to buy, get, take) works: a regular stem al-, the k of -acak turning into ğ in alacağım, and why a photo or a bus ride takes a different verb.
Read and practisevermek: to give
Who gets what? See how vermek puts the receiver in -e/-a and how its stem takes -iyor, -di and -ecek, including the softening in vereceğim.
Read and practisegörmek: to see
The ö of görmek rounds the endings that follow it: görüyorum and gördüm, not göriyorum. Present, past and future forms of görmek, to see.
Read and practisebakmak: to look at, to look after
Bakmak means to look at, and whatever you look at takes the dative. Its present, past and future forms, with baktım and bakacağız explained.
Read and practiseistemek: to want, to ask for
Conjugate istemek in the present, negative and past, say what you want, and put a second verb before it as in gitmek istiyorum.
Read and practisesevmek: to love, to like, with -i on the object
Say who or what you love or like: sevmek needs its object marked with -i (seni, kediyi). Present, past, future and negative forms, with seveceğim.
Read and practisebilmek: to know a fact, not a person
Bilmek is for facts, answers and skills; for someone you have met Turkish says tanımak. See all forms of bilmek in the present, the past and the negative.
Read and practisekonuşmak: to speak and to talk with someone
Talk with a friend, speak Turkish, stay quiet in a meeting: konuşmak marks the other person with ile, -le or -la. Present, past, future and negative forms.
Read and practiseokumak: to read, to study
Kitap okuyorum, okudum, okuyacağım: see why a vowel-final stem adds y before -acak, and how okumak also means to study at school or university.
Read and practiseyazmak: to write, and why it is yazdım, not yaztım
Yazmak is regular, yet its z is voiced: yazıyorum, yazdım, yazacağım. See the vowel before -yor, the d of the past, and how to say what you write and where.
Read and practiseoturmak: to sit, to live
Sitting down or living somewhere? Oturuyorum covers both. Learn oturmak in three tenses and when its place takes -de/-da or -e/-a.
Read and practiseçalışmak: to work, to study
Çalışmak covers a job, homework and a lift that runs: the workplace in -da, ders çalışmak for study, and why the past is çalıştım, not çalışdım.
Read and practiseuyumak: to sleep, to fall asleep
The stem uyu- ends in a vowel, which shapes every ending: uyuyorum, uyudum, uyuyacağım, uyumuyorum. Plus how uyumak differs from yatmak, going to bed.
Read and practiseanlamak: to understand, to get it
Anlıyorum, not anlayorum: the final a of anla- drops before -ıyor. See anlamak in the present, past, future and negative, with examples.
Read and practisesöylemek: to say, to tell, to sing
Who hears it, and what is said? Tell someone something with söylemek: the listener takes -e, the thing said takes -i. Forms: söylüyorum, söyledim, söyleyeceğim.
Read and practisebulmak: to find, to consider
Lost key or good film? Bulmak covers both: see why its rounded u gives buluyorum and buldum, and why searching for something is aramak, not bulmak.
Read and practiseöğrenmek: to learn
Öğreniyorum, not öğrenüyorum: only the last vowel of the stem chooses the ending. Present, past, future and negative forms, plus öğrenmek versus öğretmek.
Read and practiseöğretmek: to teach
Teach or learn? Öğretmek gives knowledge and öğrenmek receives it. See its forms, the person who learns in -e/-a, and the double t in öğrettim.
Read and practisebaşlamak: to begin, to start
A lesson, a job, a habit: what you begin takes -e/-a, and a verb before başlamak ends in -meye/-maya. Forms: başlıyorum, başladım, başlayacağım.
Read and practisebitirmek: to finish, and how it differs from bitmek
Ödevi bitirdim or ödev bitti? Learn bitirmek, to finish something with an object in the accusative, its forms in three tenses, and how it differs from bitmek.
Read and practisekalmak: to stay and to be left
Stay in a hotel, at a friend's place or at home: kalmak in the present, past and future, with a back-vowel stem that gives kalıyorum, kaldım and kalacağım.
Read and practisekalkmak: to get up, to leave
One letter from kalmak: kalkmak is to get up, stand and, for trains and planes, leave. See kalktım with -tı, kalkacağım with ğ and the ablative yataktan.
Read and practiseyürümek: to walk, with yürüyorum and yürüdüm
The ü at the end of yürü- brings a y before -ecek and rounds every past ending: yürüyorum, yürüdüm, yürüyeceğim, yürümüyorum.
Read and practisekoşmak: to run, with a stem that never changes
Koşuyorum, koştum, koşacağım: the stem koş- stays put, the past takes -tu after ş, and running in a place (-da) differs from running to it (-a).
Read and practisedurmak: to stop and to stand still
Dur! is only the start: durmak gives duruyorum, durdum and duracağım, and it never takes an object (that needs durdurmak).
Read and practisebeklemek: to wait for someone or something
Waiting for a bus or a friend: beklemek has no word for "for", its object ends in -i, and the e of bekle- drops in bekliyorum but returns in bekledim.
Read and practisearamak: to look for, to call
Calling your mother or hunting for keys? Aramak does both: see arıyorum, aradım and arayacağız, and why the person you phone takes the accusative.
Read and practiseaçmak: to open and to turn on
Because aç- ends in a voiceless ç, the past is açtım, not açdım. Learn the forms of açmak, when it means turn on, and why a door that is open is açık.
Read and practisekapatmak: to close and to switch off
Close a door, switch off the light, hang up on a call: kapatmak takes its object with -ı, and what closes by itself is kapanmak.
Read and practisedinlemek: to listen
Not dinleyorum but dinliyorum: the final e of dinle- narrows in the present. Plus how listening on purpose, dinlemek, differs from simply hearing, duymak.
Read and practisedüşünmek: to think, with düşünüyorum and düşündüm
Seni düşünüyorum, not sana: whom you think of takes the accusative. Plus düşünüyorum, düşündüm, düşüneceğim and düşünmüyorum with their ü.
Read and practisesormak: to ask, to ask about
Ask a person or ask about a thing? With sormak the person takes -e/-a and the thing asked takes -i: Ali'ye sordum, Ali'yi sordum. Forms: soruyorum, sordum.
Read and practiseyaşamak: to live
Where you live and whether someone is alive: yaşamak says both. See yaşıyorum, yaşadım, yaşayacağım and yaşamıyorum, with the city in -da.
Read and practisegirmek: to enter a room, a shop or a job
Odaya, not odayı: girmek takes the dative for the place you enter, and its stem gir- never changes in giriyorum, girdi and gireceğim.
Read and practiseçıkmak: to go out, leave, climb and appear
Evden çıkıyorum, dağa çıktık: one verb, two directions. See how -den marks the place you leave and -e/-a the one you climb, with a stem that never softens.
Read and practisebinmek: getting on a bus, a train or a horse
Otobüse, not otobüsü: binmek always marks the vehicle with -e/-a. Forms such as biniyorum, bindim and bineceğim, plus how it differs from inmek.
Read and practiseinmek: to get off and to go down
Down the stairs, off the bus, onto the runway: inmek covers all three. See iniyorum, indim and ineceğim, and why the vehicle you leave takes -den.
Read and practisedönmek: to return, to turn
Eve dönüyorum, sağa dön: the ö keeps rounding the endings (dönüyor, döndü, dönmüyor), and the place you return to takes the dative -e/-a.
Read and practisegülmek: to laugh, and laugh at
Bana gülme means don't laugh at me: the person laughed at takes -e/-a. Also gülüyorum, güldüm, güleceğim and the negative gülmüyorum.
Read and practiseağlamak: to cry, and the soft ğ that stays
Ağlıyorum, ağladım, ağlayacağım: the stem ağla- keeps its soft ğ and loses its final a before -yor. Learn to say who cries, when, and about what.
Read and practisegiymek: to wear, to put on
Coat, dress or shoes: giymek is the verb for clothes. See giyiyorum, giydim and giyeceğim, and why glasses and watches take takmak.
Read and practisesatmak: to sell
Sattım, not satdım: the voiceless t of sat- decides the past ending. Learn the forms of satmak, who gets what you sell, and how it differs from satın almak.
Read and practiseödemek: to pay
Paying a bill in Turkish: conjugate ödemek in three tenses and see why its stem becomes ödüyor- in the present and ödeyeceğim in the future.
Read and practisebuluşmak: to meet up with someone
Meeting a friend at six? Buluşmak marks the person with ile/-le, not the accusative: seninle buluşuyorum. Forms such as buluştum and buluşacağız.
Read and practisetanışmak: to meet someone, and the ile it needs
Ayşe'yle tanıştım, not Ayşe'yi: tanışmak never takes an object. Learn tanıştım, tanışıyorum and tanışacağım, and how -le/-la marks the person you meet.
Read and practisegeçmek: passing, crossing and time going by
Sınavdan geçtim, yoldan geçiyor: geçmek takes the ablative for what you pass, plus geçiyorum, geçtim, geçeceğim and why it is not "to spend time".
Read and practisegezmek: to stroll, to tour, with geziyorum and gezdim
Müzeyi gezdim, not müzeye: what you tour takes the accusative, while a place to wander in takes -de/-da. Forms: geziyorum, gezdim, gezeceğim.
Read and practiseyıkamak: washing hands, dishes and the car
Ellerimi yıkıyorum or duvarı yıkıyorlar? The present of yıkamak (wash) looks like yıkmak (demolish); the past, yıkadım against yıktım, keeps them apart.
Read and practisepişirmek: to cook
Cooking something versus being cooked: pişirmek puts you in charge, pişmek lets the food do it. Conjugate pişirmek and avoid the common mix-up.
Read and practiseuçmak: to fly
Uçuyorum, uçtum, uçacağım: how uçmak (to fly) rounds -iyor to -uyor after u, takes a t in the past and softens k to ğ in the future.
Read and practiseyüzmek: to swim, and where
Denizde yüzüyorum or denize yüzüyorum? In the sea takes -de, to the shore takes -e. Plus yüzüyorum, yüzdüm, yüzeceğim and the negative yüzmüyorum.
Read and practisehatırlamak: remembering people and moments
A face, a password, a shared trip: use hatırlamak for what you remember, practise hatırlıyorum and hatırlayacağım, and separate remembering from reminding.
Read and practiseunutmak: forgetting things and forgetting to act
An umbrella left on a bus and a call you never made both use unutmak. Practise unuttum, unutacağım and the action pattern aramayı unutmak.
Read and practiseanlatmak: tell a story, explain an idea
A plan to explain, a tale to tell: use anlatmak with a listener and a topic, practise its main forms, and distinguish explaining from understanding.
Read and practiseGöstermek: show someone something
A drawing, a route, a button: use göstermek to show something to someone, choose bana rather than beni, and form a polite request with gösterir misiniz.
Read and practisegöndermek: send a file, parcel or message
A file goes to someone: göndermek pairs the item with its recipient. Practise gönderiyorum, göndereceğiz and a polite request without confusing send and take.
Read and practisegetirmek: bring it here
A bowl of soup, a box for tomorrow: getirmek brings something towards a person or meeting place. Practise its forms, requests and contrast with götürmek.
Read and practisegötürmek: taking someone or something elsewhere
A bag to the car, a cat to the vet: götürmek connects an object with a destination. Practise its forms and distinguish taking there from bringing here.
Read and practisetaşımak: carrying things and moving them
A basket in your hands, a table in another room: use taşımak for carrying, practise its forms and distinguish it from taşınmak when you move home.
Read and practisetutmak: hold, take notes, keep a promise
A ladder, a notebook, a promise: tutmak changes meaning with its object. Practise tutuyorum, tuttum, tutarım and tutacağım in everyday contexts.
Read and practisebırakmak: leave something, let go, stop
An umbrella by the door, a rope in your hand: bırakmak covers leaving and letting go. Practise its forms and say which activity has stopped.
Read and practiseatmak: throw, discard and send a message
A ball, an old ticket, a message: atmak changes meaning with its object. Practise attım, atacağım and atar mısın, and keep the stem’s t.
Read and practiseçekmek: pull, take photos, withdraw money
A rope, a camera and a bank account meet in çekmek. Practise its forms, distinguish pulling from pushing, and choose the verb for taking photos.
Read and practiseitmek: push a door or move an object
A door that will not move? Use itmek for pushing: itiyorum, ittim and iter misiniz. Practise keeping t and naming the object you push.
Read and practisekoymak: put something in its place
A book on a shelf, salt in soup: koymak names the act of placing or adding. Practise koyuyorum, koydum, koyacağım and koyarım, with the destination in the dative.
Read and practisekullanmak: use a tool, drive a car
A tablet, a pencil or a car: the Turkish verb for using things also covers driving. Practise its forms, mark specific objects and distinguish drivers from passengers.
Read and practisedenemek: try something out or try doing it
A jacket, a recipe, a possible solution: denemek lets you try them out. Practise its forms and turn an action into the thing you try.
Read and practiseKazanmak: win a match, earn money
A match, an income, new experience: kazanmak covers all three. Practise its present, past, future and habitual forms, and distinguish winning from defeating.
Read and practiseKaybetmek: lose things, time or a game
A missing glove, wasted time, a game you lose: practise kaybetmek and its changing stem, then distinguish losing something from getting lost.
Read and practiseHarcamak: spend money, time and effort
Where does your money go? Harcamak names what you spend and what you spend it on. Practise its forms and distinguish time devoted to a task from time passed somewhere.
Read and practisebiriktirmek: save up and collect
Small amounts add up: biriktirmek describes saving money or collecting objects. Practise its forms and distinguish your action from money building up.
Read and practisekaçmak: escape and avoid
An open window, a noisy city, a duty to avoid: kaçmak connects escape with what you leave behind. Practise its forms and distinguish it from missing a bus.
Read and practiseTo catch: forms and objects
A flying ball, the last bus, a new opportunity: practise the Turkish verb for catching and see why the bus takes a different ending with “reach in time”.
Read and practisedüşmek: falling, dropping and going down
A wallet on the floor, a colder night: Turkish uses the same verb for both. Practise falling from and onto a place, and distinguish falling from dropping something.
Read and practiseKırmak: break objects, hurt feelings
Cracked walnuts and hurt feelings both use kırmak. Practise kırıyorum, kıracağım and kırarım, and distinguish breaking something from something breaking.
Read and practiseKesmek: cut, slice and interrupt
Cardboard, bread and a conversation: kesmek covers cutting and interrupting. Practise kestim, keseceğiz and keser, then distinguish an action from a power cut.
Read and practisedökmek: pour deliberately or spill by accident
Sauce onto pasta or water onto the floor: dökmek covers pouring and spilling. Practise döküyorum, döktüm and dökeceğim with liquids and loose ingredients.
Read and practisedoldurmak: fill a container, complete a form
A jug of water and a blank form both need doldurmak. Practise its common forms, mark what you fill, and distinguish filling something from becoming full.
Read and practiseBoşaltmak: empty a container, clear a space
A full drawer or a crowded shelf: boşaltmak removes what is inside or on it. Practise its forms, object endings and the contrast with boşalmak.
Read and practiseToplamak: gather, pick and tidy up
Scattered leaves and a messy room call for the same Turkish verb. Practise gathering, fruit picking and tidying, with present, past, future and habitual forms.
Read and practiseDağıtmak: hand out, distribute and make a mess
A deck of cards or a messy room: dağıtmak changes meaning with its object. Practise its forms and distinguish what you hand out from who receives it.
Read and practisesaymak: counting and considering
From counting buttons to judging a mistake: practise saymak, distinguish sayarım from sayıyorum, and count up to a number with yirmiye kadar.
Read and practiseKarıştırmak: stir, mix and confuse
Stirring soup or confusing salt with sugar? Karıştırmak covers both. Practise its forms, the object pattern and the difference from karışmak.
Read and practisetemizlemek: clean a surface or a room
A spotless mirror and a tidy room are different results. Practise temizlemek in five forms, mark what you clean, and distinguish cleaning from putting things away.
Read and practiseWipe, erase, delete: one Turkish verb
A dusty mirror and an unwanted file both call for the same Turkish verb. Practise its forms and distinguish the object you wipe from the place you remove something from.
Read and practisesüpürmek: sweeping and vacuuming
Crumbs on the floor, dust on the carpet: süpürmek covers sweeping and vacuuming. Practise its forms, name the surface and distinguish it from wiping.
Read and practisedikmek: sew a skirt, plant a sapling
A needle or a sapling gives dikmek its meaning. Practise sewing and planting with dikiyorum, diktim, dikeceğim and dikerim, and distinguish seeds from seedlings.
Read and practiseÇizmek: draw lines, sketch and scratch
A pencil draws; a key scratches: çizmek covers both. Practise çizer and çizeceğiz, describe shapes and plans, and use altını çizmek to underline a word.
Read and practiseboyamak: painting surfaces and dyeing hair
A shelf in blue, a wall in white: boyamak connects an object with its new colour. Practise boyuyorum, boyayacağız and the difference between painting and making a picture.
Read and practisePlaying, stealing and ringing in Turkish
A violin, a stolen bicycle and a ringing phone share one Turkish verb. Practise its forms and use the whole sentence to decide which meaning fits.
Read and practiseoynamak: games, teams and acting roles
Backgammon with grandpa, a school team or a stage role: use oynamak, practise oynuyorum and oynayacağım, and choose çalmak for musical instruments.
Read and practiseCelebrating and congratulating in Turkish
A birthday party or a message of congratulations: practise the Turkish verb for both, with present, past and future forms and the person as a direct object.
Read and practiseçağırmak: call someone over or invite them
A kitchen summons or a breakfast invitation: çağırmak brings someone to a place or event. Practise its forms and distinguish inviting from phoning.
Read and practisetanımak: know someone, recognise someone
A familiar voice can be enough: tanımak means knowing someone or recognising them. Practise its forms and distinguish knowing a person from knowing their name.
Read and practisesevinmek: be glad about something
A welcome invitation brings out sevinmek: practise being glad about news, feeling happy for someone, and choosing the right forms and noun endings.
Read and practisekorkmak: be afraid and name the fear
Thunder, a vacuum cleaner or making mistakes: korkmak names a fear with the ablative. Practise its forms and distinguish being afraid from frightening someone.
Read and practisekızmak: getting angry with someone
Anger has a target: Turkish uses sana kızmak, not seni kızmak. Practise kızıyorum, kızdım, kızacağım and kızarım, then soften a request with lütfen kızma.
Read and practiseŞaşırmak: being surprised
An unexpected price can leave you surprised. Practise Turkish verb forms, name what surprises you, and distinguish feeling surprise from causing it.
Read and practiseüzülmek: feel sad or upset
A disappointing result calls for üzülmek: name what upsets you, express sympathy, and distinguish feeling sad from making someone else sad.
Read and practiseMissing people and places in Turkish
An empty chair at dinner can bring someone to mind. Express longing in Turkish, practise the main verb forms, and distinguish missing someone from missing a bus.
Read and practiseİnanmak: believing someone or something
A claim can sound convincing without being true. Use inanmak with the dative, practise its main forms, and distinguish believing someone from trusting them.
Read and practisegüvenmek: trust someone, trust yourself
Trust takes a dative in Turkish: sana güveniyorum. Practise güvenmek across tenses, express confidence in yourself, and distinguish trust from belief.
Read and practiseSeçmek: choosing an item from a set
A window seat or a blue pen? Practise seçmek across four tenses, name the item you choose and the group you choose from, and keep ç in the stem.
Read and practiseChanging and replacing things in Turkish
A new password, a revised plan, a larger shirt: practise changing and replacing things in Turkish, with verb forms and the difference between an action and a change.
Read and practisedeğişmek: when something changes
A new meeting time, a different colour: değişmek makes the changing thing the subject. Practise its forms and distinguish it from changing something yourself.
Read and practisehazırlamak: prepare something, get it ready
A meeting needs coffee, a trip needs packed bags: practise hazırlamak, its changing stem and the difference between preparing something and getting yourself ready.
Read and practiseuyanmak: wake up, then get out of bed
Awake before the alarm? Practise uyanmak for waking up, compare uyanırım with uyanıyorum, and distinguish waking up from waking another person.
Read and practiseGoing to bed and lying down in Turkish
Bedtime is not the same as falling asleep. Practise the Turkish verb for going to bed or lying down, its common forms, and the difference between direction and location.
Read and practisedinlenmek: rest without necessarily sleeping
A quiet half-hour on the balcony: use dinlenmek for rest, keep its final n, and practise past, future and habitual forms without confusing rest with listening.
Read and practisealışmak: getting used to something
A new job slowly feels familiar: use alışmak with a dative noun or an activity, and distinguish getting used to something from already being used to it.
Read and practiseulaşmak: reach a place, person or goal
A destination, a person on the phone, or information online: use ulaşmak with the dative, practise its forms, and distinguish reaching from being unable to reach.
Read and practisevarmak: arrive at a place, reach a conclusion
The end of a journey calls for varmak: practise arrival times, the destination ending and varır, then use the same verb to reach a conclusion.
Read and practiseyararlanmak: benefit from and draw on
A dictionary or someone’s experience can be a resource: use yararlanmak with the ablative, practise its forms and ask politely to use a facility.
Read and practiseVazgeçmek: giving up a plan or an activity
A plan abandoned, an attempt continued: use vazgeçmek with the ablative, distinguish giving up from pausing, and practise positive and negative forms.
Read and practiseBaşvurmak: apply, turn to, consult
Applications and reference books share başvurmak: practise its forms, choose the dative target, and separate the purpose of a request from its recipient.
Read and practiseTaking part and agreeing in Turkish
Joining a choir does not mean agreeing with a proposal: practise the Turkish verb for both, its dative complement, future forms and past inability.
Read and practisesürdürmek: keep something going
Keeping a project alive takes action: practise sürdürmek with research, talks and traditions, and distinguish continuing something from something lasting.
Read and practiseengellemek: hinder, block and prevent
A truck across an entrance, noise that stops work: use engellemek with objects and actions, practise its forms and distinguish it from engel olmak.
Read and practiseÖnlemek: prevent an unwanted event
A lid that stops a spill, a schedule that avoids a clash: use önlemek with events, practise önlüyor and önlemiyor, and build objects such as suyun dökülmesini.
Read and practisedesteklemek: support a person, a project or a claim
Backing a project and lending weight to a claim both use desteklemek. Practise its forms, mark the object correctly and distinguish it from destek olmak.
Read and practisesavunmak: defend a person or a position
Defending a colleague can coexist with disagreement. Practise the forms of savunmak, mark its object, and report a position someone argues for.
Read and practiseeleştirmek: criticise with a reason
A headline too harsh, a proposal too costly: practise criticising a specific target in Turkish, explain your reason and distinguish criticism from anger.
Read and practiseTartışmak: discussing an issue or arguing
A proposal on the table or a heated exchange? Use tartışmak for both, distinguish the topic from the other person, and practise past and future forms.
Read and practiseKanıtlamak: prove a claim with evidence
A calculation can settle a claim: practise kanıtlamak, its changing stem, and the difference between not proving something and being unable to prove it.
Read and practiseaçıklamak: explain a point, announce information
A diagram clarifies a method; an association announces a programme. Practise açıklamak, its verb forms, its recipient and the clauses that carry its message.
Read and practisebelirtmek: to state and specify
A reservation voiced in a meeting or a cost named in a report: practise belirtmek, its verb forms, and clauses that state what someone said.
Read and practiseduyurmak: announce and make known
A club’s new programme gives duyurmak a clear purpose: announce something to an audience. Practise its forms, recipients and the passive duyuruldu.
Read and practiseyönetmek: manage a team, chair a meeting
Teams, meetings and limited time: use yönetmek to describe responsibility, practise its forms, and distinguish managing something from succeeding at a task.
Read and practiseDirecting people and attention in Turkish
A sign points drivers towards a car park; an editor steers a discussion. Practise the Turkish verb for directing, its forms and the cases for person and destination.
Read and practisegeliştirmek: develop a method, improve a skill
A better method or stronger writing skills: use geliştirmek for what you develop, practise its forms, and distinguish it from gelişmek.
Read and practisegelişmek: develop, improve and unfold
A skill improves, a town develops, events unfold: gelişmek puts the changing thing in the subject position. Practise its forms and distinguish it from geliştirmek.
Read and practiseArtırmak: raise an amount or level
More rehearsals, longer opening hours: use artırmak to raise an amount, distinguish it from artmak, and separate the increase from the new total.
Read and practiseReducing quantities with a Turkish verb
Ten minutes less, or only ten minutes left? Express reductions in Turkish, conjugate the verb and distinguish the amount removed from the final level.
Read and practiseartmak: increase, rise and be left over
Orders rise, curiosity grows, and sandwiches remain: artmak links these contexts. Practise its forms and distinguish an increase from causing one.
Read and practiseazalmak: decrease, diminish, run low
Less noise, fewer errors, dwindling supplies: use azalmak to describe a decrease, practise its forms, and distinguish the amount lost from the final value.
Read and practiseyükselmek: rise in height or level
A rising balloon and a higher water level share yükselmek. Practise its forms, describe a change from one value to another, and distinguish rising from raising.
Read and practiseUygulamak: put a method into practice
A plan becomes action with uygulamak: conjugate the verb, apply a method to a problem, and distinguish implementing something from submitting an application.
Read and practiseKurmak: set up, found and make contact
A tent, a company, a connection: kurmak changes meaning with its object. Practise kurarım and kuracağım, then distinguish setting something up from its being established.
Read and practisekurtarmak: rescue, save and free
Rescued children and recovered files both need kurtarmak. Practise its forms, mark what is saved and from what, and distinguish rescuing from escaping.
Read and practisekorumak: protect something, preserve a state
A phone case and a calm response both illustrate korumak. Practise its forms, distinguish what is protected from the threat, and describe what stays unchanged.
Read and practisesaklamak: hide something or keep it
A box of letters and a hidden gift both call for saklamak. Practise its forms, say whom you hide something from, and distinguish keeping from hiding yourself.
Read and practisegizlemek: conceal something from someone
A concealed signature, a detail kept secret: practise gizlemek in four tenses and distinguish what is hidden from the person kept unaware.
Read and practiseChance encounters: people and problems
A neighbour around the corner, a problem at work: describe encounters in Turkish, choose the right complement and distinguish running into someone from welcoming them.
Read and practisekarşılamak: welcome, cover, meet a need
A guest at the door, a bill covered, an expectation met: karşılamak connects these situations. Practise its forms and distinguish it from karşılaşmak.
Read and practiseKarşılaştırmak: compare forms, methods and results
Two drafts side by side: use karşılaştırmak to compare them, name a comparison criterion, and practise active and passive forms without claiming similarity.
Read and practisebenzemek: resemble, look or sound like
A rabbit-shaped cloud or a familiar voice: describe resemblance in Turkish, choose the dative complement, and distinguish resembling from likening.
Read and practiseyaklaşmak: approach a place, a time or an idea
A shrinking gap, an approaching meeting, a doubtful response: practise Turkish approach forms and distinguish getting closer from actually reaching a goal.
Read and practiseuzaklaşmak: move away and drift off topic
A departing ferry illustrates uzaklaşmak: describe growing distance, practise its verb forms, and keep a discussion from drifting off topic.
Read and practiseLeaving, parting and splitting: one Turkish verb
A team departure, a breakup or a fork in the road: practise Turkish verb forms, choose the complement and distinguish leaving from separating something.
Read and practiseSeparating and setting aside in Turkish
Laundry, reading time and a repair budget all call for the same Turkish verb. Practise separating, dividing and setting aside, with forms and case patterns.
Read and practisebirleşmek: to unite and converge
Converging paths and teams with a common goal both use this verb. Practise Turkish forms for coming together, naming a partner and reaching a shared view.
Read and practisebirleştirmek: combine and join things
Two files become one: practise birleştirmek, combine materials or ideas, and distinguish joining things from things coming together.
Read and practisepaylaşmak: share resources, information and opinions
Shared costs and shared opinions use the same Turkish verb. Practise paylaşmak, distinguish agreement from disclosure, and say whom you share with.
Read and practiseİlgilenmek: take an interest and attend to something
Ceramics as an interest, seedlings as a responsibility: ilgilenmek covers both. Practise its forms, its ile complement and the subject you are interested in.
Read and practiseEndure, lean, be based on: one Turkish verb
A wall, unbearable noise, evidence: use one Turkish verb across three contexts, practise its forms and distinguish not enduring from being unable to endure.
Read and practiseÇözmek: solve a problem, untie a knot
A stubborn knot and a difficult problem both take çözmek. Practise çözerim and çözeceğim, and distinguish solving a problem from finding a solution to it.
Read and practisegerçekleşmek: take place or come true
A meeting takes place; a dream comes true. Use gerçekleşmek for both, practise its forms, and keep the event as the subject rather than the object.
Read and practiseGerçekleştirmek: carry out and make happen
From a plan on paper to a finished project: gerçekleştirmek names the action that makes it happen. Practise its forms and contrast it with gerçekleşmek.
Read and practiseOluşmak: arise, take shape, consist of
A crack appears, an idea takes shape, a team consists of four people: practise oluşmak, its verb forms and the contrast with creating something.
Read and practiseoluşturmak: create, form and constitute
A study group, a warm atmosphere or an obstacle: use the Turkish verb for creating a result, practise its forms and distinguish it from forming on its own.
Read and practiseSağlamak: provide resources, ensure results
A workshop offering space and a lid preventing spills both illustrate sağlamak: practise its forms and distinguish a resource from an ensured outcome.
Read and practiseGerektirmek: what a task requires
Patience, extra work or an early start: gerektirmek names what a task calls for. Practise its forms and distinguish requiring something from being necessary.
Read and practisegerekmek: what needs doing, and when
Whose action is necessary? Use gerekmek to place a need in the present, past or future, and distinguish not needing to act from needing not to act.
Read and practiseZorlamak: force an action, put under strain
Pressure to decide and a stretched budget both call for zorlamak. Practise its forms, mark who is affected, and connect the action someone is forced to take.
Read and practisezorlanmak: have difficulty doing something
A steep hill or two similar sounds can cause difficulty: use zorlanmak, practise its forms and distinguish struggling to do something from being forced to do it.
Read and practiseyetmek: having enough, being sufficient
A pot of soup can feed everyone, while a shelf can run out of room: use yetmek to judge sufficiency, name who benefits and say when an action is enough.
Read and practiseBaşarmak: succeed in doing something
A task finally accomplished: use başarmak with a specific object or an action, practise its forms, and distinguish success from simply starting.
Read and practisedüzenlemek: arrange materials and organize events
From archive files to exhibitions, düzenlemek gives things a workable order. Practise its forms, passive uses and the difference between organizing and correcting.
Read and practisedüzeltmek: correct a mistake, straighten something
A typo or a crooked picture calls for düzeltmek. Practise its forms, identify what gets corrected, and distinguish an action from a change of state.
Read and practisekıskanmak: envy and jealousy
Someone else’s courage, patience or success can prompt kıskanmak. Practise its forms, accusative objects and the difference between envy and jealousy in context.
Read and practisebağırmak: shouting and making yourself heard
A raised voice can express excitement or anger. Use bağırmak with a dative recipient, compare bağırırım and bağıracağım, and say “without shouting”.
Read and practiseuğraşmak: spend effort, work on, bother
Pottery, repairs and stubborn knots: use uğraşmak for what takes your time and effort, practise its forms, and recognise when it means bothering someone.
Read and practise
ev: house and home with every ending
Why ev keeps its v and takes front-vowel endings (evler, evde, evim), and how eve and evde come to mean going home and being at home.
Read and practisekitap (book): kitabım, kitaba, kitapta
The p at the end of kitap turns into b in kitabım and kitaba but stays in kitapta and kitaplar: see every form and which endings cause the change.
Read and practisesu (water): suyu, suyun, suya and the y
Learn how the noun su takes its endings: why it is suya and suyu with a y, why the genitive is suyun and not sunun, and which forms stay plain, as in suda and sudan.
Read and practiseekmek: bread and the k that turns into ğ
Why bread is ekmeği and ekmeğim but ekmekler and ekmekte: the final k softens to ğ only before a vowel, shown on one everyday noun.
Read and practisearaba: the car and its endings
Why araba becomes arabayı and arabaya but arabam and arabası: how a noun ending in a vowel handles every case and possessive ending.
Read and practiseokul: school, with every ending it takes
Learn how okul (school) takes plural, possessive and case endings, as in okullar, okulum, okulda and okula, and why okulu can mean two different things.
Read and practisearkadaş: the word for friend and its endings
Why arkadaş takes -ta and -tan instead of -da and -dan, why its ş never changes, and how plural, possessive and case endings stack: arkadaşlarımızdan.
Read and practiseçay: tea and its endings
The noun çay (tea) with the plural, accusative, dative, locative, ablative and possessive endings, and why it is çaya and çayı, never çayya.
Read and practisekedi (cat): kedim, kediye, kedisi
Kedim, kediye, kediyi or kedisi? See how a noun ending in i adds y, n or s before a vowel ending, why it is never kediim, and every case and possessive form.
Read and practisemasa (table): masaya, masayı, masası
Where does the y in masaya and masayı come from? See how the noun masa (table) takes every common ending after its final vowel, and why masası is not masayı.
Read and practiseoda (room): odada, odaya, odası, oda da
Odada or oda da? One written word means 'in the room', the other 'the room too'. Plus every ending of oda, with the buffers y and s: odaya, odayı, odası.
Read and practisepara: money and its endings
Param yok, Para biriktiriyorum, Parayı bıraktım: how para (money) takes -ya, -yı, -m and -sı, and when a general sum stays bare.
Read and practiseşehir (city): şehre, şehri, şehrimiz
Şehrim, not şehirim: the i of şehir drops before an ending that starts with a vowel (şehri, şehre, şehrimiz) but stays in şehirde, şehirden and şehirler.
Read and practisekapı (door): kapıyı, kapıya, kapısı
Words that end in a vowel need a joining y or n: see why kapı becomes kapıya and kapıyı, but kapısına, with every form in one table.
Read and practisepencere (window): pencereye, pencereden, penceresi
Pencereye or pencereden? Looking at a window and looking out of it use different cases; see every ending of pencere (window) with front-vowel harmony.
Read and practisesokak (street): sokağa, sokakta, sokaklar
Sokakta or sokağta? Build the forms of sokak (street), see why the k becomes ğ before vowels only, and how a street name like Gül Sokağı'nda takes its endings.
Read and practiseyol: road, way, and the endings it takes
Road, way or route: see how yol takes plural, possessive and case endings (yollar, yolum, yolda, yoldan) and how to say “the road to school” in Turkish.
Read and practiseotobüs: bus, and why it takes -te and -ten
Otobüste or otobüsde? See why the final s of otobüs (bus) calls for -te and -ten, never softens, and why you board otobüse.
Read and practiseçocuk (child): çocuğa, çocukta, çocukları
Does çocukları mean the children or their child? See how çocuk (child) softens its k, which endings fit, and why the same spelling can mean different things.
Read and practiseanne: mother, my mother, to her mother
Anneyi, annesini, annesinden: follow anne through the cases, the plural and the possessives, and see where the joining letters y and n appear.
Read and practisekardeş (sibling): kardeşim, kardeşte, kardeşten
One word covers brother and sister: kardeş. See its plural, possessive and case forms, and why the ş turns -de into -te in kardeşte and kardeşten.
Read and practiseöğretmen: teacher, and the ending that means two things
Öğretmenim can mean “my teacher” or “I am a teacher”. See how öğretmen, a noun ending in n with a front last vowel, takes -ler, -e, -de, -den and -imiz.
Read and practisedoktor (doctor): doktorum, doktora, doktordan
Doktorum can mean my doctor or I am a doctor. See how doktor takes plural, possessive and case endings after its back vowel o, with no softening.
Read and practisetelefon (phone): telefonlar, telefonda, telefonum
Why does telefon, with an e at the start, take -lar and -da instead of -ler and -de? Build its plural, possessive and case forms and the phrase telefonla.
Read and practiseçanta (bag): çantam, çantayı, çantasında
Çantam, çantan, çantası: see how a word ending in -a takes possessives without an extra vowel, and why the case ending comes after them (çantamda).
Read and practiseayakkabı: shoes, my shoes, in the shoe
Two pairs, one noun: build ayakkabı with -lar, -yı, -ya, -da and -dan, and see why it stays singular after a number and why kk stays double.
Read and practisegömlek: shirt, gömleğim and gömlekte
Gömleğim or gömlekim? Choose the ending for a shirt you wear, iron or sew, and see why gömlek softens before vowels but stays in gömlekte and gömlekler.
Read and practiseyemek: meal, dish and akşam yemeği
Akşam yemeği or akşam yemek? See why dinner needs the -i of a compound, how yemek becomes yemeği, yemeğe and yemeğin, and why the plural stays yemekler.
Read and practisesüt (milk): sütü, süte, sütten
Sütte, not südde: milk keeps its hard t before every ending, while the vowel turns round in sütü, sütüm and sütümüzden. Every common form of süt in one table.
Read and practisepeynir: cheese and its endings
Peyniri or peynir? See how cheese takes its endings without changing, and when the object needs -i and when the bare word is right.
Read and practiseelma (apple): elma yedim, elmayı yedim
Elma yedim or elmayı yedim? See when the noun elma (apple) takes the accusative, why it stays singular after a number, and how elma suyu and elmalı are built.
Read and practisehava: weather, air and its endings
Bugün hava güzel: hava means both weather and air, with no word for “it”. See havada, havaya, havası, havalar and the phrase hava almak.
Read and practisezaman (time): zamanım, zamanda, zamanında
Saat kaç? is not zaman kaç. Build zamanım, zamanda and zamanında, and see why clock time is saat, counted times are kez, and zaman never softens.
Read and practiseiş (work): işe, işte, işten
Going to work, being at work, coming home from it: işe, işte, işten. See why iş takes -te and -ten after its voiceless ş, and what işte means when it starts a sentence.
Read and practiseyer (place): yerde, yerim, yerinde
Yerde means on the floor, yerinde means in its place: build every form of yer (place) and see why an n appears after the possessive -i.
Read and practisegün: day, günü, günde, günler
Cuma günü, not cuma günde: build the forms of gün (day) with plural, possessive and cases, and see why days of the week take the ending -ü.
Read and practisekomşu: neighbour, neighbours and whose neighbour
Komşuyu or komşusu? A single consonant separates the neighbour you wait for from someone’s neighbour. Build the cases, plural and possessive forms of komşu.
Read and practiseA guest in Turkish: cases and possession
Welcoming a guest starts with choosing the right ending: practise cases, plurals and possessives, including the difference between a guest and someone’s guest.
Read and practisemüşteri: a customer, the customer, your customer
Müşteriyi or müşterisi? Keep the final i of müşteri and choose the form for a customer you call, a customer’s bag, or customers who buy from you.
Read and practisePatron: boss, cases and possession
Whose boss is waiting? Use patron, patronu and patronunu in workplace sentences, with a table of case, plural and possessive forms.
Read and practiseişçi: worker, case forms and possession
İşçim or işçiyim? One means “my worker”, the other “I am a worker”. Follow işçi through its cases, plural and possessives with workplace examples.
Read and practisememur: civil servant, cases and possessives
Memura or posta memuruna? Work through the cases and possessives of memur, keep the stem intact, and build memurlarımız with the right vowel.
Read and practiseHasta: patient, cases and possession
Hastayı or hastası? Follow a patient through Turkish case and possessive forms, including hastasına, and distinguish “my patient” from “I am ill”.
Read and practiseLawyer: cases and possession in Turkish
A lawyer keeps the final consonant in Turkish: practise case forms, plurals and possession, and distinguish “my lawyer” from “I am a lawyer”.
Read and practiseMühendis: engineer, cases and possessive forms
Mühendiste has t, but mühendisi keeps s: follow the forms of “engineer”, from a drawing shown to one person to desks reserved for our engineers.
Read and practisepolis: police officer, cases and possession
One officer or several? Polis can name a person: practise polise, poliste and polisin, then connect the noun to a district with semtimizin polisi.
Read and practiseHospital in Turkish: cases, plurals and possession
A hospital on a map, a workplace or a destination: practise the Turkish noun’s case and possessive forms, including the ending in “children’s hospital”.
Read and practiseEczane: pharmacy cases and possession
Eczaneyi and eczanesi differ by one consonant but do different jobs. Practise pharmacy cases, plurals and possession, then build eczanesine.
Read and practiseBanka: bank, its cases and possessive forms
Bankaya, bankayı or bankası? Keep the final a in banka, distinguish a destination from a specific object, and say whose bank you mean.
Read and practisePostane: post office, cases and possession
At the neighbourhood post office: build postane’s case, plural and possessive forms, and distinguish postanede from mahallemizin postanesinde.
Read and practiseBelediye: municipality, cases and possessive forms
The y in belediye belongs to the stem: keep it when forming belediyeye and belediyeyi. Practise municipality forms, plurals and “our municipality’s”.
Read and practiseMüze: museum forms and art-museum compounds
A museum visit starts with müzeye; an art museum needs sanat müzesine. Build case, plural and possessive forms without losing the compound ending.
Read and practiseKütüphane: library, cases and possession
A library you like or someone’s library? Distinguish the object and possessive forms of kütüphane, then practise its cases, plural and school-library phrases.
Read and practiseAirport in Turkish: the forms of havaalanı
Airport endings hide a compound: compare havaalanına, havaalanında and havaalanları, then say “our airport” without adding an extra vowel.
Read and practiseistasyon: station forms and the metro compound
Station entrances, routes and meeting points bring Turkish noun forms into focus: practise cases, possession and plurals, then keep the ending in “metro station”.
Read and practiseHotel: Turkish cases and possessive forms
A hotel stay gives each ending a job: name your destination, collect luggage from a hotel, and distinguish a hotel from his or her hotel.
Read and practiseRestoran: restaurant, cases and possession
A restaurant changes its ending with its role: compare restorana, restoranı and onun restoranında, then practise cases, plurals and ownership.
Read and practisepazar: market forms and the Sunday trap
A market visit or a Sunday plan? Build the cases, plural and possessive forms of pazar, and use context to keep its two everyday meanings apart.
Read and practiseMağaza: shop, ownership and clothing shops
A shop of your own or a clothing shop? Build mağaza case and possessive forms, and see why giyim mağazası becomes giyim mağazasına.
Read and practiseFırın: bakery, oven and noun forms
Bakery or oven? Fırın keeps both dotless vowels in fırını and fırınım. Practise its cases, plural and possessive forms with shopping and kitchen examples.
Read and practiseGarden: Turkish cases, plural and possession
A garden gate, a patch of mint, a neighbour’s pond: practise Turkish garden forms and distinguish a specific garden from someone’s garden.
Read and practisebalkon: balcony cases and possessives
Balcony breakfasts give balkon a setting: practise balkona, balkonda and balkondan, then distinguish cleaning a balcony from decorating someone’s balcony.
Read and practiseMutfak: kitchen cases and possessives
A kitchen changes from mutfakta to mutfağımızda when it becomes ours. Practise the cases, plural and possessives, keeping k or softening it where needed.
Read and practiseBanyo: bathroom cases and possession
A bathroom door, a clean towel, two bathrooms: practise banyo in its case and possessive forms, and distinguish banyoyu from banyosu and banyosunda.
Read and practisemerdiven: staircase, cases and possession
Twelve steps make one staircase: use merdiven in cases and possessive forms, distinguish it from basamak, and build merdiveninde without losing a suffix.
Read and practiseDuvar: wall, cases and possession
A freshly painted wall gives duvarı a clear context. Practise duvar in cases, plural and possessive forms, and distinguish duvarda from duvarında.
Read and practiseÇatı: roof, cases and possession
From çatıya to evin çatısına: describe roofs, follow the noun through its cases and possessive forms, and distinguish a roof from a room’s ceiling.
Read and practiseanahtar: key, cases and possession
A house key carries two endings in ev anahtarını. Explore the cases and possessives of anahtar, keep its stem intact, and distinguish “the key” from “their keys”.
Read and practiseTicket in Turkish: cases and possession
A ticket left at home or a date printed on it: practise ticket forms, keep the final consonant, and distinguish a specific ticket from someone’s ticket.
Read and practiseHarita: map forms and city maps
Unfold a map: practise harita in cases, plural and possessive forms, then see why “on the city map” is şehir haritasında, with an extra n.
Read and practisePhotograph in Turkish: cases and possession
A photo album makes the endings concrete: practise photograph forms, keep the final consonant, and distinguish a photo from someone’s photo.
Read and practiseNewspaper in Turkish: gazete and its forms
A newspaper on the balcony or a report in its pages: practise Turkish cases, plurals and possession, and distinguish gazeteyi from gazetesini.
Read and practiseDergi: magazine cases and possession
A magazine on your table becomes dergiyi when you read it and dergim when it is yours. Practise cases, plurals and the extra n in dergisinde.
Read and practiseMektup: letter, cases and possession
A letter in a drawer becomes mektubum when it is mine. Practise mektup in every case, build the plural, and distinguish mektubu from onun mektubunu.
Read and practisesınav: exam forms and verb partners
Taking an exam and passing it need different endings: practise sınav in cases, plurals and possessives, from sınava to sınavlarımızda.
Read and practiseders: lesson, class and possessive forms
A class on your timetable becomes derse, derste or dersten in a sentence. Build the forms of ders and distinguish studying from studying a particular lesson.
Read and practisesözlük: dictionary forms and looking up words
A dictionary search brings two forms together: sözlüğe bakmak and sözlükte aramak. Practise cases, plurals and possession without losing the k–ğ contrast.
Read and practiseSoru: a question, your question, our questions
Soruyu or soruya? Answering a question takes different endings with different verbs. Practise soru in cases, plurals and possessive forms.
Read and practiseCevap: answer, reply and noun forms
An answer changes shape in cevabı, cevapta and cevaplarımız. Practise the cases and possessives of cevap, and see why answering a question uses soruya cevap vermek.
Read and practisekelime: word, case forms and possession
A word on the board becomes kelimeyi when you read it, but kelimesini when it belongs to someone. Practise cases, plurals and possessives with kelime.
Read and practiseSentence: Turkish cases, plural and possessives
Editing a sentence gives each ending a job: practise the Turkish noun for sentence in case, plural and possessive forms, including a friend’s sentence as an object.
Read and practisehata: a mistake, its owner and its correction
A crossed-out word can reveal a mistake: practise the cases and possessives of hata, then distinguish hatayı from hatasını when correcting someone’s work.
Read and practisefikir: idea, opinion and the missing vowel
One idea becomes fikrim, several become fikirlerim. Follow fikir through cases and possession, and use the right form when you agree with someone’s idea.
Read and practisekonu: a topic and its forms
A discussion needs a topic: follow konu through cases, plurals and possessives, and distinguish choosing a topic from naming the subject of a text.
Read and practiseSorun: problem, cases and possession
Whose problem are we solving? Follow sorun through its case and possessive forms, distinguish sorunu from sorununu, and keep the n in sorunum.
Read and practiseTatil: holiday, holidays and whose holiday
Packing can wait: distinguish tatile, tatilde and tatilden, then build the plural and possessive forms of tatil to describe a holiday from departure to return.
Read and practisesağlık: health, possession and case endings
Health as a topic or someone’s health: use sağlık, sağlığa and sağlığını, distinguish possession from case, and recognise the limited role of the plural.
Read and practiseHastalık: illness, cases and possessive forms
One illness, two readings of hastalığı: use hastalık in cases, plurals and possessive forms, and tell a specific object from someone’s illness.
Read and practisePain in Turkish: cases and possessive forms
Describing a recurring pain takes more than one ending: practise the Turkish noun for pain in cases, plurals and possessives, including “his or her pain” as an object.
Read and practiseMedicine in Turkish: cases, plurals and possession
Two boxes of medicine give noun endings a purpose: describe what remains, whose medicine it is, and why Turkish changes the final consonant in some forms.
Read and practisekaza: accident, cases and possessives
An accident can be the thing you discuss or an event someone experienced. Practise the Turkish noun’s cases, plurals and possessives, including traffic accidents.
Read and practiseSigorta: insurance, cases and possession
Insurance paperwork gives sigorta a practical setting: compare its case and possessive forms, and keep the compound ending when using sağlık sigortası as an object.
Read and practiseTax in Turkish: cases, plurals and possession
A tax calculation can refer to the tax, our tax or a company’s tax. Practise the Turkish forms and distinguish a specific object from a possessive.
Read and practiseMaaş: salary, cases and possession
Payday brings maaş into focus: distinguish a salary from someone’s salary, build its case and plural forms, and explain the extra n in maaşını.
Read and practiseFatura: bill and invoice forms
A bill on the table becomes faturayı or elektrik faturasını in a sentence. Practise fatura in cases, plurals and possessives without losing the compound ending.
Read and practiseBütçe: budget, cases and possession
A project budget takes several forms in Turkish: bütçeyi, bütçeye and bütçesine. Practise cases, plural and possession without changing the stem.
Read and practiseBorç: debt, borrowing and possessive forms
Whose debt is being repaid? Follow borç through borcu, borcum and borcunu, with a case table and examples that distinguish borrowing from lending.
Read and practiseFiyat: price, cases and quoted amounts
A price on a label becomes fiyatı or fiyatını in a sentence. Keep the t in fiyat, build its case and possessive forms, and distinguish fiyata from fiyattan.
Read and practiseEkonomi: economy, cases and possession
Economiyi or ekonomisini? Follow ekonomi through case, plural and possessive forms, and distinguish the economy from a country’s economy in Turkish.
Read and practiseTicaret: trade, cases and possessive forms
Trade as an activity stays singular in Turkish. Explore ticaret, ticareti and ticaretimiz, keep the final t, and distinguish trade from individual transactions.
Read and practiseŞirket: company, cases and possession
Şirkete or şirketine? Follow a company through proposals and replies, keep its final t, and distinguish case endings from possession and noun compounds.
Read and practiseToplantı: meeting, attendance and noun forms
Attending or postponing a meeting changes toplantı to toplantıya or toplantıyı. Practise its cases, plural and possessives in workplace sentences.
Read and practiseBaşvuru: application, cases and possession
Başvuruyu or başvurusu? Follow a workshop application through Turkish cases, plurals and possessives, and keep the applicant visible in başvurusunu.
Read and practiseBelge: document forms and ownership
Belgeyi names the document you scan; belgesini keeps its owner in view. Practise cases, plurals and possessives through files, notes and missing pages.
Read and practiseEhliyet: driving licence and its forms
A driving licence in a drawer brings Turkish endings into focus: practise cases, plurals and possession, and distinguish ehliyeti from ehliyetini.
Read and practiseKimlik: an ID card, an identity, and their forms
A card in your wallet or a sense of identity: follow kimlik through its cases and possessives, and distinguish kimliği from kimliğini in a sentence.
Read and practisevize: visa forms and the phrase vize başvurusu
Visa or visa application? Follow vize through cases, plurals and possession, and keep the extra ending in vize başvurusu when naming an application.
Read and practiseSınır: borders, boundaries and limits
A line on a map and a budget ceiling can both be sınır. Build its case and possessive forms, and distinguish sınırı from sınırını in a sentence.
Read and practiseHükûmet: government and its noun forms
Hükûmetin açıklaması links a government to its statement. Practise cases, plurals and possession, keep the final t, and notice the spelling with û.
Read and practiseDevlet: state, cases and possession
Devleti keeps its t: explore the Turkish word for state through fictional settings, case forms, plurals and possession, without confusing it with government.
Read and practiseSeçim: election, choice and possessive forms
An election and a personal choice share the noun seçim. Practise its cases and possessives, and see why “their choice” needs another ending when it is the object.
Read and practiseHak: a right, an entitlement or an attempt
A right or one more attempt? Follow hak through hakkım, hakkı and haklarımız, with case and possessive forms and the difference between having a right and being right.
Read and practiseÖzgürlük: freedom, cases and possession
Freedom as an idea or a personal choice: use özgürlük in cases, plural and possessive forms, and distinguish özgürüm from özgürlüğüm.
Read and practisekanun: law, its cases and possessive forms
A law’s title reveals the job of an ending: distinguish kanunu from kanunun, then practise cases, plurals and possession with original Turkish examples.
Read and practisemahkeme: court, cases and possessives
A court in a fictional town gives mahkeme its context: compare mahkemeyi with mahkemesini, then practise case, plural and possessive forms.
Read and practisesuç: crime, fault and noun forms
A crime in a novel and a delay blamed on someone both use suç. Practise its cases and possessives, keeping ç in suçu, suça and suçum.
Read and practisetoplum: society, its cases and possessives
A society contains many people, but the Turkish noun stays singular. Practise society forms, compare separate societies and describe the society you belong to.
Read and practiseKültür: culture, cases and noun compounds
Food culture gives this noun two layers of endings. Practise Turkish culture words in cases, plural and possessive forms, and keep the compound ending when adding a case.
Read and practiseTradition in Turkish: cases, plurals and possession
Keeping a family tradition alive gives Turkish noun endings a purpose: practise cases, plural and possessive forms, including the extra consonant before a case ending.
Read and practisetarih: history, dates and noun forms
A museum’s past and a meeting date both use tarih. Practise its cases, plurals and possessives, and distinguish tarihi from tarihini in a full sentence.
Read and practiseEdebiyat: literature, cases and literary traditions
Literary traditions give edebiyat a meaningful plural. Practise its cases and possessives, keep its final t, and build Türk edebiyatında correctly.
Read and practiseŞair: the poet and the possessive form
A poet or a poem? Keep şair distinct from şiir, explore its case and possessive forms, and see why bu şairi becomes derginin şairini.
Read and practiseNovel in Turkish: cases and possession
A novel’s ending can change your interpretation. Discuss novels in Turkish with case and possessive forms, and distinguish a particular novel from its author’s novel.
Read and practisehikâye: a story, its owner and its endings
A story gains an owner in hikâyesi and becomes an object in hikâyesini. Practise hikâye in cases, plural and possessive forms with original literary examples.
Read and practiseTiyatro: theatre, cases and possession
A theatre has a stage; a play has a plot. Build tiyatro case and possessive forms, from tiyatroyu to tiyatrosunu, and talk about theatres together.
Read and practiseSanat: art, arts and possessive forms
Art keeps its t in sanatı and takes a double t in sanatta. Explore the cases and possessives of sanat, and distinguish art forms from individual artworks.
Read and practisegelişme: development, events and noun forms
A project’s progress and an unexpected turn both use gelişme. Practise its cases and possessives, and distinguish gelişmeyi from gelişmesini.
Read and practisedeğişim: change and whose change it is
The final m in değişim belongs to the word, not to “my”. Build its cases, plural and possessives, and explain a neighbourhood’s change in Turkish.
Read and practiseSonuç: result, outcome and its forms
A result becomes sonucu when you announce it, but sonucunu when it belongs to a comparison. Practise Turkish cases, plurals and possessives with sonuç.
Read and practisePurpose in Turkish: cases and possession
A project’s purpose changes form when you explain it or work towards it. Practise the Turkish noun for purpose in cases, plurals and possessive constructions.
Read and practiseÇevre: environment, surroundings and social circles
Environmental protection, nearby streets and social circles all use çevre. Practise its cases and possessives, and distinguish çevreye from çevresine.
Read and practiseNature in Turkish: cases and possessive forms
From a woodland walk to the nature of a problem, practise the Turkish noun for nature in cases, plural and possessive forms without confusing their meanings.
Read and practiseClimate in Turkish: iklim and its endings
A region’s climate takes more than a daily forecast: use iklim in cases, plurals and possessives, and see why bölgenin iklimine needs an extra n.
Read and practisedeprem: earthquake forms and possessive endings
An earthquake in a story gives deprem a context: compare depremi and depreminde, practise cases and plurals, and distinguish an object from a possessive form.
Read and practiseEnerji: energy, possession and case
Energy for a machine or a demanding project: use enerji in cases and possessive forms, distinguish enerjiyi from enerjisini, and place the plural in context.
Read and practiseNumbers 0 to 20: sıfır to yirmi
Count from sıfır to yirmi: the 21 Turkish numbers, why thirteen is on üç and never üç on, and why the noun stays singular after a number.
Read and practiseColours: kırmızı, mavi, sarı and açık mavi
Name the eleven basic colours in Turkish, make a lighter or darker shade with açık and koyu, and spell kahverengi, kırmızı and sarı with the right letters.
Read and practiseThe days of the week: pazartesi to pazar
Learn the seven Turkish days from pazartesi to pazar, how to say on Monday or every Friday without any ending, and why cuma and cumartesi are easy to mix up.
Read and practiseMonths in Turkish: from ocak to aralık
All twelve Turkish months from ocak to aralık, and the short ending -da/-ta that makes 'in March': martta, eylülde, aralıkta. No capital letter, no apostrophe.
Read and practiseFamily words: mother's side and father's side
Aunts, uncles and grandparents get different names depending on the side: anneanne or babaanne, amca or dayı, hala or teyze.
Read and practiseBody parts: from head to foot
Fourteen body words with their my-forms, why it is burnum and ağzım but boğazım, and how to say what hurts. Start with Başım ağrıyor.
Read and practiseFruit names for the market and the table
Ten common fruits from elma to karpuz, why they stay bare in statements like Elma seviyorum, and how to keep the sweet cherry apart from the sour one.
Read and practiseVegetables (sebzeler): buying them by weight and piece
Name twelve market vegetables from domates to lahana, ask for them by the kilo, bunch or piece, and see why havuç becomes havucu but soğan stays soğanı.
Read and practiseDrinks: çay, kahve, su and ordering
Name six everyday drinks and order them the Turkish way: bir bardak çay with no plural, içmek for drinking, and the suyu in portakal suyu.
Read and practiseBreakfast foods: ekmek, peynir, zeytin and kahvaltı
Bread, cheese, olives, eggs, jam and honey: name the Turkish breakfast table, say kahvaltı yapmak, and see why ekmek becomes ekmeğe.
Read and practiseClothing words: giymek and takmak
Giymek or takmak? Twelve clothing words from gömlek to ayakkabı, and why Turkish uses one verb for shirts and shoes and another for glasses and watches.
Read and practiseRooms of the house: mutfak, salon, yatak odası
Why the bedroom is yatak odası and not yatak oda: a dozen room words from mutfak to koridor, and the -sı that joins compounds with oda.
Read and practisePets and farm animals: kedim, köpeğim, kuşum
Kedim var, köpeğim var: ten pets and farm animals, how to say you have one with the my-ending and var, and why köpek becomes köpeğim but at becomes atım.
Read and practiseJobs and professions: from öğretmen to gazeteci
Ne iş yapıyorsun? Name ten jobs, say what you do in one word such as doktorum, and see why Ne yapıyorsun? asks about something else.
Read and practiseSeasons: ilkbahar, yaz, sonbahar and kış
Yazın or yazda? The four Turkish seasons, ilkbahar, yaz, sonbahar and kış, and the endings that make 'in summer' and 'in winter'.
Read and practiseWeather words: hava, yağmak and -lı
Hava nasıl? Weather words from güneş to fırtına, adjectives like yağmurlu, and why you say Üşüyorum and not Ben soğuğum.
Read and practisePlaces in town: banka, postane, park
Banka, postane, hastane, park: name fourteen town places, answer Nerede? with -da or -de, and see why it is markette and parkta, never marketde.
Read and practiseVehicles in Turkish: getting around town
Bus, train, ferry or bicycle: name twelve vehicles in Turkish, describe your journey and practise the different endings for boarding and getting off.
Read and practiseFurniture and household items: masa, dolap, koltuk
Masanın üstünde, dolabın içinde: name a dozen pieces of furniture and say where they stand, including the k→ğ and p→b changes in koltuğun and dolabın.
Read and practiseNumbers 21 to 1000: tens, hundreds and bin
Otuz, kırk, elli: name the tens, build 125 or 2026 word by word, and see why Turkish says yüz lira, not bir yüz lira, for prices and years.
Read and practiseParts of the day: sabah, öğle, akşam, gece
Sabah, öğle, akşam, gece: name the parts of the day, say bu sabah and dün gece, and see why they take no locative ending: sabah, never sabahta.
Read and practiseSports and hobbies: oynamak or yapmak?
Futbol oynamak but yoga yapmak: learn sports and hobby words and the verb each one takes, plus yüzmek, koşmak and bisiklete binmek.
Read and practiseExtended family: relatives by birth and marriage
A family tree reveals why a maternal uncle and an aunt’s husband need different Turkish words. Practise eight precise terms for relatives and in-laws.
Read and practiseFeelings in Turkish: worry, excitement and hurt
A forgotten birthday or an exciting trip calls for different feeling words. Describe emotions in Turkish and distinguish being bored from being boring.
Read and practiseCharacter in Turkish: describing what someone is like
A quiet afternoon does not make someone shy: use twelve Turkish character adjectives, support them with behaviour, and distinguish habits from today’s mood.
Read and practiseHealth and illness: describing symptoms in Turkish
A cough, a fever or nausea: name common symptoms in Turkish, say when they started and practise the difference between symptom nouns and everyday verb phrases.
Read and practiseTravel and hotels: tickets, bookings and rooms
A room for two or a room with two beds? Build Turkish travel vocabulary for tickets, reservations, luggage and hotel stays, with clear booking phrases.
Read and practiseMoney and banking in Turkish: cash, cards and accounts
A payment leaves clues: cash, a card, an account balance or change. Learn Turkish money words and distinguish withdrawing, depositing and paying a bill.
Read and practiseTechnology in Turkish: devices, apps and files
A file’s journey from a website to your computer makes Turkish download and upload verbs easier to remember. Practise device, app and folder vocabulary at B1.
Read and practiseNature and landscapes in Turkish
A valley, a pine, a view from a hill: describe natural places in Turkish, name plants and water features, and distinguish nature from the scenery you see.
Read and practiseKitchen equipment and cooking actions
A pot, a ladle and a hot oven: pair Turkish kitchen equipment with cooking actions, and distinguish water boiling from someone boiling it.
Read and practiseSchool and education: Turkish words for studying
From homework to a university department: Turkish education words, useful study expressions, and the difference between taking an exam and passing it.
Read and practiseWild animals, birds and insects in Turkish
A howl in the distance, a sparrow in the garden: name fourteen animals in Turkish, describe their sounds and distinguish a fly from a mosquito.
Read and practiseHousework: chores, cloths and cleaning tools
A dusty shelf and a pile of laundry call for different verbs: name Turkish household chores, choose cleaning tools and distinguish tidying from wiping.
Read and practiseNewsroom vocabulary: news, sources and broadcasts
Behind a headline are a reporter, an editor and a source. Build Turkish media vocabulary and distinguish the main front-page headline from an ordinary title.
Read and practisePolitics in Turkish: voters, parties and government
Behind an election headline are voters, candidates and institutions. Distinguish the Turkish words for state and government, and use voting expressions in context.
Read and practiseLaw and justice: cases, hearings and evidence
A case file and a hearing date need different Turkish words. Build legal vocabulary through common pairings and distinguish courts, cases, evidence and decisions.
Read and practiseEconomy and business: trade, costs and profit
Turnover can rise without a profit: build Turkish vocabulary for markets, trade and production, and distinguish a change from an action that causes it.
Read and practiseScience and research: data, findings and evidence
A hypothesis needs testing: build Turkish research vocabulary, pair nouns with useful verbs, and distinguish an experiment from experience at B2.
Read and practiseArt and literature: discussing a work in Turkish
Behind a novel, a sculpture or a film lies a set of choices. Use Turkish art vocabulary to discuss themes, style, editing and musical interpretation at B2.
Read and practiseHistory and the state: reading Turkish sources
A date on a faded document, an empire’s founding, a republic: read Turkish history vocabulary and distinguish the state from the government.
Read and practiseEnvironment and climate: problems and responses
Polluted air, drought and discarded glass call for precise Turkish words. Discuss environmental problems, distinguish recycling from reuse, and describe ways to reduce consumption.
Read and practiseSociety and community: Turkish social vocabulary
A neighbourhood project brings social vocabulary to life: discuss migration, equality and solidarity in Turkish, and distinguish society from a particular group.
Read and practiseMind and psychology: thoughts, habits and memory
A thought returns, attention wanders, a note brings something back: describe mental processes in Turkish and distinguish remembering from reminding.
Read and practiseTurkish antonyms: choosing the right opposite
Opposites depend on context: a door can be open, a colour light. Practise eight Turkish word pairs and distinguish a true opposite from a simple negative.
Read and practiseTurkish synonyms: meaning, origin and context
Two words can share a meaning without fitting the same phrase. Compare four Turkish synonym pairs and choose by context, not by the origin of the word.
Read and practise
Hello: merhaba and selam
Learn how to say hello in Turkish with merhaba and selam, when each one fits, how to greet a group with merhabalar, and how to pass a hello on to someone else.
Read and practiseGünaydın: saying good morning in Turkish
Günaydın is the one word that greets anyone in the morning: how to write it, how to answer it and when to switch to iyi günler.
Read and practiseThank you: teşekkür ederim, sağ ol, rica ederim
Say thanks in Turkish at the right warmth, from teşekkürler and sağ ol to teşekkür ederim, name the reason with için, and answer when someone thanks you.
Read and practisePlease: lütfen and buyurun
Ask for tea, water or a favour in Turkish with lütfen, and see why handing someone something calls for buyurun instead.
Read and practiseSorry and excuse me: özür dilerim, pardon
Learn when to say özür dilerim, pardon and affedersiniz: a real apology, a light excuse me, and a polite way to stop a stranger, plus the answer önemli değil.
Read and practiseGoodbye: hoşça kal and güle güle
Learn the two Turkish goodbyes, hoşça kal for the one who leaves and güle güle for the one who stays, plus the polite hoşça kalın and the casual görüşürüz.
Read and practiseNasılsın? How to ask how someone is
Ask a friend nasılsın and an elder nasılsınız, then answer with iyiyim, yorgunum or kötüyüm, and see why a y appears after iyi.
Read and practiseMy name is: adım and benim adım
Turkish says 'my name is' without a verb: adım Elif. See how adım, adın and adı work, when benim joins in, and what Ben Elif'im does differently.
Read and practiseI don't understand: anlamıyorum, anlamadım
Anlamıyorum or anlamadım? Say that you do not follow, ask for a repeat, and see why the negative present becomes -mıyor and never -mayor.
Read and practiseYes and no: evet, hayır, var, yok
Is there milk? Süt var mı? Turkish answers with evet and hayır, but with var and yok when the question is about being there or having. Here is how to pick the word.
Read and practiseHow much is it? ne kadar and kaç lira
Ne kadar and kaç lira both ask a price, but only kaç needs a noun after it. Learn the two questions, the answer in lira and why lira stays singular.
Read and practiseWhere is...? Asking with nerede
Tuvalet nerede? is the whole question: a noun plus nerede, with no verb. Learn when -sin follows, why gözlük becomes gözlüğüm, and how nereye differs.
Read and practiseİyi geceler and iyi akşamlar: good night, good evening
Leaving at night or arriving in the evening? İyi geceler and iyi akşamlar split on exactly that, with the replies sana da and size de.
Read and practiseNice to meet you: memnun oldum and tanıştığımıza memnun oldum
Meeting someone new? Answer memnun oldum, add tanıştığımıza to sound warmer, reply ben de, and know why the phrase is in the past tense.
Read and practiseWelcome: hoş geldiniz and hoş bulduk
Greet a guest with hoş geldin or hoş geldiniz, name the place in the dative, as in Türkiye'ye, and answer hoş bulduk when it is you who arrives.
Read and practiseHappy birthday: doğum günün kutlu olsun
Doğum günün kutlu olsun and iyi ki doğdun both wish a happy birthday. See what the -ün on günün does, how to make it polite with -ünüz, and which wish suits whom.
Read and practiseCongratulations: tebrikler, tebrik ederim, kutlarım
Seni tebrik ederim, never sana: learn tebrikler, tebrik ederim and kutlarım, name the reason with için, and wish luck on something new with hayırlı olsun.
Read and practiseGet well soon: geçmiş olsun
Geçmiş olsun means 'may it be past'. Learn to wish someone well after illness or trouble, send the wish on to their mother, and answer with sağ ol.
Read and practiseI love you: seni seviyorum
Seni seviyorum needs seni, not sen: the person you love is the object. See how ben, sen and o change in that form, then say it yourself.
Read and practiseSpeak more slowly: daha yavaş konuşabilir misiniz?
Daha yavaş konuşabilir misiniz? Build this polite request from a verb stem, -ebil, -ir and mi, and choose between misiniz for strangers and misin for friends.
Read and practiseCan you help me? Asking with edebilir misiniz
Bana yardım edebilir misiniz? is the polite request: yardım, a form of et- with the ability ending, then mi. Learn why et- becomes ed- and why bana takes -a.
Read and practiseSee you later: görüşürüz with a time word
Yarın, pazartesi or haftaya plus görüşürüz makes a casual see-you-later with a time; learn how görüşelim differs, and the formal görüşmek üzere.
Read and practiseCheers in Turkish: şerefe and a personal toast
A raised glass calls for şerefe. Toast a friend, a group or a new job, choose sağlığına or sağlığınıza, and avoid using a toast as a thank-you.
Read and practiseEnjoy your meal: wishes and replies
The soup is served: wish everyone a good meal in Turkish, answer a server naturally, and distinguish a return wish from thanks to the cook.
Read and practiseYou're welcome in Turkish: choosing a reply to thanks
A favour is done and someone thanks you: choose a polite reply, play down the effort, or return the thanks in Turkish, with examples and practice.
Read and practiseGood luck before a test or task
Before the result is known, wish someone luck with bol şans or iyi şanslar. Add the person or occasion, then distinguish encouragement from congratulations.
Read and practiseHow to say “I miss you” in Turkish
A message after time apart can use a past-tense verb for a feeling that is still present. Say you miss someone, reply warmly and ask if they missed you.
Read and practiseLong time no see in Turkish
A familiar face after months apart: greet them in Turkish, explain the gap without blame, and add a warm “I missed you” when it fits.
Read and practiseI agree in Turkish: katılıyorum
Agreement has degrees: use katılıyorum for a shared view, haklısın to say someone is right, and kısmen to keep room for a different opinion.
Read and practiseIt doesn't matter: choosing and reassuring
Tea or coffee, or a small mishap? Distinguish having no preference from saying no harm is done, with three everyday Turkish replies and their tone.
Read and practiseWhat do you mean? Asking for clarification in Turkish
A puzzling remark needs more than repetition: ask what someone means in Turkish, soften your question, and check your interpretation with yani.
Read and practiseHow do you say it in Turkish? Asking for words and meanings
A missing word need not stop the conversation. Ask how to say something in Turkish, check an unfamiliar word’s meaning, and request a useful example.
Read and practiseGod willing: hopes and future plans
A hoped-for meeting is still uncertain. Use inşallah for future plans, place it naturally in a sentence, and distinguish a hopeful reply from a firm promise.
Read and practiseTake care: a warm Turkish farewell
A farewell can carry a wish for someone’s wellbeing. Choose the familiar or polite Turkish form, return the wish, and distinguish it from a warning.
Read and practiseMaşallah: admiration with goodwill
A flourishing garden invites a warm compliment. Use maşallah to admire what you see, distinguish it from inşallah, and recognise when praise turns into reproach.
Read and practiseHayırlı olsun: wishing well on a new home or job
A new set of keys or a new job calls for a wish for the future. Use hayırlı olsun, choose familiar or polite wording, and respond warmly in Turkish.
Read and practiseMay your work go smoothly
A neighbour is busy painting: acknowledge the effort in Turkish, wish the work well, and answer warmly without claiming the task is easy.
Read and practiseThanking the cook: appreciate the effort
A handmade meal deserves a personal thank-you. Address the cook warmly or politely in Turkish, praise a dish and pass your thanks through a server.
Read and practiseOffering condolences in Turkish: başınız sağ olsun
A death calls for a condolence, not a recovery wish. Choose başın or başınız sağ olsun, write a brief message, and keep sağ olsun as two words.
Read and practiseBless you in Turkish: çok yaşa and the reply
A sneeze starts a small exchange of good wishes. Choose çok yaşa or çok yaşayın, return the wish naturally, and distinguish sıhhatler olsun.
Read and practiseBu arada: adding a conversational aside
A sudden thought can open a new topic. Use bu arada for a conversational aside, distinguish it from “meanwhile”, and ask before interrupting.
Read and practiseTo be honest: açıkçası and dürüst olmak gerekirse
A candid opinion needs more than a polite opening. Use açıkçası and dürüst olmak gerekirse to admit uncertainty, state a preference or disagree with a reason.
Read and practiseI can't believe it: inanamıyorum and surprised disbelief
An astonishing result calls for inanamıyorum. Express delight or dismay in Turkish, distinguish disbelief from rejection, and judge the tone of yok artık.
Read and practiseLet me think: keeping your turn in Turkish
A pause before an answer can be useful: use bir düşüneyim to think, distinguish it from bakalım, and say when you will reply if you need longer.
Read and practiseThanks for having me: thanking a host in Turkish
After a visit, thank your host for welcoming you. Choose familiar or polite Turkish, distinguish hosting from inviting, and keep the host and guest clear.
Read and practiseLooking forward to it in Turkish
Anticipation can sound warm or impatient. Express what you look forward to in Turkish, connect an action to the phrase, and avoid mixing two sentence patterns.
Read and practiseGreeting people by the hour: günaydın, iyi akşamlar
Pick the right Turkish greeting for the hour, from günaydın to iyi akşamlar, answer hoş geldiniz with hoş bulduk, and see why iyi geceler is never a hello.
Read and practiseIntroducing yourself: name and memnun oldum
Say who you are with Benim adım… or Ben …-(y)im, ask a name politely, and close with memnun oldum. Two patterns, and the slip of mixing them.
Read and practiseAsking how someone is (Nasılsın?)
Pick between nasılsın and nasılsınız, then answer with iyiyim, hastayım or yorgunum, and see why a y appears when the word ends in a vowel.
Read and practisePlease, thank you, sorry: lütfen, teşekkür, özür, rica
Say please, thank you, sorry and you're welcome in Turkish: lütfen, teşekkür ederim, özür dilerim and rica ederim, and who uses which with whom.
Read and practiseSaying goodbye: hoşça kal, güle güle, iyi geceler
Who says hoşça kal and who answers güle güle? Part from someone in Turkish by day and by night, and see why the two farewells cannot swap places.
Read and practiseAsking someone to repeat or speak slowly
Say you did not catch something and politely ask a stranger to say it again, more slowly or in writing, with anlamadım and tekrar eder misiniz.
Read and practiseWhere are you from? Where do you live?
Say where you are from and where you live: Nerelisin?, Almanya'danım, Berlin'de yaşıyorum, and why -den names your origin while -de names the place you are in now.
Read and practiseSpelling your name and phone number
Say a name letter by letter with the Turkish letter names such as ye, ve and yumuşak ge, tell ı from i, and read out a phone number digit by digit.
Read and practiseOrdering tea and coffee: bir çay lütfen
Order tea, coffee and the bill in Turkish: bir çay lütfen, counting with bardak and fincan, asking politely with alabilir miyim, and saying "with milk" or "without sugar".
Read and practiseOrdering a meal: lütfen, istiyorum, alabilir miyim
Order food in a Turkish restaurant: ask for the menu, name a dish with lütfen or istiyorum, ask for the bill, and see when hesap becomes hesabı.
Read and practiseAsking the price: kaç lira?
Bu kaç lira? or Ne kadar? Two Turkish ways to ask what something costs, how to read the number in the answer, and why lira never takes a plural.
Read and practiseBuying at a market or shop: a kilo of tomatoes, please
Ask for goods by quantity, check the total and take your change in Turkish, and see why the item stays bare after a measure such as a kilo.
Read and practiseAsking the way: nerede and sağa dönün
Ask where a place is with nerede, follow short directions such as düz gidin and sağa dönün, and see why turning right takes -a instead of -da.
Read and practiseBuying a ticket: bir bilet lütfen
Ankara'ya bir bilet lütfen: buy a bus or metro ticket in Turkish, ask the time and the platform, and see why the city takes -a and not -da.
Read and practiseAsking and telling the time: saat kaç?
Is it saat kaç? or saat kaçta? Ask the time, say three o'clock and half past three, and add -te/-ta to say when something happens.
Read and practiseMeeting a neighbour: yeni komşunuzum
Introduce yourself as the new neighbour with yeni komşunuzum, ask which floor someone lives on, and wish a mover well with hayırlı olsun, all in the polite siz forms.
Read and practiseTalking about your family: annem, kardeşim, var
Annem and kardeşim mean my mother and my sibling. Learn the -m ending, count relatives with var and yok, and ask Kaç kardeşin var? back.
Read and practiseTalking about your job or studies
Ne iş yapıyorsun? Answer with a job and a person ending, as in öğretmenim, and name the place with the locative: hastanede çalışıyorum.
Read and practiseAsking for help: yardım eder misiniz, tuvalet nerede
Bana yardım eder misiniz? Ask for help with the person in the dative, find the toilet with nerede and say bir sorun var when something goes wrong.
Read and practiseCommon wishes: afiyet olsun, geçmiş olsun, kutlu olsun
Wish someone well in Turkish: afiyet olsun at a meal, geçmiş olsun in illness, kutlu olsun on birthdays and holidays, and when 'your' becomes -ın or -ınız.
Read and practiseTalking about hobbies and free time
Müzik dinlemeyi severim: say what you like doing with -meyi and -mayı, ask about free time with boş zamanlarında ne yaparsın, and avoid the yüzmek seviyorum slip.
Read and practiseMaking plans and invitations
Yürüyüşe çıkalım mı? Invite with -elim mi and gelir misin, accept with olur, and refuse politely with maalesef and a reason.
Read and practiseTalking about the weather
Yağmur yağıyor! Describe today's weather with hava plus an adjective, ask whether it will snow tomorrow, and see why üşüyorum is how you say you are cold.
Read and practiseBuying clothes: trying on and sizes
Find your size in a Turkish shop: ask to try something on, say it is too big or too tight with bana, and ask for another size or colour.
Read and practiseTaking a taxi: where to, how much, stop here
Tell the driver Bu adrese gidiyoruz, ask Ne kadar tutar? and request a stop with Burada durabilir misiniz?, and see why köprüye kadar needs the dative.
Read and practiseBooking a hotel room: oda var mı?
Odanız var mı? Book a hotel room in Turkish: ask for a room for two nights, check breakfast with dahil mi and keep the particle mi written apart.
Read and practiseBaşım ağrıyor: at the doctor
Başım ağrıyor means my head hurts: name the body part with -ım, add ağrıyor, answer Neyiniz var? and say ateşim var or öksürüğüm var.
Read and practiseAt the pharmacy: asking for medicine and doses
Ağrı kesiciniz var mı? Ask a pharmacist for a medicine and understand phrases such as günde iki kez, iki günde bir and yemekten sonra.
Read and practisePhone calls
Alo, Ayşe'yle konuşabilir miyim? Answer a call, ask for someone with -le/-la, leave a message and end the call politely in Turkish.
Read and practiseGiving an opinion and a reason in Turkish
A room, a plan, a colour: express an opinion in Turkish, explain your reason and invite another view without confusing a judgement with a personal priority.
Read and practiseAgreeing and disagreeing without sounding abrupt
A shared point can soften a disagreement in Turkish. Practise full and partial agreement, acknowledge a reason, and object without attacking the speaker.
Read and practiseGiving advice and responding to suggestions
A presentation needs practice: offer advice in Turkish, suggest a gentler option and respond with agreement or thanks followed by a reason.
Read and practiseAsking for a favour in Turkish
A small favour needs a clear request: practise asking in Turkish, accepting, or declining with an alternative, and keep “could I” separate from “could you”.
Read and practiseApologising and explaining what happened in Turkish
A missed bus or an unsent file: apologise in Turkish, explain what happened, offer a remedy and respond when someone accepts your apology.
Read and practiseComplaining politely: explain the problem and ask for a fix
Cold soup or an extra tea on the bill? Practise a calm Turkish complaint, name the problem clearly and ask staff for a specific solution.
Read and practiseReturning a purchase: exchange or refund
A faulty zip brings you back to the shop: explain the problem in Turkish, ask for an exchange and make a refund request clear in a short dialogue.
Read and practiseRenting a flat: costs and conditions
A viewing starts with questions: discuss rent, the deposit and building fees in Turkish, check what is included, and ask when you can move in.
Read and practiseAt the bank: accounts, cash and cards
Cash in or cash out? Practise Turkish bank-counter conversations about opening an account, withdrawing or depositing money, and a card that will not work.
Read and practiseAt the post office: sending a parcel
A parcel on the counter: ask in Turkish about sending it, delivery time, postage and a tracking number, without confusing duration with days from now.
Read and practiseBooking, moving and cancelling an appointment
A haircut booked for Thursday needs a new time: practise requesting an appointment, postponing it and cancelling clearly in Turkish.
Read and practiseTelling the story of a past trip
A trip becomes a story when the listener can follow the days. Practise Turkish travel conversations, sequence events and distinguish a stay from a later event.
Read and practiseTalking about plans and hopes
Next year is still taking shape: discuss intentions, hopes and undecided plans in Turkish, ask a friend about theirs, and keep a possibility distinct from a promise.
Read and practiseReporting a fault and arranging a repair
A dripping tap needs a clear explanation: report a fault in Turkish, say when it started and agree on a repair visit without saying you caused the damage.
Read and practiseBargaining: make an offer and settle on a price
A counteroffer needs a clear total: practise conditional offers in Turkish, distinguish a discount from the final price, and confirm an agreement.
Read and practiseSurprise, disbelief and reservations in Turkish
A thousand lira for a notebook? Choose a surprised question, an informal outburst or a measured reservation in Turkish, and keep the conversation open.
Read and practiseDeclining politely without leaving a false promise
A warm refusal can still be clear: decline Turkish invitations, soften the wording and respond to a new date without promising to come later.
Read and practisePersuading someone without pushing
A hesitant yes needs room: practise persuading in Turkish with concrete reasons, a smaller first step and a clear response to a friend’s reservations.
Read and practiseRetelling news without changing the message
A postponed concert becomes a different story as it travels. Retell news in Turkish, name your source and keep uncertainty separate from confirmed information.
Read and practiseGiving a clear one-minute talk
One minute, one main idea: open a Turkish talk, guide your audience through an example, distinguish a final point from a conclusion, and invite a response.
Read and practiseHandling a complaint by phone in Turkish
A connection that keeps dropping gives you a reason to call: explain the history in Turkish, request a case number and follow up without mistaking a record for a solution.
Read and practiseCondolences and congratulations in Turkish
Loss and achievement call for different words: offer condolences, congratulate someone on a success, and respond with warmth in Turkish.
Read and practiseHosting and visiting: offers, choices and thanks
An extra helping need not become an obligation: practise Turkish home visits, offer a choice, decline more food and thank the person who cooked.
Read and practiseJoking, teasing and knowing when to stop
A bag big enough for the whole house: practise playful Turkish replies, check whether someone is serious and stop a joke that has upset them.
Read and practiseNegotiating a deadline: request, counteroffer, agreement
Tomorrow’s draft can make a later deadline workable: ask for extra time in Turkish, respond to a counteroffer and confirm exactly what is due when.
Read and practiseDiscussing a book: summary, interpretation and evidence
Two sisters and an old house start a Turkish book discussion: summarise the plot, distinguish the author’s claim from your reading and support your view.
Read and practiseSmall talk: give a stranger room to respond
An evening in a quiet garden becomes a conversation: follow up on a detail in Turkish, share something yourself and leave without an abrupt goodbye.
Read and practisebu, şu and o: this, that and that one
Which pointing word fits? Use bu for what is in your hand, şu for what is by your listener or about to be said, and o for what is far away or already known.
Read and practisedeğil and yok: two ways to say no
Is it Bu kitap değil or Kitap yok? Learn which Turkish word denies what a thing is and which denies that it exists, with short contrast sentences to practise.
Read and practisegitmek or gelmek: go or come?
Choose between gitmek and gelmek by asking where the speaker or listener stands: movement away from that point or toward it, with the case each verb takes.
Read and practisebilmek or tanımak: knowing a fact, knowing a person
Adresi biliyorum, but onu tanıyorum: Turkish splits English "know" into bilmek for facts and skills and tanımak for people and places. See which one fits.
Read and practisegörmek or bakmak: to see or to look
Haritaya bakıyorum or haritayı görüyorum? Learn how görmek and bakmak differ in meaning and in the case of the thing they point to.
Read and practisedinlemek and duymak: listening versus hearing
I heard you, but I am not listening: see how Turkish separates choosing to listen (dinlemek) from a sound simply reaching you (duymak), with examples and practice.
Read and practisekonuşmak or söylemek: speak or say
Does a person speak Turkish or say it? Learn when Turkish uses konuşmak for talking and söylemek for telling, with short contrast sentences to practise.
Read and practiseistemek or lazım: I want, I need
Su istiyorum or Bana su lazım? Learn how Turkish says want with a verb and need with lazım, and why the person moves to bana, sana and ona.
Read and practisebiraz and az: a little or too little
Biraz Türkçe konuşuyorum or Az Türkçe konuşuyorum? See how biraz offers a modest amount and az warns of a shortage, with short Turkish pairs to practise.
Read and practisehâlâ and artık: still or no longer
Hâlâ uyuyor or artık uyumuyor? See how hâlâ says a situation goes on, how artık says it has changed or ended, and how a negative verb flips the meaning.
Read and practiseyeni or genç: new things, young people
A phone is yeni, a person is genç: learn which Turkish adjective fits things and which fits age, and why a new neighbour need not be young.
Read and practisegüzel or iyi: lovely versus good
A pretty café with weak coffee shows the split: güzel praises what is pleasant to see, hear or taste, iyi praises quality, skill, health and kind behaviour.
Read and practisebüyük vs yüksek: big, old or high
A big city but a high price: when Turkish says büyük for size and age, and yüksek for height, loud sounds and high levels.
Read and practiseöğrenmek and öğretmek: learning versus teaching
Ali'den öğrendim or Ali'ye öğrettim? Learn which Turkish verb means to learn and which means to teach, and how the person you learn from or teach is marked.
Read and practiseoturmak or yaşamak: sit, reside or live
Nerede oturuyorsun? asks about your home, not your chair. See when Turkish uses oturmak for sitting or an address and yaşamak for life and places.
Read and practisesevmek or hoşlanmak: loving or liking
Seviyorum or hoşlanıyorum? See how Turkish uses sevmek for love and general liking and hoşlanmak for pleasure in something, and which ending each verb needs.
Read and practiseAorist or present continuous: -ir or -iyor
Yağmur yağıyor or Kışın kar yağar? Learn when Turkish uses -iyor for what is happening now and the aorist -ir for habits and general facts, with short contrast sentences.
Read and practiseçünkü and bu yüzden: because versus therefore
Yorgunum, bu yüzden eve gidiyorum or eve gidiyorum, çünkü yorgunum? Learn which Turkish link introduces the reason, which one the result, and why they never swap places.
Read and practisene or hangi: what or which
Mutfakta ne var? or Hangi çantayı alıyorsun? Learn when Turkish asks an open question with ne and when it asks you to choose with hangi.
Read and practiseAorist or future: promises and predictions
A promise can take either tense in Turkish. Compare willingness, plans and predictions, and see why a word such as tomorrow does not choose the ending for you.
Read and practiseChoosing the direct or indirect past in Turkish
Witnessing a move, hearing about it later, or noticing wet streets: choose the Turkish past that shows how you learned what happened.
Read and practiseYapmak or etmek: learn the noun–verb pair
Homework, help and thanks take different verb partners in Turkish. Compare yapmak and etmek through everyday phrases, including the trap in hata yapmak.
Read and practiseTurkish alternatives: or and either … or
Two ingredients, two plans, one choice: connect alternatives in Turkish, emphasize either … or, and keep the two-word connector correctly spaced.
Read and practiseThree ways to say “but” in Turkish
A short route can still be steep: compare three Turkish contrast words, adjust the tone, and spot when a familiar connector means “only” instead.
Read and practiseExpressing purpose: an infinitive or a wish?
A balcony break and a sleeping baby show two ways to express purpose in Turkish. Choose the connector by looking at the verb form and who should act.
Read and practise-ip or -erek: two actions or a way of acting?
Sitting down to read or reading while seated? Compare Turkish -ip and -erek through linked actions, manner and contexts where both are possible.
Read and practise-dikçe or -ince: repetition, change and timing
A photo can make you smile once or every time you see it. Compare Turkish -dikçe and -ince through repeated actions, gradual change and particular occasions.
Read and practise-meli or zorunda: advice, necessity and choice
A last bus leaves little choice. Compare Turkish advice with obligation, see where -meli and zorunda overlap, and separate should not from do not have to.
Read and practisedüşünmek and sanmak: reflection or assumption
An apparently empty box can lead to a mistaken assumption. Compare thinking something over, considering a plan and believing something in Turkish.
Read and practiseWaiting, expecting or hoping in Turkish
An answer can be expected or merely hoped for. Distinguish waiting, prediction and hope in Turkish through everyday contrasts and short practice tasks.
Read and practiseStaying or stopping: choosing the Turkish verb
A hotel night, a bus at a corner and keys in a drawer reveal different meanings of staying. Choose the Turkish verb that matches what actually happens.
Read and practisebırakmak or vazgeçmek: stopping and giving up
A key on a table and an abandoned plan need different Turkish verbs. Compare bırakmak and vazgeçmek, including stopping an activity and deciding against it.
Read and practiseFinding someone or meeting up in Turkish
A missing bag and a coffee date call for different Turkish verbs. Compare finding a person with meeting up, and choose the right form for “you”.
Read and practiseBringing here or taking there: the Turkish viewpoint
A file can arrive at the same office with either verb. Choose bringing or taking by locating the speaker, listener and destination in Turkish.
Read and practisesayı, rakam and numara: quantity, digit or label?
Room 42 in a hotel with 60 rooms: separate quantities, written digits and identifying numbers in Turkish, then handle shoe sizes and magazine issues.
Read and practisedoğru and haklı: a correct statement or a person who is right
A correct calculation and a friend who is right need different words in Turkish. Contrast doğru with haklı, then practise two natural ways to agree.
Read and practiseWrong or a mistake? Choosing the Turkish word
A wrong measurement describes a result; a mistake names what went wrong. Compare these Turkish uses, their overlap, and the wording of an error message.
Read and practiseRağmen and karşın: the same concession, different tone
A match continues in the rain: compare rağmen and karşın, keep the unexpected result, and choose a conversational or more written tone.
Read and practisedolayı, yüzünden, sayesinde: cause, blame and credit
Rain can spoil a match or water a garden. Compare dolayı, yüzünden and sayesinde to give a neutral reason, blame a cause or acknowledge help in Turkish.
Read and practisebile and dahi: two ways to say even
Even the neighbours heard a whisper: compare bile and dahi, keep the emphasis in the right place, and recognise when bile means already.
Read and practiseolarak or gibi: a role or a resemblance?
A teacher’s job and a teacher’s manner are different claims. Choose Turkish olarak for a role or function and gibi for resemblance, with contextual practice.
Read and practiseOysa and hâlbuki: expectations meet facts
A key that will not fit overturns an assumption: compare oysa and hâlbuki, accept their overlap, and distinguish a contrast from a reason in Turkish.
Read and practisesadece, yalnızca, sırf: the scope of “only”
Only the reader, only the report, or just one reason? Compare three Turkish limiting words and see how their position changes what a sentence excludes.
Read and practiseMade or accepted? Choosing the Turkish passive
A shelf is made, a proposal accepted, a door repaired: choose the Turkish passive from the whole expression, and distinguish repairs from the thing repaired.
Read and practiseolmak and bulunmak: becoming, presence and location
A workshop visit shows where being and location overlap in Turkish. Compare becoming, future presence and formal descriptions without adding an unnecessary verb.
Read and practiseihtiyaç and gerek: a need or a necessity?
Quiet after a busy day and time to finish a drawing: compare Turkish expressions of need, choose the whole construction, and say when an action is unnecessary.
Read and practiseTwo Turkish words for a problem: choosing by context
A printer fault and a maths exercise do not demand the same word choice. Compare two Turkish words for a problem, their overlap and everyday reassurance.
Read and practiseyine and tekrar: again, but not everywhere
A jammed printer and a second reading show where yine and tekrar overlap. Compare “again” with “nevertheless” and learn the phrase for repeating words.
Read and practiseTurkish “ever,” “not at all” and “never”
A soup with no heat and a promise never to give up need different kinds of emphasis. Compare total absence, experience questions and firm refusals in Turkish.
Read and practiseMaybe or probably: how certain is the speaker?
A missing key leaves room for guesses. Compare possibility and probability in Turkish, allow overlapping answers, and distinguish a prediction from a promise.
Read and practiseAlready true or actually different? Two Turkish markers
A quiet room can confirm what you knew or overturn what you expected. Compare two Turkish markers through context, contrastive examples and explained answers.
Read and practisebazı or birkaç: a subset or a small number
Some empty boxes need not be just a few. Compare Turkish bazı and birkaç, choose the noun form, and explain what each choice says about quantity.
Read and practiseEvery, everyone or all of them?
Each student, everyone in the room, or all the tickets: choose Turkish expressions by what they refer to, and see when two choices can both work.
Read and practisekadar and dek: comparison or endpoint?
An evening endpoint differs from a two-hour duration. Compare kadar and dek for time and distance, then see why comparisons and approximate amounts need kadar.
Read and practiseAbi and abla: calling someone a bit older
Ali abi, Selin abla, kardeşim: which fits an older man, an older woman or a younger person, and how the word changes when you mean your own sibling.
Read and practiseHanım, Bey and Efendi: polite address after a name
Ayşe Hanım or Hanım Ayşe? See why Hanım and Bey follow a first name, how hanımefendi works alone, and where case endings go when a title is used.
Read and practiseCanım, aşkım, hayatım: terms of endearment
Hear what canım, aşkım, hayatım and tatlım mean, who says them to whom, and how the ending -ım turns a noun such as bebek into bebeğim.
Read and practiseAmca, dayı, hala and teyze: which relative is which
Amcam or dayım? Learn which Turkish word names your father's brother, father's sister, mother's brother and mother's sister, and when strangers are called amca or teyze.
Read and practiseTurkish wishes for recovery, new beginnings and loss
A new home calls for a different wish from an illness or a death. Choose the right Turkish phrase and practise informal and polite condolences.
Read and practiseSaying sorry: özür dilerim, affedersiniz, kusura bakma
Which sorry fits? Özür dilerim for a real mistake, affedersiniz for squeezing past a stranger, kusura bakma for a friend. Learn all three and who hears each one.
Read and practiseTurkish exclamations: surprise, disbelief and confirmation
A thousand lira for one ticket? React to surprising news in Turkish, distinguish admiration from disbelief, and ask for confirmation without sounding dismissive.
Read and practiseSpoken ya: insistence, reminders and disbelief
One small ya can turn a statement into a reminder or a complaint. Compare everyday replies and work out why Bırak ya! need not mean “let go”.
Read and practiseThree small words that guide Turkish conversation
A clarification, a discovery, a reminder: follow three common Turkish conversation words through original exchanges and choose them by context.
Read and practiseShort commands in tense Turkish dialogue
A single word can stop someone, direct their gaze or send them away. Practise four Turkish commands and choose a reply that fits the action.
Read and practiseChat messages on screen: restoring the full words
A phone screen flashes a short Turkish reply: decode three chat abbreviations, restore full spelling and follow an original exchange about meeting at a door.
Read and practiseOffering tea: accepting and declining at home
A glass of tea starts a small exchange: offer a drink or cake in Turkish, accept clearly, decline with thanks, and distinguish handing over from wishing enjoyment.
Read and practiseComfort a friend: don’t cry, don’t be afraid
Tears, fear or worry? Pick a Turkish comfort phrase that fits the feeling, add a short reassurance, and practise with original everyday dialogues.
Read and practiseMissing someone and saying you love them
A reunion begins with missing someone. Express longing and love in Turkish, distinguish “you” from “me”, and return the feeling in an original short exchange.
Read and practiseGiving and accepting compliments in Turkish
A lovely jacket, a flattering colour, a kind reply: practise Turkish compliments and choose a natural thank-you in an original exchange between friends.
Read and practiseEngagement and wedding words in Turkish drama
An engagement party or a wedding? Identify the celebration and the couple in original Turkish exchanges, then distinguish “my fiancé” from “I am engaged”.
Read and practiseNeighbours and the street: people, buildings and flats
Behind one front door is a flat; around it is a neighbourhood. Sort Turkish words for neighbours, streets and buildings, then follow an original doorstep exchange.
Read and practiseFollow a Turkish scene in three viewings
One short scene, three different jobs: follow the action, check Turkish subtitles, then listen without them and keep a small word log.
Read and practiseGossip and rumours: dedikodu and söylenti
A rumour reaches the bakery: follow who heard what, distinguish uncertainty from denial, and practise Turkish gossip vocabulary in an original exchange.
Read and practisePolice scenes: suspects, statements and accusations
A suspect at the station, a witness waiting, an accusation of theft: follow original Turkish crime scenes and distinguish catching someone from remanding them in custody.
Read and practiseCourtroom scenes: who speaks, what happens
The hearing ends, but the case continues: distinguish Turkish courtroom roles, statements and judgments through original examples and a fictional exchange.
Read and practiseHospital scenes: operations, intensive care and discharge
A hospital corridor fills with questions: follow Turkish updates about an operation, intensive care and discharge, and identify who stays with the patient.
Read and practiseWarnings and threats: sakın, bir daha, yoksa
A slammed door, a broken glass, a threatened deletion: recognise Turkish warnings, read the consequence after yoksa and practise a calm reply.
Read and practiseBlame and regret: senin yüzünden and keşke
A missed bus can spark blame or regret. Use Turkish phrases to accept a mistake, clear someone of blame and wish you had acted differently.
Read and practiseVillage stories: land, people and power
Village fields have owners, workers and neighbours. Follow an original Turkish exchange about a family’s land, and distinguish a powerful landowner from the village head.
Read and practiseFast dialogue: decoding shortened Turkish words
A hurried reply can hide familiar words: decode shortened Turkish verbs, restore full spelling and distinguish a hesitation from “something” in original dialogue.
Read and practiseLies and secrets: denial, doubt and confession
A hidden letter turns a conversation into a test of trust. Read original Turkish dialogue, distinguish denial from confession, and notice what remains unsaid.
Read and practisePadişah, saray, ferman: vocabulary for period dramas
A decree reaches the palace: distinguish padişah, saray and ferman, follow who carries an order, and practise court vocabulary through original Turkish dialogue.
Read and practiseForms of address in a Turkish argument
A sudden formal address can turn a disagreement cold. Read original Turkish exchanges and distinguish distance, anger and an invitation to speak more familiarly.
Read and practiseFollow an emotional monologue clause by clause
A confession can switch subjects halfway through. Break an original Turkish speech into clauses, track each person and separate assumptions from events.
Read and practiseProverbs in dialogue: encouragement or reproach?
Drops, a lake and two hands: interpret three Turkish proverbs in original exchanges and tell encouragement, practical advice and reproach apart.
Read and practiseSarcasm in Turkish: when praise becomes a jab
Praise after a blunder can mean the opposite: compare sincere and sarcastic Turkish replies, find the contextual clue, and recognise when a message is ambiguous.
Read and practiseBlessings, mild curses and reproach in Turkish dialogue
A blessing can hide a reproach. Read original Turkish dialogue to distinguish gratitude, protective wishes and mild frustration without learning personal insults.
Read and practiseA news bulletin in the background: what has actually happened?
A bridge reopening reaches the television in a fictional scene. Separate finished work, an expected opening and missing details in Turkish news language.
Read and practise
Turkish suffix chains through English eyes
One Turkish word can carry a whole English phrase. Unpack possession, location and person, and tell a noun phrase from a complete sentence.
Read and practiseTurkish print through Arabic readers’ eyes
An Arabic paragraph can contain a Turkish word running the other way. Practise left-to-right reading, written vowels and the difference between dotted and dotless letters.
Read and practiseRussian cases and Turkish suffixes: where they differ
Russian case names can point you toward the wrong Turkish suffix. Compare destinations, locations and objects, then choose forms from meaning and the verb.
Read and practiseSubject omission: from Spanish to Turkish
Spanish already lets you leave out a subject pronoun. Bring that habit to Turkish, read the person in the verb ending, and avoid the trap of polite address.
Read and practiseFrom German cases to Turkish endings and verb position
German case labels are a useful starting point, but Turkish chooses its own endings. Compare asking, waiting and verb-final sentences with German patterns.
Read and practiseFrom Brazilian Portuguese prepositions to Turkish endings
Brazilian Portuguese puts words like em and para before a noun. Compare Turkish endings with words placed after the noun, and separate destinations from beneficiaries.
Read and practiseFrom Dutch subordinate clauses to Turkish verb position
Dutch subordinate clauses offer a useful starting point for Turkish word order. Compare simple statements and reasons without treating verb-final order as absolute.
Read and practiseFrom French articles to Turkish nouns
French masculine and feminine articles have no matching pair in Turkish. Compare a notebook, a magazine and coffee to choose an indefinite phrase or a bare noun.
Read and practiseTurkish sounds through Ukrainian spelling habits
Ukrainian letters offer useful sound clues, but some familiar shapes mislead. Practise Turkish consonants, new vowels and dotted versus dotless spelling.
Read and practiseFrom Polish cases to Turkish suffix order
Polish case endings offer a useful starting point: compare “in our bags” with a Turkish suffix chain, then keep adjectives unchanged.
Read and practiseTurkish sounds through Italian: doubles and vowels
Italian consonant length gives you a useful head start in Turkish. Keep doubled sounds clear while learning the three vowel distinctions Italian spelling cannot supply.
Read and practiseCounting in Turkish: a comparison for Simplified Chinese readers
Seven books need no classifier in Turkish. Compare Mandarin counting phrases with Turkish numbers, optional counting words, plurals and measures of water.
Read and practiseFrom family Turkish to clear written messages
Family conversations give you a head start in Turkish. Turn shared context into clear written messages, keep natural pronoun omission and check word boundaries.
Read and practiseRelative clauses: put the description before the noun
Who greets whom? Move an English relative clause before its Turkish noun, distinguish the doer from the object, and keep the whole noun phrase together.
Read and practiseThat-clauses without a separate “that”
“I know that you drink tea” becomes a noun-like clause in Turkish. Track who drinks, who knows, and why knowing and believing require different endings.
Read and practiseRecognising European loanwords in Turkish
Familiar sounds can hide behind Turkish spelling. Compare French and English loanwords, spot changed letters, and keep recognition separate from guessing.
Read and practiseArabic loanwords: a bridge into Turkish
Familiar Arabic roots can hide unfamiliar Turkish meanings. Compare three borrowed words, notice their spelling, and practise Turkish endings without importing Arabic plurals.
Read and practiseSlavic aspect and Turkish tense: translate the situation
A finished book and an evening spent reading need different descriptions. Compare Slavic aspect pairs with Turkish forms for progress, habits and results.
Read and practiseTurkish false friends: familiar words, different meanings
A familiar-looking word can change your order or your job title. Compare Turkish food, media and workplace words with English and French lookalikes.
Read and practiseEvidentiality beyond a familiar past tense
A past-tense translation can hide how you know. Carry reports, visible clues and later discoveries into Turkish without turning indirect evidence into doubt.
Read and practiseSen and siz: beyond French tu/vous and German du/Sie
A familiar pronoun system can mislead: compare Turkish address with French and German, distinguish a group from polite singular address, and keep the endings consistent.
Read and practiseLong Turkish sentences: find the predicate, then unpack
The last verb can unlock a long Turkish sentence. Find the main message, bracket embedded clauses and track who acts before translating into a European language.
Read and practiseFrom Chinese topics to Turkish sentences
A map can come first in both Chinese and Turkish. Keep its Turkish case ending, distinguish topic from focus, and connect a room to its window.
Read and practiseCalques: translate the situation, not each word
A photo can be taken or received. Use context to choose Turkish word combinations, distinguish two kinds of missing, and repair literal translations.
Read and practiseGetting around with an Istanbul transport card
A card with credit, the right stop, a clear transfer question: practise the Turkish phrases that connect each step of a city journey.
Read and practiseTaxi and shared minibus: asking for a ride and a stop
A ride starts with a question: practise Turkish phrases for taxis and shared minibuses, ask the fare and request a suitable place to get off.
Read and practisePazar: prices, kilos and a polite discount request
A kilo of tomatoes or the whole bag? Practise Turkish market questions, order a measured quantity and ask politely whether a discount is possible.
Read and practiseBakkal, manav and kasap: neighbourhood shops
A carton of milk or half a kilo of mince? Choose the right Turkish neighbourhood shop and make a short, polite request at the counter.
Read and practiseThe restaurant bill: tips and change in Turkish
The meal is over: ask for the bill in Turkish, distinguish a tip from your change, and understand what you agree to when you say Üstü kalsın.
Read and practiseBayram gifts: clothes, pocket money and thanks
A wrapped present or a little pocket money: distinguish bayramlık from bayram harçlığı, offer a gift to a child and thank the giver in Turkish.
Read and practiseAt a Turkish home: arriving as a guest
At the doorstep, who says what? Practise the Turkish welcome exchange, ask about taking off your shoes and thank your host for the invitation.
Read and practiseGreeting customs: hands, cheeks and respect
A handshake or a cheek kiss? Describe Turkish greeting gestures, understand kissing an elder’s hand and distinguish a custom from an obligation.
Read and practiseAt the pharmacy: finding help and asking again
Pharmacy doors closed? Practise asking for the pharmacy on duty, describing a headache and making sure you understand the reply in Turkish.
Read and practiseAt the phone shop: a mobile line, data and credit
Mobile data runs out, but what should you ask for? Practise getting a line, checking a package’s data and duration, and topping up in Turkish.
Read and practiseReading a rental ad: rent, deposit and bills
Furnished does not mean bills included: read a Turkish rental ad, distinguish rent from a deposit and ask which costs the advertised rent covers.
Read and practise112: describing an emergency and giving an address
An accident, a location, a clear reply: practise a short Turkish emergency call with an address, a headcount and a request to speak slowly.
Read and practisePTT and parcels: send, collect, track
A parcel changes hands: practise sending and collecting it in Turkish, ask for its tracking number and distinguish delivered from not delivered.
Read and practiseResidence permits: reading forms and appointment details
A form, a date or a permit? Read Turkish residence vocabulary, recognise compound labels and distinguish an appointment from the permission itself.
Read and practisee-Devlet: reading portal menus and messages
A login button, a service search, an application message: read Turkish portal vocabulary and distinguish looking up information from making a request.
Read and practiseMHRS appointments: booking, changing and cancelling
A hospital appointment starts with a clear request: practise booking, asking for another day and checking a cancellation in Turkish with original dialogues.
Read and practiseAt the bank: opening an account and asking about a card
A bank message is not the whole story: practise opening an account, asking about a transfer fee and clarifying what a card-status message means in Turkish.
Read and practisePublic holidays in Türkiye: dates, half days and bridges
A half-day entry changes the plan: read Türkiye’s 2026 holiday calendar, distinguish public holidays from extra leave, and describe a long weekend in Turkish.
Read and practiseNeighbourhood office and building fees
A building notice names a fee and a deadline: distinguish the neighbourhood office from building management and read what the Turkish notice actually includes.
Read and practiseUniversity enrolment: applications, courses and student affairs
An application is not an enrolment: read Turkish university messages, choose courses and distinguish student affairs from academic adviser approval.
Read and practiseRamadan in daily life: sahur, iftar and invitations
An iftar invitation sets the evening’s rhythm: distinguish the predawn meal from breaking the fast, accept or decline, and ask when to arrive in Turkish.
Read and practiseComplaints and refunds: a clear request in Turkish
A faulty zip gives you a concrete complaint: describe the problem in Turkish, distinguish a return from a refund, and turn a spoken request into a formal one.
Read and practiseNotary documents and property deeds: reading the terms
Whose name is on the document? Read Turkish notary and property vocabulary, distinguish an owner from a representative, and identify originals and copies.
Read and practiseTraffic notices and HGS: tolls, fines and signs
A toll message can name a charge without confirming payment. Read Turkish traffic notices, distinguish balances from fines, and interpret common road signs.
Read and practiseDilekçe: a clear request in a formal petition
A subject line names the issue; the body asks for action. Build a short Turkish petition with a clear request, formal closing and attachment list.
Read and practiseSGK and insurance: reading cover and payment terms
An insurance notice can mention a debt without describing your cover. Distinguish Turkish premium, copayment and policy terms, then ask what a particular expense falls under.
Read and practiseEarthquake notices: reading AFAD guidance in Turkish
Earthquake notices compress a lot into a few words. Read Turkish assembly-area signs, recognise prohibitions and follow the timing in AFAD guidance.
Read and practiseBills and utility subscriptions in Turkish
Meter readings, amounts and deadlines: read a Turkish utility bill, ask about a charge and express a request to start or end a subscription.
Read and practiseTurkish names: given names, surnames and the 1934 law
A surname is not a biography: distinguish Turkish given names from family names, read familiar name endings and place the 1934 surname law in context.
Read and practiseTürkiye’s seven regions: places and travel experience
Seven names on a map become a travel conversation: locate Türkiye’s regions, recognise a few landmarks and describe where you have been in Turkish.
Read and practiseAnneanne or babaanne? Naming your grandparents
Mum’s mum or dad’s mum? Choose anneanne and babaanne accurately, understand dede and nine, and use these words when speaking to your grandparents.
Read and practiseA call home: meals, news and greetings
A familiar voice on the phone: answer a grandmother’s questions, share a small piece of news and send greetings to someone who is not on the call.
Read and practiseAt the family table: accepting, declining and thanking
Seconds or no seconds? Accept food, decline another helping and thank the cook in Turkish, with afiyet olsun, elinize sağlık and short family exchanges.
Read and practiseVisiting relatives: welcome, gifts and goodbye
At a relative’s door, know who says welcome and who replies. Practise offering a small gift and ending a family visit politely in Turkish.
Read and practiseBayram greetings: wishes for the family
A bayram greeting changes with the person you address. Practise warm wishes, a natural reply and the words for exchanging greetings and festive pocket money.
Read and practiseBlessings and wishes in family conversation
Admiration or hope? Choose maşallah, inşallah and geçmiş olsun in family conversation, and recognise the farewell allahaısmarladık.
Read and practiseFamily photos: who's in the picture?
An old album starts a conversation: identify relatives, say where you took a photo and describe what someone was like in a short Turkish dialogue.
Read and practiseWhere your family is from: a hometown conversation
A family can have roots in one town and live in another. Practise asking about origins in Turkish and separating hometown, birthplace and current home.
Read and practiseSummer at the family home in the village
Two weeks at your grandfather’s house: talk about a summer village visit in Turkish, from the length of your stay to lunch and tomorrow’s plans.
Read and practiseWhat parents say: hunger, warmth and gentle nudges
A cardigan, a bowl of soup, another question: understand caring Turkish phrases at home and choose a reply that answers what your relative actually asked.
Read and practiseAsking grandparents about childhood and retelling their stories
Grandpa’s schooldays invite more than a yes or no: ask about childhood in Turkish, follow up on a detail and pass on a family story with its source.
Read and practiseA family's migration story: leaving and making a home
A departure becomes a family story: describe migration and settling in Turkish, then distinguish distance from home, homesickness and a return visit.
Read and practiseFamily group chat: messages and voice notes
A buzzing family chat can mix short spellings and voice notes. Decode Turkish messages, address the right relative and ask for a written reply when you cannot listen.
Read and practiseEngagements and weddings: words for joining in
A wedding invitation brings new words: distinguish an engagement from a henna night, congratulate the couple and ask politely before taking a photo.
Read and practiseTen Turkish proverbs heard from older relatives
A coin jar can prompt a proverb. Understand ten Turkish sayings older relatives quote, explain the advice in context and ask when the meaning is unclear.
Read and practiseRegional speech at home: words, sounds and meaning
Regional words can hide familiar meanings. Decode Turkish family conversations, distinguish vocabulary from pronunciation and ask what relatives mean without correcting them.
Read and practiseSwitching languages in a Turkish family conversation
Two languages in one conversation: recognize a switch, ask for a Turkish equivalent and rephrase German, Dutch or French words for the person listening.
Read and practiseCondolences: speaking to a bereaved family
After a death in the family, offer condolences in Turkish, recognise a respectful announcement and reply with thanks without confusing the speaker’s role.
Read and practiseFamily paperwork: document names and whose details to enter
Whose details belong on the form? Read Turkish civil-document names, distinguish an original from a photocopy, and clarify who the applicant is in a family dialogue.
Read and practiseSpeaking Turkish with your own children
Bedtime brings small decisions: invite your child to read, praise a second attempt, set a clear limit and tell a tiny Turkish story in your own words.
Read and practise
I missed the bus: an A2 Turkish story
A missed morning bus sends a student looking for another route. Read an original A2 Turkish story and use the times to work out how his journey ends.
Read and practiseA note in the tea garden: an A2 story
Two big trees, one vague note: read an original A2 Turkish story and follow the clues that help two friends find each other in a tea garden.
Read and practiseThe wrong umbrella: an A2 Turkish story
A red string on a handle reveals an umbrella mix-up. Read this original A2 Turkish story, follow the clues and work out who takes each umbrella home.
Read and practiseA market bargain: an A2 Turkish story
Two kilos of apples, three different prices: follow an original A2 Turkish market story and work out the deal, the purchase and the change.
Read and practiseThe new neighbour: a borrowed pot and an invitation
A borrowed pot brings two neighbours together. Read an original A2 Turkish story, track who returns what and use the final clues to predict what happens next.
Read and practiseThe lost cat: follow the clues in Turkish
A blue collar makes the difference in this original A2 Turkish story. Follow Elif through the neighbourhood and use the clues to explain the ending.
Read and practiseThe doctor’s appointment: an A2 Turkish story
A blue note and a sudden shower reshape Elif’s morning. Read an original A2 Turkish story about a doctor’s appointment and separate plans from events.
Read and practiseThe birthday surprise: an A2 Turkish story
A cake in the kitchen and shoes by the door reveal a secret birthday plan. Read an original A2 Turkish story and separate a character’s thoughts from the facts.
Read and practiseThe job interview: the wrong notebook, a new chance
An unexpected sketchbook changes a first interview. Read an original B1 Turkish story and use the ending to distinguish a second invitation from a job offer.
Read and practiseThe delayed train: a B1 Turkish story
Forty minutes on a platform, a taxi offer and one new message: read an original B1 Turkish story and use the final actions to work out a polite refusal.
Read and practiseThe flat for rent: a B1 Turkish story
Behind the bright windows, a school bell changes a flat viewing. Read an original B1 Turkish story and work out why a second visit matters.
Read and practiseThe wrong number: a B1 Turkish story
A mistyped digit turns a book sale into a neighbourhood encounter. Read an original B1 Turkish story and trace how an accidental call changes the caller’s plans.
Read and practiseThe village wedding: an early guest and a change of venue
Wedding chairs come indoors as rain approaches. Read an original B1 Turkish story, follow three times and infer how an unfamiliar guest finds her place.
Read and practiseThe holiday visit: a Turkish B1 story
An unopened album changes a hurried holiday visit. Read an original B1 Turkish story and infer what a grandmother values from the way she acts.
Read and practiseThe missing suitcase: a B1 Turkish story
An empty luggage compartment starts a search across two bus stops. Read an original B1 Turkish story, connect the clues and infer whether the traveller makes it to dinner.
Read and practiseThe old letter: a B1 Turkish story
A yellowed letter in a secondhand novel brings an old plan back to life. Read a B1 Turkish story, separate two timelines and infer what happens next.
Read and practiseA meeting on the ferry: a B2 Turkish story
A stopped watch unsettles a first impression on a ferry. Read an original B2 Turkish story and use dialogue and small gestures to interpret the ending.
Read and practiseMoving day: a B2 Turkish story
A sofa stuck in a doorway overturns a perfect moving plan. Read an original B2 Turkish story and infer what matters more than unpacking by nightfall.
Read and practiseThe old photograph: a B2 Turkish story
Four years separate a family quarrel from an unexpected photograph. Read a B2 Turkish story and weigh what an image reveals against what it leaves unsaid.
Read and practiseThe town’s clockmaker: a B2 Turkish story
A stopped clock exposes a craftsman’s hidden problem. Read an original B2 Turkish story and use a key, a notebook and a return ticket to interpret the ending.
Read and practiseMy grandfather’s notebook: a B2 Turkish story
A nameless brown notebook changes a grandchild’s view of the past. Read this B2 Turkish story, revise a first impression and infer the purpose of a phone call.
Read and practiseAfter the rain: a B2 Turkish story
A water stain overturns an accusation never spoken aloud. Read an original B2 Turkish story and connect an overheard remark to a quiet reconciliation.
Read and practiseThe unfinished novel: a B2 Turkish story
A crossed-out ending gives a stalled writer a new direction. Read an original B2 Turkish story and distinguish a planned departure from an unresolved outcome.
Read and practiseThe final decision: two voices, one workshop
A workshop ledger closes before the business does. Read an original B2 Turkish story from two perspectives and discover what each sibling has mistaken for agreement.
Read and practiseOffice rooms and objects in Turkish
The printer, the desk and the meeting room: name everyday office objects in Turkish and explain where they are, including toplantı odasında.
Read and practiseWork schedules: starting, finishing and working days
A nine o’clock start or a Saturday shift? Ask about working hours in Turkish, describe your working week, and distinguish starting work from the end of your working day.
Read and practiseColleagues, managers and your team in Turkish
Who is on your team? Introduce a colleague in Turkish, distinguish a manager from a boss, and practise saying my colleague and our team in a short dialogue.
Read and practiseIntroducing a visitor to your team
At the office door, welcome a visitor in Turkish, introduce them to colleagues and explain who works where in a short, polite conversation.
Read and practiseLunch with colleagues: invitations and breaks
Ten minutes until lunch? Invite a colleague in Turkish, suggest a later start, and distinguish a five-minute break from a break in five minutes.
Read and practiseRunning late or unable to come to work
A delayed bus or a sick day calls for a clear message: explain in Turkish whether you will arrive late or cannot come, and give an estimated arrival time.
Read and practiseShort Turkish messages to a colleague
A file, a meeting time, a quick reply: practise short Turkish work chats and make it clear who will send the next update.
Read and practiseReading Turkish job adverts: requirements and duties
Required or just preferred? Read a fictional Turkish job advert, separate skills from duties, and locate the application deadline without guessing.
Read and practiseJob references: asking and answering in Turkish
A former manager can describe your work: practise requesting a reference in Turkish, asking permission to name someone and answering a reference call with specific examples.
Read and practiseA job interview: questions and focused answers
Your experience, your motivation, your start date: practise a Turkish job interview and distinguish work that continues from duties in a previous role.
Read and practiseSmall talk at work: keep the conversation going
A quiet weekend, a chilly morning, tomorrow’s plans: practise brief Turkish conversations with colleagues and return a question without changing the subject.
Read and practiseOffice calls: transfer a caller or take a message
A ringing office phone calls for clear roles: introduce your department in Turkish, transfer the caller, or take a message with a name and extension.
Read and practiseTaking the floor in a Turkish meeting
An agenda gives your meeting a route: practise asking for the floor, clarifying a point and moving to the next item in Turkish with a short original dialogue.
Read and practiseTasks and deadlines in Turkish: taking responsibility
A report due tomorrow needs a clear commitment: assign tasks in Turkish, accept responsibility, give progress updates and ask to move a deadline.
Read and practiseLeave requests and sick notes in Turkish
Annual leave starts with a request: practise polite Turkish wording, distinguish asking from being on leave, and explain an absence with a sick note.
Read and practiseSalary and contracts: reading the key terms
Gross or net? Decode Turkish payslip and contract vocabulary, identify dates and clauses, and keep noun compounds intact when adding an ending.
Read and practiseNegotiating a raise and conditions in Turkish
More responsibility can open a pay discussion: practise a reasoned raise request, a conditional counteroffer and a clear acceptance in Turkish.
Read and practiseGiving a presentation in Turkish: from opening to questions
A clear route keeps your audience with you: open a Turkish presentation, move between sections, distinguish a final point from a conclusion, and invite questions.
Read and practiseWriting a Turkish report: summary, findings and conclusion
From delivery records to a clear conclusion: write a short Turkish report, summarise the evidence and keep a proposed action distinct from an approved decision.
Read and practiseGiving and receiving constructive feedback in Turkish
Two missing dates, one unclear paragraph: practise specific feedback in Turkish, ask for clarification and acknowledge a point without agreeing with it.
Read and practiseHandling a workplace disagreement in Turkish
Two colleagues, one tight deadline: practise acknowledging concerns, disagreeing on a specific point and proposing a workable compromise in Turkish.
Read and practiseBusiness idioms: workload, effort and obstacles
A task can be demanding without anyone obstructing it: read Turkish workplace idioms, keep their noun endings and distinguish encouragement from blame.
Read and practiseResigning in Turkish: a clear written notice
Leaving a job takes clear wording: practise a Turkish resignation letter, ask about the notice period and describe how you will hand over ongoing work.
Read and practiseRemote and hybrid work in Turkish
Home today, office tomorrow: describe remote work in Turkish, distinguish being online from being available, and explain a dropped connection during a call.
Read and practise
A short Turkish message that gives enough detail
A late bus, a new meeting time: write a short Turkish message with a clear update, useful details and a question your friend can answer.
Read and practiseFilling in a Turkish form: names, dates and addresses
A blank name box needs a name, not a sentence. Practise Turkish form labels, birth dates and address entries with a fictional classroom form.
Read and practiseWrite a Turkish shopping list
A carton, a kilo or six eggs? Make a clear Turkish shopping list with quantities, useful units and short entries that keep all the information you need.
Read and practiseA thank-you note with a personal detail
A gift deserves more than a bare thank you: write a short Turkish note with a clear reason, a personal detail and a closing that suits the reader.
Read and practiseA holiday postcard in Turkish
A few lines from the seaside: build a Turkish postcard with a friendly opening, news from your holiday and a warm closing before your name.
Read and practiseWrite a Turkish invitation to dinner
A dinner invitation needs more than a friendly greeting: practise naming the occasion, day, time and place, then ask your guest to reply in Turkish.
Read and practiseA day in your Turkish diary
Breakfast on the balcony, an afternoon with a book: turn today’s small events into a Turkish diary entry with a clear sequence and a closing thought.
Read and practiseAn informal email: news and questions for a friend
News worth sharing can restart a conversation: write a friendly Turkish email with linked updates, personal questions and a warm closing.
Read and practiseA formal email: opening, request and signature
A respectful first contact starts with a clear frame: write a Turkish email with a useful subject, a formal greeting, a precise request and your signature.
Read and practiseRequesting an appointment by email
A proposed time is not a confirmed appointment: write a Turkish email with a clear purpose, a date, an alternative and a request for confirmation.
Read and practiseWriting an apology: explain and put things right
A wrong attachment needs a clear apology: write a Turkish message that names the mistake, explains it briefly and offers a repair with a definite time.
Read and practiseReplying to an invitation: a clear yes or a polite no
Your host needs a clear answer: accept or decline a Turkish invitation with thanks, a useful detail or a brief reason, and a friendly closing.
Read and practiseA past trip: build a short account in Turkish
A rainy day changes a holiday plan: write a Turkish trip account with a clear sequence, past descriptions, reasons and a final impression.
Read and practiseDescribe a person in a Turkish paragraph
A patient friend comes alive through small actions. Write a Turkish portrait that connects appearance, character and your own impression in one paragraph.
Read and practiseWriting a product review in Turkish
A roomy bag with a sticking zip: turn a purchase into a balanced Turkish review, with a clear opinion, a concrete reason and a recommendation for everyday use.
Read and practiseWrite a recipe in Turkish: quantities and steps
Spoons, grams and a clear sequence: write a Turkish recipe with a complete ingredient list, consistent instructions and a final serving step.
Read and practiseA complaint letter: facts, evidence and a remedy
A broken lamp needs a precise complaint: describe what happened, attach evidence and request a replacement in Turkish without making unsupported accusations.
Read and practiseA formal petition: a clear request and closing
A certificate request gives a Turkish petition its purpose: organise the addressee, explanation, precise request, closing and signature in a fictional B2 workshop.
Read and practiseA Turkish cover letter: connect experience to the role
Experience becomes persuasive when it matches the role: write a Turkish cover letter with concrete evidence, a clear purpose and a courteous closing.
Read and practiseWriting a reasoned opinion essay in Turkish
A quiet corner or a silent library? Build a Turkish opinion essay with a clear position, specific support, an objection and a conclusion that fits your argument.
Read and practiseSummarising a Turkish text without changing its claims
More evening visits, limited study space: turn a Turkish text into a concise summary while keeping its main result, qualifications and unresolved condition.
Read and practiseMeeting minutes: decisions, owners and deadlines
Discussion becomes a useful record when decisions and tasks are distinct: write Turkish meeting minutes with named owners, clear deadlines and unresolved items.
Read and practiseChoosing a consistent tone in Turkish messages
The same request can sound friendly or distant: adapt Turkish greetings, pronouns, verb forms and closings to the reader without changing the message.
Read and practiseA lost notebook: writing a Turkish short story
A forgotten sketchbook sets a story in motion: write a Turkish opening, connect events through a clear viewpoint and end with a detail that answers the beginning.
Read and practise
TYS and TÖMER: understanding Turkish exams
Exam names can hide different purposes: distinguish TYS from university TÖMER tests, recognise the four skills and find official sample materials.
Read and practiseWord in context: four-option Turkish practice
A missing word needs more than a familiar translation: use context, contrasts and negation to solve four original Turkish vocabulary questions at A2.
Read and practiseCase suffix choices: four short practice questions
Four blanks, four meanings: choose a Turkish case suffix for an object, destination, location or starting point, then explain your choice.
Read and practiseShort notices: find the detail that answers the question
A closing time, a seat number, a changed meeting place: practise finding the right detail in short Turkish notices, tickets and messages at A2.
Read and practiseMatching Turkish questions and replies
A familiar word can hide a wrong answer. Match Turkish questions, invitations and offers to replies that fit their purpose in four A2 exercises.
Read and practiseTYS preparation: an eight-week study timetable
Eight weeks on paper: organise Turkish practice, timed tasks and correction sessions with an A2 planning lesson and an original sample timetable.
Read and practiseVocabulary in longer Turkish sentences: B1 practice
A changed date, a useful recipe, a first impression: follow clues across longer Turkish sentences and justify the missing word in four original B1 tasks.
Read and practiseSuffix choices in context: B1 exam practice
Ownership, sentence role and time work together: choose Turkish endings in a short project narrative and explain why plausible alternatives fail.
Read and practiseCompleting Turkish sentences: which clause fits?
The ending must fit the beginning: practise Turkish sentence completion at B1 by checking cause, contrast, time and who performs the action.
Read and practiseFinding the main idea in a Turkish paragraph
A true detail can still be the wrong summary: find the central message of a short Turkish paragraph and reject narrow or exaggerated choices in B1 practice.
Read and practiseExam practice: choosing Turkish connectors
Cause, result or contrast? Read both sides of a Turkish gap, test the direction of the link and choose a connector in four original B1 exercises.
Read and practiseParagraph order: connect the clues
A notebook, a changed route, a missing key: put Turkish sentences into coherent paragraphs by tracing references, causes and time clues in B1 practice.
Read and practiseParagraph cloze: follow the whole text
The clue may come after the gap: complete Turkish B2 paragraphs by following references, contrasts and word meanings across the whole text.
Read and practiseReading between the lines in Turkish: B2 inference
An unstated conclusion still needs evidence: use Turkish contextual clues to infer limits, changes and a writer’s purpose in four original B2 tasks.
Read and practiseOdd sentence out: follow the paragraph’s focus
A repeated noun can disguise a digression: find the sentence that interrupts a Turkish paragraph, then justify its removal in four original B2 exercises.
Read and practiseClosest meaning: Turkish synonyms and idioms
A clear explanation or an honest person? Choose Turkish synonyms and paraphrase whole idioms without losing context in four original B2 exercises.
Read and practiseChoosing a faithful summary in Turkish
A shorter sentence can change the story: choose Turkish summaries that retain the key change, contrast and limits in three original B2 reading exercises.
Read and practiseTimed Turkish reading: reach every question
Ten minutes, one long text and four questions: practise moving on, returning to difficult items and checking evidence in an original B2 Turkish reading task.
Read and practiseBayram visits: greetings at the door
At a bayram visit, greet your host, return a good wish and respond to an offer. Practise phrases for both Ramazan Bayramı and Kurban Bayramı.
Read and practiseTurkish national holidays: names and dates
23 April, 19 May and 29 October each have a different holiday name. Match Turkish names to dates and use those dates in simple sentences.
Read and practiseTurkish tea culture: glasses, pots and preferences
A narrow-waisted glass introduces Turkish tea culture: name the serving objects, distinguish light from strong tea, and describe your own preferences.
Read and practiseTurkish table manners: thanking the cook
A shared meal brings small choices: wish others a good meal, thank the person who cooked, and decline another serving politely in Turkish.
Read and practiseTurkey's seven regions: names and landmarks
Seven region names turn a map of Turkey into useful Turkish: connect tea fields, olive trees and mountains with places, and distinguish a region from a sea.
Read and practiseThe Turkish bath: cloth, mitt and marble
A cloth around the waist, a scrubbing mitt and a warm marble platform: discover Turkish bath vocabulary and make a clear request for a scrub.
Read and practiseRamadan customs: meals, fasting and bread
Before dawn or after sunset? Use Turkish meal names, describe fasting and recognise Ramadan bread without assuming that every household follows the same routine.
Read and practiseTurkish coffee: from the pot to the fortune reading
A little coffee left in the cup becomes a topic of conversation. Describe Turkish coffee preparation, choose your sugar level and distinguish two fortune-reading roles.
Read and practiseThe evil eye: beads, wishes and personal beliefs
A blue bead and a warm compliment open a conversation about the evil eye. Understand Turkish wishes and distinguish a belief from your own judgement.
Read and practiseRegional Turkish dishes: olive oil, kebab and baklava
Olive oil, glowing coals and baklava connect three Turkish culinary traditions. Describe regional specialities and distinguish reputation from exclusivity.
Read and practiseNasreddin Hoca: finding the turn in a joke
A long speech about speaking briefly: read two original Nasreddin Hoca teaching stories and explain how the ending exposes a gap between words and actions.
Read and practiseKaragöz and orta oyunu: two forms of traditional theatre
Figures behind a screen or actors among spectators? Compare two Turkish theatre traditions, identify their central duos and describe the contrast with ise.
Read and practiseFolk poetry: verses, metre and the âşık tradition
Four lines and a saz open a window onto Turkish folk poetry. Count syllables, distinguish a stanza from a poetic form, and understand the âşık in context.
Read and practiseOttoman heritage: reading a palace as an institution
Topkapı’s courtyards tell more than a story of royal life. Read Turkish descriptions of Ottoman heritage and distinguish a palace, a council and a ruler’s title.
Read and practiseAtatürk and the Republic: reading the founding period
A proclamation, an election and an alphabet reform: read about Atatürk and the Republic in Turkish, matching historical events with precise verbs.
Read and practiseYeşilçam cinema: classics, stars and opinions
Old film credits open a conversation about Turkish cinema: distinguish directors, actors and characters, then explain your opinion of a scene.
Read and practiseType Turkish: keyboard setup and a letter test
A missing dot can change what you type. Set up Turkish input, test ç, ğ, ı, İ, ö, ş and ü, and check your message after the keyboard makes suggestions.
Read and practiseA daily Turkish routine in ten minutes
Ten minutes after breakfast can hold a complete Turkish practice session: read, speak and check, with a two-minute version for busy days.
Read and practiseA Turkish vocabulary notebook you can use
A notebook entry needs more than a translation: connect a Turkish dictionary form to a useful form, a meaning in context and your own sentence.
Read and practiseSpaced repetition: when to revisit Turkish words
A word that looks familiar may still be hard to recall. Plan spaced Turkish word practice and adjust the next session after a success or a mistake.
Read and practiseLearn suffixed words as complete forms
A bag, my bag, in my bag: turn Turkish word forms into meaning-based recall cards, then change one detail without losing the rest of the meaning.
Read and practiseA Turkish grammar notebook you can use
A corrected sentence can become your next Turkish practice task. Keep the meaning, a short rule, your mistake and a fresh example together in a grammar notebook.
Read and practiseFrom a suffixed word to its dictionary headword
A failed search can hide a familiar Turkish word. Work back from endings to a dictionary headword, preserve derived words and choose the meaning that fits.
Read and practisePlanning your progress towards B1 Turkish
A calendar needs visible results: build a flexible B1 Turkish plan around monthly speaking goals, weekly practice and evidence of what you can do.
Read and practisePreparing a Turkish language exchange
Two learners, two languages: prepare a focused Turkish exchange with a discussion question, shared speaking time and an agreed moment for corrections.
Read and practiseA weekly study plan towards B2 Turkish
Two viewpoints give your Turkish week a focus: compare arguments, answer an objection and revise a written position in a flexible plan towards B2.
Read and practise