My 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.
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I 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.
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