Turkish Culture 101: Phrases You Need to Know

For those just starting their Turkish language learning journey or preparing for a trip, mastering a few basic phrases is a must. Knowing how to greet people, show gratitude, or ask simple questions will help you speak Turkish with confidence and show respect for the local culture. Think of this as Turkish for beginners 101 – a crash course in essential expressions you can use right away. Whether you plan to learn Turkish online or take 1-on-1 Turkish classes with a tutor, the key is to practice these phrases often.

You'll find key phrases grouped by category – from greetings and polite expressions to travel phrases, food & dining terms, and social/cultural sayings. Feel free to use the clickable index below to jump to any section that interests you:

• Greetings
• Polite Expressions
• Travel Phrases
• Food & Dining
• Social/Cultural Tips

Greetings

:contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0} In Turkey, greetings are key to making a good first impression. Turks tend to greet friends and strangers warmly, often with a handshake or a cheek kiss among close relations. It’s common to use different greetings depending on the time of day. Here are some common greetings and how to use them:

• Merhaba – "Hello" (A universal greeting suitable for any time of day and in almost any situation, formal or informal.)
• Selam – "Hi" (A casual greeting among friends or peers. Use Selam in informal situations; it’s like saying "hey there".)
• Günaydın – "Good morning" (Used in the morning hours to wish someone a good start to their day.)
• İyi akşamlar – "Good evening" (Used in the evening, typically as a greeting or when saying goodbye for the night. Polite to say when entering or leaving in the late day.)
• İyi geceler – "Good night" (Said when parting ways at night or before going to sleep. It’s more of a farewell late at night.)
• Nasılsın? / Nasılsınız? – "How are you?" (Ask Nasılsın? with friends or anyone you’d address as "you" informally, and Nasılsınız? in formal situations or when speaking to more than one person. It’s polite to ask this after saying hello.)
• Hoşçakalın / Hoşçakal – "Goodbye" (Said by the person who is leaving. Use Hoşçakalın to be formal or when addressing several people, and Hoşçakal with close friends or one person informally. The person staying behind will often reply with "Güle güle" to the one leaving.)
• Görüşürüz – "See you later" (A casual way to say "see you" when you expect to meet again. It literally means "We’ll see each other". Great for friends or friendly acquaintances.)

Polite Expressions

Politeness is paramount in Turkish culture. Simple words like "please” and "thank you” can go a long way. In fact, these basic courtesy phrases are usually among the first things taught in Turkish lessons, because they are used constantly in daily life. Here are a few polite expressions you should know:

• Teşekkür ederim – "Thank you." (The standard polite way to say thanks in any situation. You can also use the shorter Teşekkürler for "Thanks", and with close friends or family, Sağ ol is a very informal "thanks" meaning "be healthy".)
• Lütfen – "Please." (Use this word to make requests polite. It usually comes at the end of a request. For example, to order coffee you can say "Bir kahve, lütfen" – "One coffee, please.")
• Evet / Hayır – "Yes" / "No." (Simple but essential. Evet means yes, and Hayır means no. Recognizing these will help you answer questions politely or understand responses.)
• Affedersiniz – "Excuse me." (Say this to get someone’s attention politely, or when you bump into someone by accident. It’s like saying "pardon me". You might also hear "Pardon" which is borrowed from French and used in similar situations.)
• Özür dilerim – "I'm sorry." (A sincere apology phrase for when you make a mistake or inconvenience someone. It’s stronger than "Affedersiniz" and used to express that you truly apologize.)
• Memnun oldum – "Nice to meet you." (Literally "I am pleased". You say this after being introduced to someone new. It’s often accompanied by a handshake. If someone says "Memnun oldum" to you, a good response is "Ben de memnun oldum" – "I am pleased as well".)

Travel Phrases

Traveling in a new country is much easier when you know how to ask basic questions and understand directions. In Turkey, while many people in tourist areas may speak some English, using Turkish can go a long way in ensuring you get the help you need (and it shows respect). The following phrases will help you get around and handle common situations. Even if you're enrolled in a Turkish language course back home, practicing these travel-specific expressions will be invaluable during your trip:

• Tuvalet nerede? – "Where is the bathroom?" (Perhaps the most important question for any traveler! Tuvalet means toilet/bathroom. Use this phrase to ask for restrooms. You can substitute other place names in place of tuvalet to ask for different locations. For example, "Otel nerede?" means "Where is the hotel?")
• Bu ne kadar? – "How much is this?" (Use this while shopping, accompanied by pointing at an item. Bu means "this," and ne kadar means "how much". You can also just ask "Ne kadar?" when it’s clear you're asking about price.)
• İngilizce biliyor musunuz? – "Do you know English?" (A polite way to ask if someone speaks English. İngilizce means English, and biliyor musunuz means "do you know". Alternatively, you can say "İngilizce konuşuyor musunuz?" which literally means "Do you speak English?" Both are commonly understood.)
• Anlamıyorum. – "I don't understand." (Use this when someone is speaking to you and you can’t understand them. It’s a simple way to let them know you’re not following. You might follow up with "İngilizce, lütfen" meaning "English, please," if you hope they can switch to English.)
• Lütfen yavaş konuşun. – "Please speak slowly." (If someone is speaking too fast, this phrase is a polite request for them to slow down. Very useful for language learners in particular.)
• Tekrar eder misiniz? – "Could you repeat that?" (Another lifesaver phrase. Use this to ask someone to repeat what they said, perhaps more clearly. It’s polite and shows you're trying to understand.)
• Yardım eder misiniz? – "Can you help me?" (A polite way to ask for help. Yardım means help. You can add "lütfen" to the end to be extra polite: "Yardım eder misiniz, lütfen?" This is great for situations like asking for assistance with luggage, finding something, etc.)

Food & Dining

One of the joys of visiting Turkey is the food! Sharing meals is a big part of the culture, and knowing a few dining phrases will definitely enhance your experience. From ordering delicious kebabs to sipping Turkish tea, using the local language while eating out can earn you a smile and even better service. And as a learner, it's also great Turkish conversation practice to speak with waiters and locals over a meal. Here are some common food and dining phrases:

• Afiyet olsun – "Enjoy your meal." (Literally "may it be good for your appetite". This is the Turkish equivalent of "bon appétit." You say it to others at the table before they start eating, or even during a meal. Turks often say this to each other, and waiters might say it as they serve your food.)
• Elinize sağlık – "Bless your hands." (Use this phrase to compliment the cook after a meal. It literally means "health to your hands," implying "may your hands be healthy [because they made such good food]." Say this to someone who prepared the food to thank them for a delicious meal. It’s a very warm, appreciative comment.)
• Çok lezzetli! – "It's very delicious!" (If you want to praise the food directly, use this exclamation. Çok means "very" and lezzetli means "delicious/tasty." You can say this to the chef or host, or even just exclaim it while eating to show you love the food.)
• Hesap lütfen. – "The bill, please." (When you’re finished at a restaurant and ready to pay, catch the waiter’s attention and say this phrase. Hesap means "bill/check". Don’t be shy about calling out "Pardon!" or raising a hand slightly to get the waiter's attention, then say "Hesap lütfen.")
• Menüyü alabilir miyim? – "Can I have the menu?" (Use this when you sit down and there’s no menu on the table. Menü means menu, and the whole phrase is a polite request. You can tack on "lütfen" at the end for extra politeness: "Menüyü alabilir miyim, lütfen?")
• Bir kahve, lütfen. – "A coffee, please." (An example of ordering by simply stating what you want and adding lütfen. Bir means "one/a". You can replace kahve (coffee) with anything else you want. For instance, "Bir çay, lütfen" means "One tea, please." This simple structure will get you far when ordering food or drinks.)

Social/Cultural Tips

Finally, here are some bonus phrases that reflect Turkish social customs and cultural kindness. Turks are very hospitable, and they appreciate when visitors make the effort to engage in local etiquette. Using these expressions will help you connect on a deeper level. It’s also a chance to improve Turkish speaking – the more you practice these phrases in real situations, the more comfortable you'll become.

• Hoş geldiniz – "Welcome." (What a host says to guests. You’ll hear this warm welcome when you enter shops, restaurants, or someone’s home. If someone says Hoş geldiniz to you (literally "You came pleasantly"), the polite response is "Hoş bulduk" – meaning "We found it pleasant here," essentially "We feel welcomed.")
• Buyurun – "Here you go/How can I help?/Yes, please." (This multi-purpose word is very common. You might hear Buyurun when someone offers you something, like handing you an item ("here you go"), or when you walk into a shop and the shopkeeper says Buyurun to mean "How can I help you?" It’s a general courteous invitation to proceed or take something.)
• Kolay gelsin – "May it come easy." (Say this to someone who is working, to wish them an easy time completing their task. For example, if you see a shopkeeper cleaning or a mechanic working, saying Kolay gelsin is a friendly way to acknowledge them, similar to "take it easy" or "good luck with your work". It’s uniquely Turkish and very much appreciated by locals.)
• Geçmiş olsun – "Get well soon / May it pass." (Use this to express sympathy when someone is sick, injured, or has had some bad luck. It literally means "May it be in the past". For instance, if a friend tells you they have a cold, or you hear someone was in an accident (even if minor), you say Geçmiş olsun to wish them well. It’s a comforting phrase for any misfortune or illness.)
• İnşallah – "God willing / Hopefully." (İnşallah is used when you hope something will happen. For example, "Tomorrow will be sunny, inşallah." It’s equivalent to saying "hopefully." You’ll hear Turks say this often whenever talking about future plans or desires. Even secular speakers use it as a cultural habit to mean "I hope so.")
• Maşallah – "(May God protect from evil eye.)" (This is an exclamation of admiration or praise, often said when someone shares good news or you see a cute baby or a great achievement. It has no direct translation, but it’s used to ward off the evil eye, implying "Wow, that’s great, may nothing bad happen to it." For example, if someone shows you their new car, you might say "Maşallah!" as a compliment. You’ll also see Maşallah written on decorations or jewelry, reflecting its cultural significance.)

For more in-depth language learning, consider combining these phrase practices with some formal study. Many learners sign up for private Turkish lessons or online Turkish tutoring to get more speaking practice and personalized feedback. Working with Turkish tutors or native Turkish teachers in this way is often the best way to learn Turkish, because a good instructor will tailor lessons to your needs, help clarify Turkish grammar, and keep you accountable. Ultimately, consistency is key – the more you use and review these phrases (and any new ones you learn), the faster you’ll progress. So don’t be shy about saying "Merhaba!” or "Teşekkür ederim” whenever you have the chance, and enjoy your Turkish conversations ahead!