Wording
|
Phonetic
|
English
|
Selam | Seh-lahm | Hello/Hi |
Elveda | Elle-veh-dah | Good Bye! |
Konusmak Mi Ingilizce / Turkce | Cohn-oo-smack Mee Eng-eel-eez-sey / Ter-sey | Do you speak English / Spanish? |
Benim Adim… | Beh-nihm Ah-dihm | My name is… |
Bana Yardim Edebilir Misin? | Bah-nah Yar-deem Eh-deh-bih-leer Miss-een | Can you help me? |
Ariyorum… | Ah-ree-your-uhm | I’m looking for… |
Evet / Yok | Ee-veht / Yock | Yes / No |
Tesekkur Ederim | Teh-she-cur Eh-deh-eem | Mr / Mrs / Miss |
Bugun / Simdi | Buh-guhn / Seem-dee | Today / Now |
Yarin / Dun | Yar-een / Doon | Tomorrow / Yesterday |
Bu / O / Iste / Orada | Boo / Oh / Ees-tey / Or-ah-dah | This / That / Here / There |
Phrases
Above are a few common Turkish phrases to help you get around.
Languages
Around 85% of the country’s population speak Turkish as this is considered the country’s mother tongue and has always had longstanding origins in the country, being first spoken over 1300 years ago and brought in from Mongolia and originating in the Turkish Khaganate.
A further 12% speaks Kurdish and 1% more speak Arabic and Zaza. The country is home to some of the most endangered languages in the world including Abaza, Adyge, Gagauz, Homshetsma, Kabard-Cherkes, Mlahso, Romani, Turoyo, Western Armenian, Abkhaz, Cappadocian Green, Hertevin, Judezmo, Laz, Pontic Greek, Suret, Ubykh and Zazaki.