How to Speak Turkish

Last Updated: June 2, 2021 References

Acquiring a new language gives you the confidence and ability to speak to people of different backgrounds. Turkish is spoken by more than 70 million people worldwide. Its origin dates back to the 6th century. Although Turkish currently uses a Latin alphabet, prior to 1928 it was written in Arabic characters.^{[1]
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Research source} Just like learning other languages, becoming fluent in Turkish requires practice and patience. By immersing yourself in a language learning experience, you can have success learning Turkish.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Learning the Basics of Turkish

1
Learn how to pronounce Turkish letters and sounds. Begin your studies by learning the pronunciation of Turkish words. Turkish uses the Latin alphabet, and each character is pronounced individually and phonetically. There are a few sounds that differ from English:^{[2]
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- c is pronounced like an English j (in jam). So ‘’’sadece’’’ (only/just) is pronounced sah-deh-jeh
- ç is pronounced like an English ch (in charge) – not s as in Latin based languages.
- ğ is silent (elongates previous vowel sound)
- ş is “sh”
- ı – looks like an i without the dot. ı is pronounced as a “schwa,” or gentle "uh" sound.^{[3]
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- Umlauted ö/ü vowels work as in German. ö is pronounced like "er" without the hard "r" sound. ü is pronounced like "ooh" when your lips are pursed.
2
Study Turkish grammar. Understanding the sentence structure of Turkish will help you to learn the language. Words are also attached together to change their meanings.^{[4]
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- Turkish sentences use a Subject-Object-Verb order.
- Many words can be added as suffixes to the root word to change its meaning.
- There are no gender forms of words or articles such as "the".
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3
Get a Turkish dictionary. Buy a dual-language dictionary to translate Turkish into English or another language you know well. Use the dictionary to look up and study new words.
4
Study a Turkish phrase book. Learn how to speak common phrases to develop a broader conversational base. Use your phrase book to look up and memorize useful phrases.^{[5]
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- English: Hi Turkish: Merhaba (mehr hah bah)
- English: Welcome Turkish: Hoş geldiniz! (Hosh gel din iz)
- English: I’m Lost Turkish: Kayboldum (kahy bohl doom)
- English: Where is the bathroom? Turkish:Tuvalet nerede? (too-vah-let neh-reh-dey)
- English: Yes Turkish: Evet (eh vet)
- English: No Turkish: Hayır (Hah yuhr)
5
Practice basic conversations. Learn phrases common in conversations and have conversations with yourself to practice asking and answering questions. Listen to spoken recordings of phrases online or on tapes from your local library.
- English: Do you speak English? Turkish: İngilizce biliyor musunuz? (een-gee-leez jeh-bee-lee-yohr moo-soo-nooz)
- English: I can't speak Turkish. Turkish: Türkçe konuşamıyorum. (Tuerck-che conusha-me-yoor-uhm)
- English: How are you today? Turkish: Nasılsınız? (na suhl suhn uhz)
- English: I'm fine, thank you. Turkish: İyiyim, teşekkürler (ee yee yeem teh shek ür lerr)
- English: Am I under arrest? Turkish: Tutuklu muyum? (too-too-kloo mwee-yum)

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Continuing your Study

1
Use image association to build your vocabulary. Create or buy a set of picture flashcards with Turkish words printed on them. Learn to associate the Turkish words with the images to ingrain them on your memory.
- Write out lists of common vocabulary terms in Turkish.
- Speak the words out loud as you are looking at your flashcards or writing lists.
2
Read books printed in Turkish. Grow your ability to read in Turkish by studying novels and other writings written in Turkish.
- Children's books can be a great way to start reading in a new language because their stories are usually simple and easy to follow. You can find several children's books in Turkish online by searching Google for "cocuk hikayeleri" (children's stories).^{[6]
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- Turkey produces quite a few comic books and graphic novels as well, which can be a great way into a new language. Check out work by Oğuz Aral, Bülent Arabacıoğlu, and Servet Gürbüz.^{[7]
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- Read with a dictionary nearby to look up words when you get stuck.
3
Listen to podcasts in Turkish. Hearing a language consistently is one of the best ways to understand it. Find online broadcasts of Turkish language news or entertainment shows and listen to them on a daily basis. You will begin to recognize and understand more words as you study.^{[8]
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Watch online movies in Turkish. Hearing the language spoken will help you understand the flow of the language. Look for movies that you have seen before that have been dubbed into Turkish.
- Turn on subtitles in Turkish while you are watching the movie to see the words in writing.
- Rent or download movies in Turkish.
5
Practice Turkish with native speakers. After you have developed a basic Turkish vocabulary and are comfortable with a few phrases, try speaking with native Turkish speakers. Ask the native speakers for tips on how to pronounce words or for helpful colloquial phrases.
- Don't worry about speaking perfectly. Most people are happy to help you practice your language skills and won't judge your pronunciation.
6
Learn to order food in Turkish. Turkish food is becoming a popular fare worldwide. Search for a nearby restaurant and ask if the waiter speaks Turkish. Practice ordering your food using Turkish phrases:
- English: Excuse me, waiter. Turkish: bakar mısınız? (ba kar mis in izz)
- English: Can I look at the menu, please? Turkish: Menüye bakabilir miyim?
- English: May I please have a glass of water? Turkish: Bir bardak su alabilir miyim?
- English: I'd like chicken. Turkish: Tavuk istiyorum. (tah-vook is-tiy-o-rum)
- English: I'd like bread. Turkish: Ekmek istiyorum.
7
Enroll in an online or college class to study Turkish. Visit a local college or look online for a class in Turkish. Sign up to take the class to get direct instruction and practice from professors.
- UCLA runs a free online Turkish class, Turkish Tutor.^{[9]
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  Research source} You can watch clips from Turkish sitcoms and enhance your language skills at your own pace.^{[10]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Learning Through Immersion

1
Download language immersion software. Do some research on programs like Rosetta Stone to help you master the new language. Many computer programs have been developed to provide a full language immersion class over a period of a few weeks or months. Follow the software guide to practice and develop your language skills.
2
Watch TV and listen to radio broadcasts in Turkish. Access Turkish radio and TV broadcasts online. Stream programs that are presented in Turkish, and listen to them throughout the day. The more you are able to hear a language the easier it will be for you to understand it.^{[11]
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3
Surround yourself with individuals who speak Turkish. Visit restaurants or markets that cater to Turkish immigrants. Speak with the people at these locations and practice.
4
Travel to Turkey. To provide yourself with the most inclusive immersion experience take a vacation to Turkey. If it is possible for you to spend a few months fully surrounded by the Turkish language, it becomes much easier to pick up the new language.