Getting around in Turkish
Left, right, the station, one ticket, where is the toilet. Play the ten Turkish words against the clock, with a note on how locals really use each one after every answer. All ten are written out below.
All 10 Turkish phrases in this lesson
- Tuvalet nerede?too-va-LET neh-REH-deh
- Where is the toilet?
- ... nasıl giderim?na-SUHL gee-deh-RIM
- How do I get to...?
- Solaso-LA
- To the left
- Sağasah-AH
- To the right
- Düz gidindewz gee-DIN
- Straight ahead
- Buradaboo-ra-DAH
- Here
- Tren garıTREN gah-RUH
- Train station
- Otobüsoh-toh-BEWSS
- Bus
- Havalimanıha-va-lee-ma-NUH
- Airport
- Bir bilet lütfenbeer bee-LET lewt-fen
- One ticket, please
Signs read Tuvalet, WC, or the international symbols. Bayan (ladies) and Bay (gentlemen) label the doors. Many public toilets have an attendant and charge a small fee.
The place takes -a or -e (to): "Taksim'e nasıl giderim?" (how do I get to Taksim?). Saying the place name alone with a questioning look also works.
Sol is left, and -a makes it "to the left". "Sola dönün" (so-LA dur-NEWN) is turn left.
From sağ (right). The ğ is silent and lengthens the vowel. "Sağa dönün" is turn right. Sağ also means alive and healthy, as in "sağ ol" (thanks).
The polite command form for strangers. With a taxi driver: "düz gidin, sonra sola" (go straight, then left). Istanbul traffic is legendary; build in extra time.
"Burada durun lütfen" (boo-ra-DAH doo-ROON lewt-fen) is stop here please, to a taxi. "Orada" (oh-ra-DAH) is there.
Gar is the station. In Istanbul the Marmaray line runs under the Bosphorus, and fast intercity trains connect Istanbul, Ankara and Konya.
City buses take the İstanbulkart or the local card, not cash. Long distance buses leave from the otogar (oh-toh-GAR), the bus terminal, and serve free tea on board.
Literally "air harbor". Also heard as "havaalanı". Istanbul has two: İstanbul Havalimanı on the European side and Sabiha Gökçen on the Asian side.
For intercity buses, buy at the company desks in the otogar. Seats are assigned, and on holiday weekends booking ahead is wise.