Shops and hotels in Turkish
Open, closed, a bag, the wifi password: the checkout and the front desk. 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
- ... var mı?var MUH
- Do you have...?
- ... nerede?neh-REH-deh
- Where is...?
- Açıkah-CHUHK
- Open
- Kapalıka-pa-LUH
- Closed
- Poşet ister misiniz?po-SHET is-TER mee-see-NEEZ
- A bag?
- Çok pahalıchok pa-ha-LUH
- Too expensive
- Rezervasyonum varreh-zer-vas-YO-noom var
- I have a reservation
- Kahvaltı dahil mi?kah-val-TUH da-HEEL mee
- Is breakfast included?
- Wifi şifresi ne?VAI-fai sheef-reh-SEE neh
- What's the wifi password?
- ...-ebilir miyim?-eh-bee-LEER mee-yim
- Can I...?
"Yoğurt var mı?" (is there yogurt?). The answer "var" (yes, there is) or "yok" (no, there is not) is the whole exchange. These two words are the most useful vocabulary in daily Turkish life.
"Ekmek nerede?" (where is the bread?), "otel nerede?" (where is the hotel?). The answer comes with pointing, which is all you need.
On shop doors and museum signs. Small shops often stay open late into the evening, and many open on Sundays too.
The sign you will meet at pharmacies at night. A closed pharmacy posts the nearest "nöbetçi eczane" (duty pharmacy) in its window.
The cashier asking whether you want a bag, which costs a small fee. Answer "evet" (yes) or "hayır, teşekkürler" (no, thanks).
At bazaars and souvenir shops this opens the haggling. Start by complimenting the item with "çok güzel" (very beautiful), then say this with a smile. In shops with price tags it just means you are leaving.
Literally "my reservation exists". The -um ending makes it mine, the same pattern as pasaportum (my passport). Expect to hand over your passport at check-in.
Worth asking. A Turkish breakfast is a spread of cheeses, olives, tomatoes, cucumbers, eggs, honey and endless tea, and many hotels are proud of theirs.
Turks say wifi as "vai-fai" or "vee-fee". Cafes write the password on a card or the receipt; asking is completely normal.
A suffix on the verb, and vowel harmony picks -abilir or -ebilir: "girebilir miyim?" (can I come in?), "fotoğraf çekebilir miyim?" (can I take a photo?), "alabilir miyim?" (can I have?).