The first step to fluency is speaking! If you want to build your confidence in Turkish, knowing how to initiate a conversation is key. This guide provides essential phrases for daily interactions, from greetings to polite farewells.
1. Breaking the Ice: Greetings (Selamlaşma)
Always start with a friendly greeting based on the time of day:
Merhaba: Hello
Günaydın: Good morning
İyi akşamlar: Good evening
Nasılsınız?: How are you? (Formal/Polite)
Nasılsın?: How are you? (Informal)
The Response: İyiyim, teşekkür ederim. Siz nasılsınız? (I’m fine, thank you. And you?)
2. Introductions: Who are you? (Tanışma)
Getting to know someone is easy with these templates:
Adınız nedir?: What is your name?
Adım [Ali]. Sizinki?: My name is [Ali]. And yours?
Nerelisiniz?: Where are you from?
[Suriyeliyim / Amerikalıyım]: I am from [Syria / America].
Kaç yaşındasınız?: How old are you?
3. Discussing Language Skills
Useful phrases to manage the flow of conversation:
Türkçe biliyor musunuz?: Do you speak Turkish?
Evet, biraz Türkçe biliyorum: Yes, I know a little Turkish.
Hayır, Türkçe öğreniyorum: No, I am learning Turkish.
Hangi dilleri konuşuyorsunuz?: Which languages do you speak?
4. Daily Life & Small Talk
Keep the conversation going with these common questions:
Ne iş yapıyorsunuz?: What do you do for a living? (e.g., Öğrenciyim: I'm a student).
Bugün hava nasıl?: How is the weather today?
Ne yapıyorsunuz?: What are you doing? (e.g., Kitap okuyorum: I'm reading a book).
5. Ending the Conversation (Veda)
Always close with a polite phrase:
Tanıştığımıza memnun oldum: Nice to meet you.
Hoşça kalın: Goodbye.
Görüşürüz: See you later.
Always use "Siz" (You - Formal) when speaking to strangers or elders. It shows respect and is highly appreciated in Turkish culture.