Getting around
Otobüs
İnecek var.
Stopping here.
You hear this when the doors close or the next stop is called. It is written down too, so a missed word does not end the ride.
Antalya
Turkey
Antalya sits on the Mediterranean, between a historic harbour and newer beach districts.
How the language is used
Turkish is the local language. Resorts add other languages, but the city itself stays Turkish.
In this city
- Language
- Turkish
- Also heard
- English, Russian and German
- A local word
- Kaleiçi — The old town.
- Writing
- the Latin alphabet
What people say
Ordinary lines from this city: the ride, the counter, the food, and the greeting.
Food
Pazar
Bir kilo portakal.
A kilo of oranges.
The order is built in short pieces like this one.
The counter
Dükkân
Bir çay.
One tea.
This line is a whole order. You do not need a longer sentence.
The street
Sahil
Kolay gelsin.
May your work go easily.
People keep this line short. It is enough for the moment.
The language through the day
Turkish is the city itself. Around visitors you also hear English, Russian and German, and the local day still runs in Turkish.
Around Kaleiçi, Lara, Konyaaltı, this is the ordinary sound of the day.
A first day in Antalya can run on four lines: “İnecek var.”, “Bir kilo portakal.”, “Bir çay.”, and “Kolay gelsin.”. Each one is already a complete moment.
If you are new here
- Stops, prices, and shop signs are written in the Latin alphabet.
- With strangers and in shops, siz is the polite you. Sen is for friends.
- If a spoken line goes past you, read the screen or the board. In Antalya, the stop and the price are written down.
One local word: Kaleiçi. It means The old town..
Places you can see
- Kaleiçi — A walled old town of stone houses above the harbour.
- Hadrian's Gate — A Roman gate that still opens into the old streets.
- Konyaaltı — A beach district along the west side of the bay.
Food
You eat grilled fish and fresh greens, then tea in the shade. You order in Turkish.
Getting around
Buses and a tram link the centre to the coast. You ask the driver in Turkish.
Daily life
Once you leave the hotel strip, you ask for a street, a table, or a bus in Turkish.
A few everyday phrases
Turkish
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Merhaba | Hello |
| Teşekkürler | Thank you |
| Günaydın | Good morning |
| Benim adım… | My name is… |
