Getting around
Vapur
Sıradaki iskele.
The next pier.
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.
Istanbul
Turkey
Istanbul stands on two continents. The Bosphorus splits the old peninsula from newer districts.
How the language is used
Turkish is everyday speech. Around tourism you also hear many other languages.
In this city
- Language
- Turkish
- Also heard
- English, Arabic and German
- A local word
- Kolay gelsin — May your work go easily.
- Writing
- the Latin alphabet
What people say
Ordinary lines from this city: the ride, the counter, the food, and the greeting.
Food
Simitçi
İki simit.
Two simits.
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
Sokak
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, Arabic and German, and the local day still runs in Turkish.
Around Karaköy, Kadıköy, Beyoğlu, this is the ordinary sound of the day.
A first day in Istanbul can run on four lines: “Sıradaki iskele.”, “İki simit.”, “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 Istanbul, the stop and the price are written down.
One local word: Kolay gelsin. It means May your work go easily..
Places you can see
- Hagia Sophia — A former church and mosque. The great dome still holds the skyline.
- Galata — A tower and a hillside quarter above the Golden Horn. The streets are steep.
- Grand Bazaar — A covered market of lanes. Shop talk there is in Turkish.
Food
You eat simit, grilled fish, and tea in a small glass. You order them in Turkish.
Getting around
Ferries, trams, and metro lines cross the water and the hills. You name the stop in Turkish.
Daily life
You greet, ask the way, and order at the counter in Turkish. Past the tourist streets, other languages thin out.
A few everyday phrases
Turkish
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Merhaba | Hello |
| Teşekkürler | Thank you |
| Günaydın | Good morning |
| Benim adım… | My name is… |
