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.
How the language is used
Turkish is what you hear on the ferry and in the market. Tourism adds other languages.
In this city
- Language
- Turkish
- Also heard
- English and German
- A local word
- Kemeraltı — The old market.
- 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 zeytin.
A kilo of olives.
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 and German, and the local day still runs in Turkish.
Around Alsancak, Kemeraltı, Karşıyaka, this is the ordinary sound of the day.
A first day in Izmir can run on four lines: “Sıradaki iskele.”, “Bir kilo zeytin.”, “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 Izmir, the stop and the price are written down.
One local word: Kemeraltı. It means The old market..
Places you can see
- Kordon — The waterfront promenade, where people walk at the end of the day.
- Kadifekale — A hilltop castle with a wide view over the bay.
- Agora — An open archaeological site in the old commercial quarter.
Food
You share small plates by the sea and buy herbs in the bazaar. You name them in Turkish.
Getting around
Ferries cross the bay, and a metro runs inland. You read the stop in Turkish.
Daily life
A greeting and a short request in Turkish carry you through the market.
A few everyday phrases
Turkish
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Merhaba | Hello |
| Teşekkürler | Thank you |
| Günaydın | Good morning |
| Benim adım… | My name is… |
