Benny Lewis's Blog

March 11, 2025

Turkish Foods: 19 Must-Try Dishes & Essential Vocabulary

Is Turkish food the main reason why you want to visit Turkey? I can understand! Each corner of the country is full of different flavors, tastes, and spices, with the light, olive-oil-based dishes of the Aegean Coast, delicious kebabs of southeastern cities, and the cosmopolitan nature of Istanbul.

In this article, we’ll try to do justice to Turkish cuisine, but with such a rich culinary landscape, it’s impossible to cover everything. Instead, we’ll outline the must-try Turkish dishes throughout the country, with a bonus section covering the essential food vocabulary in Turkish.

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Table of contents19 Must-Try Turkish Dishes 1. Kebab 2. Döner 3. Lahmacun 4. Pide 5. Köfte 6. Manti 7. Börek 8. Dolma 9. Yaprak Sarma 10. Karnıyarık 11. İmam Bayıldı 12. Menemen 13. Bulgur Pilavi 14. Kisir 15. Kuru Fasulye and Pilav 16. Midye Dolma 17. Gözleme 18. Baklava 19. Simit Essential Turkish Food Vocabulary for Language Learners Turkish Food Vocabulary Ordering Food in a Turkish Restaurant FAQs What is typical Turkish food?What is Turkey’s favorite food?What is Turkey’s national dish?Is Turkish food similar to Greek?What is commonly eaten in Turkey?This is Only the Beginning of Your Turkish Culinary Adventure19 Must-Try Turkish Dishes

Spoiler alert: there will be more than 19 Turkish dishes in this article, as most food names are umbrella terms.

Kebab is a famous example, so let’s start with it:

1. Kebab

Kebab is a general term for meat dishes cooked on a skewer over a charcoal fire. There are various types of kebabs in Turkish cuisine, so we could have even written an entire article just about kebabs!

Here are some popular kebab dishes you should try:

Adana kebab: Originating from the Turkish city of Adana, this dish is made with ground lamb, tail fat, and spices. One of the many secrets of a good Adana kebab is zırh, a special type of knife that is used to grind the meat.Iskender kebab: Iskender kebab is one of the best of the best — it’s thin slices of döner meat served over pide (Turkish flatbread), topped with tomato sauce, yogurt, and butter.Shish kebab: In Turkish, şiş means “skewer.” And shish kebab consists of marinated chunks of meat (usually lamb or chicken) on skewers, grilled over charcoal for a smoky flavor.2. Döner

Did you know that dönmek means “to turn” in Turkish? The word döner comes from this verb, as it’s a dish cooked on a vertical, turning rotisserie. Usually lamb or chicken, the perfect döner is thinly sliced, and served in a wrap with onions, tomato, and parsley.

3. Lahmacun

Often called “Turkish pizza,” lahmacun is a thin, crispy dough topped with minced meat (usually lamb or beef), tomato paste, and spices. To eat it the local way, add some fresh parsley and lemon, and then roll your lahmacun tightly.

4. Pide

In this case, pide is not Turkish flatbread, it’s a boat-shaped bread dish filled with toppings. There is a wide range of toppings you can choose from — meat, cheese, and eggs are some popular options.

5. Köfte

Köfte are meatballs made from ground beef or lamb. Similar to the word kebab, there are different types of köfte to try — deep fried, baked with some tomato sauce, or grilled on charcoal, for example.

6. Manti

Manti are a type of Turkish dumplings that are popular throughout the country. To make manti, a simple dough is prepared and rolled out into thin sheets. The filling, which typically consists of ground beef seasoned with salt and pepper, is then placed in small amounts on the dough.

The dough is then folded over the filling and pinched together at the edges to create small, square-shaped dumplings. This part requires a lot of patience, but once it’s done, all you have to do is boil the manti and serve them with yogurt and garlic sauce.

7. Börek

By now you’re used to it — börek is also one of those Turkish dishes with various versions. A savory pastry made with thin, flaky dough, its most common ingredients are meat, cheese, or spinach.

8. Dolma

Dolma comes from the verb dolmak, “to fill” or “to stuff.” To prepare a dolma dish, you first prepare a mixture of rice, onions, tomatoes, spices, and meat (optional). Then you put this mixture in pepper, eggplants, or zucchinis, cook it in a pot, and voilà!

9. Yaprak Sarma

Yaprak sarma is a type of dolma, but unlike other dolmas, where the filling is stuffed inside vegetables, it’s made by rolling the filling inside vine leaves. The name sarma comes from the Turkish verb sarmak, which means “to roll.”

Once you’ve carefully rolled the leaves around the filling, you tuck in the sides of the leaf to create neat, cigar-shaped rolls. Every household has a different recipe for this Turkish delicacy, so make sure to try as many as possible during your trip!

10. Karnıyarık

The name karnıyarık literally translates to “split belly.” Why? Because it’s an eggplant cut in half and stuffed with a mixture of ground meat, onions, tomatoes, and peppers!

11. İmam Bayıldı

Think of imam bayıldı as karnıyarık’s vegetarian sibling. This time, the eggplants are filled with a mixture of onions, tomatoes, and garlic, without any meat.

The name imam bayıldı means “the imam fainted” in English. There are various stories surrounding the origin of this name, but the most common one involves an imam (an Islamic religious leader) who was so impressed and overwhelmed by the dish’s incredible flavor that he actually fainted upon tasting it.

12. Menemen

Menemen is a popular Turkish breakfast dish made with eggs, tomatoes, peppers, and onions. It’s often served with bread so you can use it as a dip.

13. Bulgur Pilavi

A common side to many meat dishes on this list, bulgur pilavi is made from bulgur, tomatoes, onions, and tomato paste.

14. Kisir

Another bulgur dish, kisir is a type of salad. It’s made with fine bulgur, pomegranate molasses, lettuce, parsley, and a special type of pepper called isot from Urfa, a southeastern Turkish city.

15. Kuru Fasulye and Pilav

The ultimate Turkish food duo — kuru fasulye and pilav. Kuru fasulye is Turkish for dry white beans. For this dish, the beans are stewed with tomato paste, oil, onions, and in most households, some meat.

Kuru fasulye is traditionally served with rice, pilav in Turkish, so this dish is usually called kuru fasulye and pilav.

16. Midye Dolma

Many people think döner is the most common Turkish street food, but actually, midye dolma is more common as a street food in Turkey. These are mussels filled with rice, onions, and spices, often served with lemon wedges. You’ll find them in many coastal cities.

17. Gözleme

This savory flatbread is made from a simple dough of flour, water, and salt, which is then rolled out thin and filled with a variety of delicious ingredients, such as cheese, potatoes, spinach, and minced meat.

18. Baklava

A world-famous dessert, baklava has layers of phyllo dough, sweetened with butter, chopped nuts, and syrup. The southeastern city of Gaziantep is particularly known for its delicious pistachio baklava.

19. Simit

A circular bread, similar to a bagel or pretzel, simit is common in bakeries, street carts, and cafes across Turkey. Simit sellers, known as simitçi, are a common sight on the streets of Turkish cities, carrying trays of fresh simit to be enjoyed as a snack or for breakfast.

Essential Turkish Food Vocabulary for Language Learners

Now that you know the most common Turkish foods, it’s time to build your vocabulary! We’ll start with the basic food names and move forward with ordering food in a Turkish restaurant.

Turkish Food Vocabulary

Here is a list of Turkish meal names and the ingredients of the Turkish foods we covered!

English Turkish Audio “Breakfast” Kahvaltı “Lunch” Öğle Yemeği “Dinner” Akşam Yemeği “Meat” Et “Tavuk” Tavuk “Fish” Balık “Vegetable” Sebze “Fruit” Meyve “Bread” Ekmek “Spice” Baharat “Salt” Tuz “Black pepper” Karabiber “Olive oil” Zeytinyağı “Lemon” Limon “Tomato” Domates “Onion” Soğan “Tomato paste” Domates salçası “Yoghurt” Yoğurt “Cheese” Peynir “Salad” Salata Ordering Food in a Turkish Restaurant

And here are some phrases you need to know when ordering food in a Turkish restaurant:

English Turkish Audio “I’d like to make a reservation.” Rezervasyon yapmak istiyorum. “Can I have the menu?” Menüyü alabilir miyim? “One lahmacun, please.” Bir lahmacun, lütfen. “Do you have vegetarian options?” Vejetaryen seçenekleriniz var mı? “Can I have some bread, please?” Ekmek alabilir miyim, lütfen? “Is this dish spicy?” Bu yemek acılı mı? “Can I have the bill, please?” Hesabı alabilir miyim? “Enjoy your meal” Afiyet olsun FAQsWhat is typical Turkish food?

Typical Turkish dishes depend a lot on the region — coastal areas feature light, vegetable dishes, while richer meat dishes are more common in the inland cities. As a tourist, be sure to look for local specialties in the Turkish city you end up visiting, and don’t skip out on classics like kebab dishes, pide, börek, dolma, and baklava. These are widely available throughout the country.

What is Turkey’s favorite food?

Turkey has so many favorite dishes. Some of the most popular ones include döner, kebabs, pide, and baklava.

What is Turkey’s national dish?

There’s no official national dish of Turkey, but you’ll find that some dishes are strongly associated with the city of their origin. So we can say that some cities have national dishes. For example, the city of Adana is very proud of its Adana kebab. Similarly, Bursa is where Iskender kebab comes from, and people often say it’s where you find the best Iskender.

Is Turkish food similar to Greek?

There are many similarities between Turkish and Greek cuisine, and it’s often a controversial topic where dishes like baklava, dolma, and börek come from!

What is commonly eaten in Turkey?

You’ll find a lot of kebab varieties, meat stews, vegetable dishes, and bread-based foods like pide, döner, and simit in Turkey.

This is Only the Beginning of Your Turkish Culinary Adventure

Now it’s time to visit Turkey and try these delicacies yourself! From the sizzling kebabs and savory pides, Turkish cuisine has something for everyone. Broaden your vocabulary with more Turkish words and study the common phrases on this list to order Turkish food with confidence!

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Published on March 11, 2025 04:00

March 4, 2025

Must-Know Greek Phrases for Travelers and Learners

Chances are, you’re already familiar with these basic words and phrases. But you’ll hear them in almost any conversation, so let’s brush up on them before moving forward with longer phrases.

Table of contentsCommon Greek Greetings and Partings Basic Greek Phrases for Everyday Life Survival Greek Phrases for Traveling in Greece Greek Phrases to Talk About Yourself Slang Greek Phrases and Informal Words Famous Greek Phrases Learning Common Greek Phrases Will Help You Start Speaking English Greek Audio “Hello” (formal or plural) Γειά σας (Yassas) “Hello” (informal) Γειά σου (Ya sou) “Yes” Ναι (Ne) “No” Όχι (Ochi) “Please” Παρακαλώ (Parakalo) “Thank you” Ευχαριστώ (Efcharisto) “Sorry” Συγγνώμη (Signomi) “How are you?” (informal) Tι κάνεις? (Ti kanis) “How are you?” (formal) Τι κάνετε; (Ti kanete?) Common Greek Greetings and Partings

Next up in our list of common Greek phrases is a special category — greetings and partings. We already covered how to say hello in Greek above — γεια σου (yasou) for informal situations and γεια σας (yassas) for formal situations or when you’re speaking to multiple people.

Here are other phrases for different times of day and situations:

English Greek Audio “Good morning” Καλημέρα (Kalimera) “Good evening” Καλησπέρα (Kalispera) “Have a good afternoon” Καλό απόγευμα (Kalo apogevma) “Welcome” (singular) Καλώς ήρθες (kalos irthes) “Welcome” (plural) Καλώς ήρθατε (kalos irthate) “Goodbye” Αντίο (Adio) “Good night” Καληνύχτα (Kalinihta) “See you later” or “Speak soon” (informal) Τα λέμε (Ta leme) Basic Greek Phrases for Everyday Life

Now that you know the basics like “hello,” “thank you,” and “good morning,” let’s move on to longer, but still common phrases you’ll hear and use in your daily life:

English Greek Audio “How much is it?” Πόσο κάνει; (Poso kani?) “Where is the bathroom?” Πού είναι η τουαλέτα; (Pou ine i tualeta?) “Where are you?” Πού είσαι; (Pou ise?) “Do you speak English?” Μιλάτε αγγλικά; (Milate anglika?) “Could you repeat please?” Μπορείτε να επαναλάβετε παρακαλώ; (Borite na epanalavete parakalo?) “Can I have the bill, please?” Μπορώ να έχω τον λογαριασμό, παρακαλώ; (Boro na eho ton logariasmo, parakalo?) “I don’t understand” Δεν καταλαβαίνω (Den katalaveno) “There is…” Υπάρχει… (Iparhi…) “There are…” Υπάρχουν… (Iparhoun…) “Sounds good!” Καλό ακούγεται (Kalo akougete) “Cheers!” (used when drinking) Γεια μας! (Yamas!) “Enjoy your meal” Καλή όρεξη (Kali orexi) “Good luck” Καλή τύχη (Kali tihi) “Nice/Beautiful” Ωραία (Orea) Survival Greek Phrases for Traveling in Greece

Traveling to Greece? You’ll want to note down these travel phrases that can save the day:

English Greek Audio “Where is…?” Πού είναι…; (Pou ine…?) “How much does it cost?” Πόσο κοστίζει; (Poso kostizi?) “Can you help me?” Μπορείτε να με βοηθήσετε; (Borite na me voithisete?) “I have a reservation” Έχω μια κράτηση (Eho mia kratisi) “What’s the best beach here?” Ποια είναι η καλύτερη παραλία εδώ; (Pia ine i kaliteri paralia edo?) “Can I have a menu, please?” Μπορώ να έχω ένα μενού παρακαλώ; (Boro na eho ena menou, parakalo?) “I would like…” Θα ήθελα…. (Tha ithela…) “I would like a coffee, please” Θα ήθελα έναν καφέ παρακαλώ (Tha ithela enan kafe parakalo) “The bill, please” Τον λογαριασμό, παρακαλώ (Ton logariasmo, parakalo) “I need a doctor” Χρειάζομαι ένα γιατρό (Hriazomai ena yiatro) “Where is the nearest pharmacy?” Πού είναι το πλησιέστερο φαρμακείο; (Pou ine to plisiestero farmakio?) “Can I pay by card?” Μπορώ να πληρώσω με κάρτα; (Boro na pliroso me karta?) “Is there an ATM nearby?” Υπάρχει ΑΤΜ κοντά; (Iparhi ATM konta?) “Is there a good restaurant near here?” Υπάρχει κάποιο καλό εστιατόριο κοντά εδώ; (Iparhi kapio kalo estiatorio konda edo?) “Where is the bus stop?” Πού είναι η στάση του λεωφορείου; (Pou ine i stasi tou leoforiu?) “Where can I rent a car?” Πού μπορώ να νοικιάσω ένα αυτοκίνητο; (Pou boro na nikiaso ena aftokinito?) “Can you call me a taxi?” Μπορείτε να μου καλέσετε ένα ταξί; (Borite na mu kalesete ena taxi?)

Greek Phrases to Talk About Yourself

Here are the phrases you need to introduce yourself, talk about your life, and ask questions to others.

You’ll find some example answers for each question, but don’t forget to change the part in bold to to match your personal details:

English Greek Audio “What's your name?” Πώς σε λένε; (Pos se lene?) “My name is…” Με λένε… (Me lene) “Where are you from?” Από πού είσαι; (Apo pou ise?) “I’m from…” Είμαι από… (Ime apo…) “I’m from America.” Είμαι από την Αμερική (Ime apo tin Ameriki) “I’m from the United Kingdom.” Είμαι από το Ηνωμένο Βασίλειο (Ime apo to Inomeno Vasilio) “What do you do for work?” Τι δουλειά κάνεις; (Ti doulia kanis?) “I’m a student” Είμαι φοιτητής/φοιτήτρια (Ime fititis (masculine) /fititria (feminine)) “I’m a teacher” Είμαι δάσκαλος/δασκάλα (Ime daskalos (masculine) / daskala (feminine)) “How old are you?” Πόσο χρονών είσαι; (Poso hronon ise?) “How long have you been learning Greek?” Πόσο καιρό μαθαίνεις ελληνικά; (Poso kero mathenis ellinika?) “I’ve been learning Greek for two years” Μαθαίνω ελληνικά για 2 χρόνια (Matheno ellinika yia dio hronia)

Slang Greek Phrases and Informal Words

Well, μαλάκα (malaka) is a famous one! It’s often the first word Greek speakers teach their foreign friends, and you might also hear friends calling each other this way! You’ll definitely sound more local if you use it, but be aware that it’s a swear word!

Here are some others — keep in mind that they’re slang and informal, so you should only use them with friends:

English Greek Audio “What’s up?” Τι λέει; (Ti lei?) “What’s up?” Πού ‘σαι ρε; (Pou ‘se re?) “Come on!” Έλα ρε! (Ela re!) “Listen” or “You won’t believe this” Άκου να δεις (Akou na dis) “What’s the deal with that?” Τι φάση; (Ti fasi?) “I got it (I understand)” Το ‘χω (To ‘cho) “Damn it!” Γαμώτο (Gamoto) “Chill out” Άραξε (Arakse) “Anyways” Τέσπα (Tespa)

Famous Greek Phrases

Okay, as a learner, you’ll use the basic phrases way more than these Greek proverbs. But these famous Greek quotes can help you practice your comprehension skills with more complex sentences, while learning more about the culture.

Here 5 Greek proverbs and their meaning:

Είπε ο γάιδαρος τον πετεινό κεφάλα. (Ite o yedaros ton petino kefala).Literal translation: “The donkey called the rooster big-headed.”Meaning: “Look who’s talking!”Τα πολλά λόγια είναι φτώχεια (Ta polla logia ine ftohia).Literal translation: “Many words are poverty.”Meaning: “Silence is golden.”Κάλλιο αργά παρά ποτέ (Kallio arga para pote).Literal translation and meaning: “Better late than never.”Η γλώσσα κόκαλα δεν έχει και κόκαλα τσακίζει (I glossa kokala den ehi ke kokala tsakizi).Literal translation: “The tongue has no bones but it can break bones.”Meaning: “Words have the power to hurt people.”Ο χρόνος είναι ο καλύτερος γιατρός (O hronos ine o kaliteros yiatros).Literal translation: “Time is the best doctor.”Meaning: “Give yourself time to heal.”Learning Common Greek Phrases Will Help You Start Speaking

Most of the Greek phrases in this article are based on daily life situations. This means that you’re more likely to see them or use them. You can start conversations with common greetings, use the travel vocabulary when in Greece, or introduce yourself based on our templates.

Don’t skip practicing Greek pronunciation as there are some sounds that don’t exist in English. And as always, don’t be scared to make mistakes and continue learning new Greek words. Our Greek resources provide a comprehensive list of videos, tutoring sites, YouTube channels, and language apps!

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Published on March 04, 2025 04:00

February 25, 2025

7 Ways to Say Happy Birthday in Turkish

Want to surprise your Turkish friend or significant other on their birthday? Learning how to say “happy birthday” in Turkish would be a good way of doing so! You have several ways of saying it in Turkish.

Table of contentsHow to Say Happy Birthday in Turkish Doğum Günün Kutlu Olsun İyi Ki Doğdun Mutlu Yıllar Hayırlı Yaşlar Mutlu Yaşlar Nice Senelere Nice Yıllara Adding Emphasis to Your Birthday Wishes in Turkish The Turkish Happy Birthday Song: Lyrics and How to Sing Along Turkish Birthday Vocabulary You’re Ready to Wish Your Turkish Friends a Happy Birthday!FAQs How do you say happy birthday in Turkish?How do you wish someone a happy birthday in Turkish?How do you say best wishes in Turkish?What do Turkish people do on their birthday?

Let’s start with a quick recap — here are 7 phrases that mean happy birthday in Turkish:

Happy Birthday in Turkish Audio Doğum günün kutlu olsun İyi ki doğdun Mutlu yıllar Hayırlı yaşlar Mutlu yaşlar Nice senelere Nice yıllara How to Say Happy Birthday in Turkish

Let’s start with a note: in Turkish, both sene and yıl mean “year.” You can use them interchangeably, and will see both of them in the common birthday phrases below:

Doğum Günün Kutlu Olsun

One of the most common phrases, doğum günün kutlu olsun directly translates to “may your birthday be blessed.”

Doğum günün kutlu olsun is the full phrase for “Happy Birthday,” but sometimes people shorten it to just “Kutlu olsun.” While it’s not specific to birthdays, you may often hear people say it while wishing someone a happy birthday.

To make it even shorter, some social media users write DGKO, an acronym for Doğum günün kutlu olsun. Think of it as the Turkish equivalent of HBD.

İyi Ki Doğdun

A more friendly phrase, iyi ki doğdun literally means “it’s good that you were born.” If doğum günün kutlu olsun feels too long to remember, feel free to use this phrase — it checks out a lot of boxes: it’s short, relatively easy to remember, and has a deep meaning!

It’s worth noting that iyi ki doğdun is less formal than doğum günün kutlu olsun.

İyi ki doğdun is often followed by iyi ki varsin, meaning “I’m glad you exist.”

Mutlu Yıllar

Mutlu yıllar means “happy years” — you can use it to wish someone a happy birthday or a happy new year.

Hayırlı Yaşlar

Yaşlar means “ages,” so when you say hayırlı yaşlar to someone, you’re wishing them a “blessed new age.”

Mutlu Yaşlar

Similar to mutlu yıllar this phrase means “happy ages.” Unlike mutlu yıllar though, you wouldn’t use it on New Year’s Eve — only on birthdays.

Nice Senelere

Nice senelere means “to many more years.” When you use this phrase, it implies that you’re wishing the other person many more birthdays to come.

Nice Yıllara

As we said, you can use sene and yıl interchangeably to say “year” in Turkish. So nice senelere and nice yıllara have the same meaning.

Adding Emphasis to Your Birthday Wishes in Turkish

You can mix and match the phrases above to add extra emphasis to your wishes in Turkish.

For example:

İyi ki doğdun, iyi ki varsın. – “Happy birthday, I’m glad you were born”Nice mutlu yıllara. – “To many more happy years”Doğum günün kutlu olsun, nice yaşlara. – “Happy birthday, to many more birthdays like this”Sağlıklı ve mutlu bir yıl dilerim. – “I wish you a healthy and happy year”

If you’re writing a birthday card, you can sign your name with the phrase En İyi Dileklerimle, which means “best wishes.”

You can also add emphasis by saying umarım tüm dileklerin gerçek olur. It’s a bit long, but we promise it’s worth learning — it’s a lovely addition to a birthday message! It translates to “I hope all your wishes come true.”

Want to combine everything you learned? That’s certainly possible:

Doğum günün kutlu olsun! İyi ki varsın, umarım tüm dileklerin gerçek olur. – “Happy birthday! I hope all your wishes come true.”

The Turkish Happy Birthday Song: Lyrics and How to Sing Along

Now that you know how to say “happy birthday” in Turkish, the next thing to learn is how to sing it along! The Turkish birthday song has the same melody as the English one, only the lyrics change.

In Turkish, you’d sing along saying mutlu yıllar sana, as in the video below:

You might also hear some people saying iyi ki doğdun instead of mutlu yıllar — just ask your friends which one they use and follow along!

Turkish Birthday Vocabulary

Fun fact: pasta means cake in Turkish!

Let’s cover some other birthday vocabulary so you know what’s going on around you when you attend a Turkish birthday party!

English Turkish Audio “Birthday” Doğum günü “To be born” Doğmak “Cake” Pasta “Candle” Mum “Age” Yaş “Gift” Hediye “Invitation” Davet “Party” Parti “Celebration” Kutlama “Age” Yaş “To blow out the candles” Mumları üflemek “To cut the cake” Pasta kesmek “To open the gifts” Hediye açmak “To applaud” Alkışlamak You’re Ready to Wish Your Turkish Friends a Happy Birthday!

Remember, the most common phrase is Doğum günün kutlu olsun, but don’t be afraid to mix it up with other expressions. You can even use İyi ki doğdun, doğum günün kutlu olsun together, even though they essentially mean the same thing.

Continue learning other basic Turkish words and phrases with our Turkish resources to add on your conversation topics. Some nice ones would be travel vocabulary, affectionate phrases like “I love you,” and greetings!

FAQsHow do you say happy birthday in Turkish?

The most common way to say “happy birthday” in Turkish is *doğum günün kutlu olsun.” You can also say iyi ki doğdun, mutlu yıllar, or nice yıllara.

How do you wish someone a happy birthday in Turkish?

To wish someone a happy birthday in Turkish, you can say:

Doğum günün kutlu olsun (can be both formal and informal)İyi ki doğdun (more casual and heartfelt)Mutlu yıllar (can be both formal and informal)

You can also combine phrases, like İyi ki doğdun, mutlu yıllar!

How do you say best wishes in Turkish?

To express best wishes in Turkish, you can say:

İyi dileklerimle (“Best wishes”)En iyi dileklerimle (“Very best wishes”)Tebrikler (“Congratulations”)

For birthdays specifically, you can say Sağlıklı ve mutlu bir yıl dilerim (“I wish you a healthy and happy year/birthday”).

What do Turkish people do on their birthday?

Turkish birthday traditions are pretty similar to other cultures. They may involve gathering with family and friends for a meal or party, blowing out candles on a birthday cake, singing the Turkish version of the Happy Birthday song, and exchanging gifts.

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Published on February 25, 2025 04:00

February 18, 2025

Chinese Clothing: A Comprehensive Guide to Traditional and Modern Styles

When you think of Chinese clothing, different images probably come to mind. Perhaps you envision the elegant flow of a silk qipao, or the vibrant colors of a traditional hanfu. Or maybe you’re thinking about the latest modern trends!

Chinese clothing (中国服饰 / 中國服飾, Zhōngguó fúshì) has evolved dramatically over the centuries, reflecting the country’s cultural heritage and social changes. Over the years, clothing in Chinese culture has been used to convey social status, cultural values, and aesthetic ideals.

While I was a student of Mandarin Chinese, I absolutely loved discovering more about traditional Chinese clothing and how it could be fused with modern outfits!

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I didn’t get to try on any traditional clothing, but here’s me at a night market in Taiwan!

Now while I’m partial to traditional characters having spent more time in Taiwan, don’t worry – I’ll give you both the simplified and traditional characters for each word if they differ!

Table of contentsEvolution of Chinese Clothing Through Dynasties Han Dynasty (206 BCE-220 CE): Birth of Hanfu Tang Dynasty (618-907 CE): The Golden Age of Fashion Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 CE): Return to Tradition Qing Dynasty (1636-1912 CE): Manchu Influence and Birth of Qipao Traditional Clothing of Ethnic Minorities Dai Ethnic Minority (傣族, Dǎizú )Tibetan Ethnic Minority (藏族, Zàngzú )Uyghur Ethnic Minority (维吾尔族 / 維吾爾族, Wéiwú’ěrzú )Zhuang Ethnic Minority (壮族, Zhuàngzú )Modern Chinese Clothing Revival of Traditional Styles Use in Formal Occasions Influence on Haute Couture Modern Clothing Vocabulary in Mandarin Key Elements of Chinese Clothing Materials Colors and Their Significance Embroidery and Patterns Accessories Wear Your Chinese Skills with Pride!

Here’s just a sampling of some of the words we’ll go through today:

Simplified Characters Traditional Characters Pinyin English Audio 服饰服飾 fúshì Clothing and accessories 汉服漢服 hànfú Hanfu (traditional Han Chinese clothing) 长衫長衫 chángshān Cheongsam (for men) 旗袍旗袍 qípáo Qipao (for women) 唐装唐裝 tángzhuāng Mandarin jacket 筒裙筒裙 tǒngqún Sarong 藏袍藏袍 zàngpáo Chupa (Tibetan robe) 罩头罩頭 zhàotóu Headscarf T恤 T恤 T xù T-shirt 牛仔裤牛仔褲 niúzǎikù Jeans 红色紅色 hóngsè Red 黄色黃色 huángsè Yellow 丝绸絲綢 sīchóu Silk 羊毛羊毛 yángmáo Wool 帽子帽子 màozi Hat 簪子簪子 zānzi Hairpin 扇子扇子 shànzi Fan 玉玉 yù Jade Evolution of Chinese Clothing Through Dynasties

Traditional Chinese clothing has undergone significant transformations throughout its long history.

In ancient China, clothing was a crucial component of the social order. The colors, materials, and designs of one’s attire were strictly regulated according to social rank and profession. Even today, certain traditional garments are reserved for special occasions.

Let’s explore the key developments in four major dynasties:

Han Dynasty (206 BCE-220 CE): Birth of Hanfu

The Han Dynasty saw the birth of Hanfu (汉服 / 漢服, hànfú), which would become the foundation of traditional Chinese clothing. Hanfu consisted of a yi (衣, yī), a loose upper garment, and a chang (裳, cháng), a lower garment or skirt.

Characteristics of Hanfu included:

Wide sleeves and a loose, layered appearanceCross-collar design, with the right side wrapping over the leftUse of silk as the primary fabricDark colors, particularly black and red, were popular

Hanfu reflected the Confucian values of the time, emphasizing modesty and proper etiquette. The style was largely similar for both men and women, with differences mainly in colors and accessories.

Tang Dynasty (618-907 CE): The Golden Age of Fashion

The Tang Dynasty is often considered the golden era of Chinese fashion, marked by prosperity and cultural exchange along the Silk Road.

Key features of Tang Dynasty fashion included:

Vibrant colors and bold patternsIncorporation of foreign elements, such as Persian and Central Asian stylesWomen’s fashion became more revealing, with low necklines and bare shouldersMen’s robes became more diverse in styleMakeup and hairstyles grew increasingly elaborate

The cosmopolitan nature of the Tang capital, Chang’an (modern-day Xi’an), influenced fashion trends, making them more diverse and expressive than in previous eras.

Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 CE): Return to Tradition

The Ming Dynasty marked a return to more traditional Han Chinese styles, rejecting foreign influences.

Distinctive elements of Ming Dynasty clothing included:

Revival of Hanfu styles with some modificationsStrict dress codes based on social statusMen’s clothing featured square collars and specific rank badgesWomen’s clothing became more modest, with high necklines and long skirtsPopularity of light and pastel colors

The Ming Dynasty also saw the development of the Mandarin collar, which would later influence Western fashion.

Qing Dynasty (1636-1912 CE): Manchu Influence and Birth of Qipao

The Qing Dynasty, ruled by the Manchu ethnic group, brought significant changes to Chinese fashion.

Key developments in Qing Dynasty fashion included:

Introduction of the cheongsam (长衫 / 長衫, chángshān) for men and qipao (旗袍, qípáo) for womenAdoption of the Manchu hairstyle (queue) for menComplex system of dress codes indicating rank and statusUse of yellow as the imperial color, reserved for the emperor and his familyIntroduction of the Mandarin jacket or tangzhuang (唐装, tángzhuāng)

The qipao, originally a loose-fitting garment, would later evolve into the form-fitting cheongsam we know today, becoming an iconic symbol of Chinese fashion.

Throughout these dynasties, we see how Chinese clothing reflected not just changing aesthetics, but also shifts in social norms, political power, and cultural exchange. This rich history continues to inspire both traditional dress and modern Chinese fashion design.

Traditional Clothing of Ethnic Minorities

While the Han Chinese make up the majority of China’s population, the country is home to 55 officially recognized ethnic minority groups, each with its own unique traditional clothing – (and often different languages and dialects, too!).

These varied styles reflect the geography, climate, customs, and cultural heritage of each group.

Let’s check out some of the traditional clothing from four prominent ethnic minorities:

Dai Ethnic Minority (傣族, Dǎizú)

The Dai people, primarily living in Yunnan Province, have clothing that reflects their tropical climate and Southeast Asian influences.

Key features of Dai clothing:

Women: Tight-fitting shirts paired with long, narrow skirts or sarongs (筒裙, tǒngqún)Men: Collarless jackets with loose trousersBright, vibrant colors and intricate embroideryUse of cotton and silk fabricsSilver jewelry as common accessories

The Dai clothing style shares similarities with traditional dress in neighboring countries like Thailand and Laos, highlighting the cross-border cultural connections.

Tibetan Ethnic Minority (藏族, Zàngzú)

Tibetan clothing is designed to withstand the harsh, cold climate of the Tibetan Plateau.

Characteristics of Tibetan clothing:

Chupa (藏袍, zàngpáo): A long robe worn by both men and womenUse of wool, sheepskin, and fur for warmthLayered clothing that can be adjusted for temperature changesColorful aprons worn by married womenElaborate headdresses, often adorned with precious stones

Tibetan clothing both provides protection from the elements and also serves as an expression of social status and religious beliefs.

Uyghur Ethnic Minority (维吾尔族 / 維吾爾族, Wéiwú’ěrzú)

Uyghur clothing reflects the group’s Central Asian heritage and Islamic influences.

Notable elements of Uyghur clothing:

Women: Long dresses with vibrant patterns, often paired with vestsMen: Long robes (chapan) with belts, paired with embroidered caps (doppa)Use of atlas silk, a fabric with distinctive patternsHeadscarves (罩头 / 罩頭, zhàotóu) for women, often made of silkRich embroidery and use of bright colors, especially red, gold, and green

Uyghur clothing combines practicality for the desert climate with artistic expression through intricate designs and bold colors.

Zhuang Ethnic Minority (壮族, Zhuàngzú)

The Zhuang, China’s largest ethnic minority group, are known for their distinctive yet practical clothing.

Key features of Zhuang clothing:

Women: Collarless blouses paired with wide-legged trousers or pleated skirtsMen: Jackets with buttons down the front, paired with loose trousersUse of indigo-dyed fabrics, creating a predominantly blue and black color schemeDecorative elements like silver accessories and colorful embroidered ballsHandwoven and hand-dyed textiles, often featuring nature-inspired patterns

Zhuang clothing reflects the group’s agricultural lifestyle and their reverence for nature, with many designs inspired by flowers, birds, and other natural elements.

These unique styles continue to influence modern Chinese fashion and serve as a source of pride and cultural identity for their respective communities.

Modern Chinese Clothing

In recent years, Chinese clothing has experienced a fascinating evolution. It often blends traditional elements with contemporary styles. This fusion has led to a renewed interest in cultural heritage while embracing modern fashion trends.

Revival of Traditional Styles

There’s been a significant resurgence of interest in traditional Chinese clothing, particularly among the younger generation. This phenomenon, known as Hanfu Movement (汉服运动 / 漢服運動, hànfú yùndòng), has seen many young Chinese embracing traditional Han clothing styles in daily life.

For example, Hanfu clubs and social media groups have sprung up across China. Also, traditional clothing is worn not just for special occasions, but also for casual outings, as modern adaptations of hanfu make it more wearable for everyday life.

Use in Formal Occasions

Traditional Chinese clothing continues to play a significant role in formal and celebratory events.

The Qipao (旗袍, qípáo) remains a popular choice for women at formal dinners, weddings, and New Year celebrations.

Modified Tang suits (唐装, tángzhuāng) are often worn by men for similar occasions.

As we can see, traditional elements are incorporated into modern formal wear designs.

Influence on Haute Couture

Also, Chinese traditional clothing has made a significant impact on the world of high fashion.

For example, designers like Guo Pei (郭培) and Laurence Xu (劳伦斯·许) incorporate traditional Chinese elements into their haute couture creations.

International fashion houses such as Dior and Valentino have released collections inspired by Chinese designs.

You’ll also find that Chinese motifs, fabrics, and silhouettes are regularly featured on international runways.

Modern Clothing Vocabulary in Mandarin

By the way, to help you discuss modern Chinese fashion, here’s some essential vocabulary:

Essential Clothing Items: Simplified Characters Traditional Characters Pinyin English Audio T恤 T恤 T xù T-shirt 牛仔裤牛仔褲 niúzǎikù Jeans 洋裝洋裝 yángzhuāng Dress 夹克夹克 jiákè Jacket 毛衣毛衣 máoyī Sweater Colors and Patterns: Simplified Characters Traditional Characters Pinyin English Audio 红色紅色 hóngsè Red 蓝色藍色 lánsè Blue 黄色黃色 huángsè Yellow 白色白色 báisè White 黑色黑色 hēisè Black 绿色綠色 lǜsè Green 花纹花紋 huāwén Floral pattern 条纹的條紋的 tiáowén de Striped 波点波點 bōdiǎn Polka dot

Fun fact: 蓝 / 藍 (lán, “blue”) can be a surname, and it’s what I chose for my Chinese name!

Accessories and Footwear: Simplified Characters Traditional Characters Pinyin English Audio 手提包手提包 shǒutíbāo Handbag 围巾圍巾 wéijīn Scarf 运动鞋運動鞋 yùndòngxié Sneakers 高跟鞋高跟鞋 gāogēnxié High heels 珠宝珠寶 zhūbǎo Jewelry

As China continues to play an increasingly significant role in the global fashion industry, we can expect to see even more exciting developments in the fusion of traditional and modern Chinese clothing styles!

Curious to learn more Chinese words? Check out our article teaching you 121 of the most common words in Mandarin. And of course, our vocabulary lists could go on and on, so if you want to learn more about Chinese clothes, check out this article!

Key Elements of Chinese Clothing

Chinese clothing is distinguished by several key elements that have evolved over thousands of years. Here are some of the staples:

Materials

The choice of materials in Chinese clothing has always been crucial because it often indicated social status and the occasion.

Silk (丝绸 / 絲綢, sīchóu):

The most prestigious material in traditional Chinese clothingDiscovered in China around 3000 BCESoft, lightweight, and excellent for embroidery

Cotton (棉花 / 棉花, miánhua):

Became popular during the Song Dynasty (960-1279 CE)Comfortable and breathable, ideal for everyday wear

Linen (亚麻 / 亞麻, yàmá):

One of the earliest textile materials used in ChinaCool and suitable for summer clothing

Wool (羊毛 / 羊毛, yángmáo):

Primarily used in colder regions and by nomadic groupsOften felted for warmth and water resistanceColors and Their Significance

Colors in Chinese clothing are pretty symbolic and often convey specific meanings:

Red (红色 / 紅色, hóngsè):

Symbolizes good fortune, joy, and prosperityTraditional color for wedding dresses

Yellow (黄色 / 黃色, huángsè):

Imperial color, historically reserved for the emperorRepresents power, royalty, and earth

Blue (蓝色 / 藍色, lánsè):

Associated with immortality and advancementOften used in official’s robes

White (白色, báisè):

Symbolizes purity and innocenceTraditionally associated with mourning

Black (黑色, hēisè):

Represents formality and dignityOften used in scholarly robes

For even more information about Chinese colors and their significance, check out this article!

Embroidery and Patterns

Embroidery (刺绣 / 刺繡, cìxiù) is a crucial element in Chinese clothing. It often is used for telling stories or conveying wishes:

Dragon (龙 / 龍, lóng): Symbol of imperial powerPhoenix (凤凰 / 鳳凰, fènghuáng): Represents feminine grace and virtuePeony (牡丹, mǔdan): Symbolizes wealth and honorLotus (莲花 / 蓮花, liánhuā): Represents purity and enlightenment

(Fans of Avatar: The Last Airbender might recall the symbolism of the White Lotus with Uncle Iroh, for example!)

Also, patterns often incorporate these symbols along with geometric designs and nature motifs.

Accessories

Accessories play a vital role in completing traditional Chinese outfits:

Belts and Sashes (腰带 / 腰帶, yāodài):

Used to fasten robes and indicate social status

Headwear:

Men: Various types of hats (帽子, màozi) indicating rank or professionWomen: Elaborate hairpins (簪子, zānzi) and headdresses

Fans (扇子, shànzi):

Both functional and decorativeOften feature calligraphy or paintings

Jewelry:

Jade (玉, yù): Highly prized, symbolizing virtue and beautyGold and silver ornaments

These elements continue to influence Chinese fashion design, so they create a unique blend of heritage and contemporary style.

Wear Your Chinese Skills with Pride!

Of course, there’s so much more to Chinese clothing, but this seems enough for now! I’ll leave you with a proverb:

人靠衣装，佛靠金装 / 人靠衣裝，佛靠金裝 (rén kào yī zhuāng, fó kào jīn zhuāng) – “People rely on clothes for appearance, just as Buddha relies on gold for decoration.”

This Chinese proverb demonstrates importance of clothing in Chinese culture. Of course it’s a covering, and it also acts as an expression of identity, status, and beauty.

Until next time, 再见 / 再見 (zàijiàn, “bye”)!

Nubian history: discussion in Arabic about ethnic group in Egypt Minority Languages: The Bliss of Learning Languages Less Spoken Bilingual Baby: How to Teach Your Baby Two Languages Thai People: History, Culture, Food and More Bengali People: Culture, Dialects, and More

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Published on February 18, 2025 04:00

February 11, 2025

Greek Terms of Endearment: How to Express Your Love in Greek

Want to show your love in Greek? Combine Σ’ αγαπώ (s’agapo) (“I love you”) with a Greek endearment word like agapi mou (“my love”) or kardia mou (“my heart”), and you’re good to go! Whether you’re talking to your Greek partner, family, or friends, these terms will make you sound cute and more fluent at the same time.

As a Cypriot with many Greek-speaking friends, I hear most endearment terms on this list frequently!

Table of contentsCommon Greek Terms of Endearment Greek Endearment Terms for Romantic Partners Greek Terms of Endearment for Family Members Greek Terms of Endearment for Friends Tips for Using Greek Terms of Endearment Correctly FAQs What do I call my boyfriend in Greek?What is the Greek word for darling?Time to Surprise Your Loved Ones!Common Greek Terms of Endearment

Before we dive into specific terms you’d use for a partner, family member, or a friend, let’s look at the most common endearment terms and their pronunciations.

Quick note before we start: the word μου (mou) means “my” and is often added to terms of endearment to make them more personal. To form the ultimate heart-warming sentence, combine these endearment terms with a Σ’ αγαπώ (s’agapo) — it means I love you in Greek.

So Σ’ αγαπώ, αγάπη μου (s’agapo, agapi mou) means “I love you, my love.”

More on αγάπη μου and other words in the Greek terms of endearment list below:

English Greek Audio “My love” Αγάπη μου (Agapi mou) “My heart” Καρδιά μου (Kardia mou) “My soul” Ψυχή μου (Psychi mou) “My life” Ζωή μου (Zoi mou) “My baby” (used for adults too) Μωρό μου (Moro mou) “My sweet one” (masculine) Γλυκέ μου (Glyke mou) “My sweet one” (feminine) Γλυκιά μου (Glykia mou) “My handsome” Όμορφε μου (Omorfe mou) “My beautiful” Όμορφη μου (Omorfi mou) “My golden one” (masculine) Χρυσέ μου (Chryse mou) “My golden one” (feminine) Χρυσή μου (Chrysi mou) “My precious one” (masculine) Ακριβέ μου (Akrive mou) “My precious one” (feminine) Ακριβή μου (Akrivi mou) “My angel” Άγγελέ μου (Angele mou) “My beloved one”
(literal translation: my worship) Λατρεία μου (Latreia mou) “My treasure” Θησαυρέ μου (Thisavre mou) “My eyes” Μάτια μου (Matia mou) “My doll” Κούκλα μου (Koukla mou) “My light” Φως μου (Fos mou) “My star” Aστέρι μου (Asteri mou) “My flower” Λουλούδι μου (luludi mou) “My sun” Ήλιε μου (ilie mou)

Greek Endearment Terms for Romantic Partners

You can call your romantic partner Αγάπη μου (agapi mou), which means “my love.” This is one of the most common ways to call your partner in Greek, but if you’re looking for more specific words, here are some more alternatives:

For your boyfriend:

Αγόρι μου (Agori mou): “My boy”Λεβέντη μου (Levendi mou): “My handsome”Άντρα μου (Andra mou): “My man”

For your girlfriend:

Κορίτσι μου (Koritsi mou): “My girl”Όμορφη μου (Omorfi mou):* “My beautiful one”Γλυκιά μου (Gineka mou): “My woman”Greek Terms of Endearment for Family Members

Family is central to Greek culture. You’ll often hear people calling their family members with cute nicknames. For example, “mother” in Greek is μητέρα (mitera), but its cute version would be μανούλα (manoula). It’s kind of like “mommy” in English.

Add μου (mou) to the end and you have a cute nickname for each family member! Here are some examples:

For mothers: Μανούλα μου (manoula mou) — “My mommy”For fathers: Μπαμπάκας μου (babakas mou) — “My daddy”For grandmothers: Γιαγιάκα μου (yiayiaka mou) — “My granny”For grandfathers: Παππούλης μου (pappoulis mou) — “My grannddad”For children: Παιδί μου (Paidi mou) — “My child”For sisters: Αδελφούλα μου (adelfoula mou) — “My little sister”For brothers: Αδελφούλης μου (adelfoulis mou) — “My little brother”For grandsons: * Εγγονούλης μου (engonoulis mou)* — “My little grandson”For granddaughters: * Εγγονούλα μου (engonoula mou)* — “My little granddaughter”Greek Terms of Endearment for Friends

Greeks often use terms of endearment with friends. You might hear friends call each other γλυκέ/ γλυκή μου (glike/gliki mou) which means “my sweetheart,” or κούκλα μου (koukla mou) which means “my doll”.

If you’re looking to say “my friend” in Greek, here are some words:

Φίλε (File): “Friend” (for men)Φίλη (Fili): “Friend” (for women)Κολλητέ/Κολλητή (Kollite/Kolliti): “Bestie”How to Create Endearing Nicknames Based on a Greek Name

Greeks love using nicknames, especially shortened versions of names with the diminutive endings. When you add one of the suffixes –άκι, –ίτσα, –ούλης, –ούλα, -άκης (aki, itsa, oulis, oula, akis) at the end of a name, you create the dimunitive form. The one you use depends on the name, but female names are usually followed by άκι or ίτσα, and male names by άκης.

Γιώργος (Yiorgos) becomes Γιωργάκι (Yiorgaki)Μαρία (Maria) becomes Μαριάκι (Mariaki)Κώστας (Kostas) becomes Κωστάκι (Kostaki)Γιάννης (Yiannis) becomes Γιαννάκης (Yiannakis), meaning “little Yiannis”Ελένη (Eleni) becomes Ελενίτσα (Elenitsa), meaning “little Eleni”

Besides forenames, you can also use these suffixes for other endearment words:

Αγάπη (Agapi) “love” becomes Αγαπούλα μου (Agapoula mou) “my little love”Καρδιά (Kardia) “heart” becomes Καρδούλα μου (Kardoula mou) “my little heart”Μωρό (Moro) “baby” becomes Μωράκι μου (Moraki mou) “my little baby”

Note: the simplest way to make any name or term of endearment more affectionate is to add μου (mou) at the end. You can do this with both first names and diminutives. For example:

Κώστα μου (Kosta mou): “My Kosta”Μαρία μου (Maria mou): “My Maria”Γιαννάκι μου (Yiannaki mou): “My little Yiannis”Ελενίτσα μου (Elenitsa mou): “My little Eleni”Tips for Using Greek Terms of Endearment Correctly

First of all, quick grammar tip: most terms of endearment end with μου” (mou), which means “my.” Don’t forget that it always comes after the noun. So it’s always αγάπη μου (agapi mou), never μου αγάπη.

And some pronunciation tips for the tricky sounds:

ου is pronounced like “oo” in “moon”γ before ε or ι is pronounced like “y” in “yes”μπ is pronounced like “b” in “boy”

If you already remember these, great! If not, consider revising the Greek alphabet.

FAQsWhat are Greek endearing nicknames?

Some common Greek endearing nicknames include: καρδιά μου (kardia mou – “my heart”), ψυχή μου (psychi mou – “my soul”,) ζωή μου (zoi mou – “my life”), and μωρό μου (moro mou – “my baby”).

What do I call my boyfriend in Greek?

You can call your boyfriend in Greek using terms like αγάπη μου (agapi mou – “my love”), αγόρι μου (agori mou – “my boy”), and μωρό μου (moro mou – “my baby”).

What are the 8 Greek love names?

The Greek love names represent different types of love in ancient Greek philosophy: eros (romantic love), philia (friendly love), storge (familial love), agape (unconditional love), ludus (playful love), pragma (enduring love), philautia (self-love), and mania (obsessive love).

What is the Greek word for darling?

The Greek word for “darling” is typically αγάπη μου (agapi mou), which literally means “my love.”

Time to Surprise Your Loved Ones!

From the most common αγάπη μου (agapi mou) to the playful diminutives like Γιωργάκι (Yiorgaki), you’re now familiar with quite a few Greek endearment words. So now is the time to surprise your Greek loved ones!

To impress them even more, check out our other favorite Greek resources. You’ll find everything from free YouTube channels to language apps.

How to Say “I Love You” in Greek (+ 53 More Romantic Greek Phrases)90+ Italian Terms of Endearment for Every Loved One in Your Life 70 Terms of Endearment from Around the World (for Those You Love)Learn Greek Online: 39 Free Resources and Classes to Learn the Greek Language 40+ Cool Greek Words That Will Make You Want to Learn Greek

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Published on February 11, 2025 04:00

February 4, 2025

6 Ways to Say I Love You in Turkish + Other Romantic Phrases

The easiest way to sound romantic in Turkish? Learn how to say “I love you!” The most common phrase for “I love you” in Turkish is seni seviyorum. It’s perfect for showing love to your Turkish partner, impressing your crush, or simply broadening your vocabulary.

But as always, we’ll cover so much more than seni seviyorum. In this article, you’ll find out different ways of saying “I love you” in Turkish, as well as common endearment terms.

Table of contents6 Phrases for “I Love You” in Turkish Seni Seviyorum: “I Love You” in Turkish Ben de Seni Seviyorum: “I Love You, Too” in Turkish Seni Çok Seviyorum: “I Love You Very Much” in Turkish Senden Hoşlanıyorum: “I Like You” in Turkish Sana Aşığım: “I’m in Love with You” in Turkish Sana Bayılıyorum: “I Adore You” in Turkish How to Ask Someone on a Date in Turkish Other Romantic Phrases in Turkish Terms of Endearment in Turkish FAQs How do you say I love you in Turkish?What do Turkish people call their lover?What is I love you very much in Turkish?How do you express your love in Turkish?Express Your Love in Turkish!

Here’s a sneak peek before we start:

English Turkish Audio “I love you” Seni seviyorum “I love you too” Ben de seni seviyorum “I love you a lot” Seni çok seviyorum “I like you” Senden hoşlanıyorum “I’m in love with you” Sana aşığım “I adore you” Sana bayılıyorum 6 Phrases for “I Love You” in Turkish

Here are 6 phrases to say “I love you,” “I like you,” and “I adore you” in Turkish:

Seni Seviyorum: “I Love You” in Turkish

Let’s start with the most important phrase: “I love you” in Turkish is seni seviyorum. This is the most common and straightforward way to express your love in Turkish.

It suits all contexts, and you can use it for romantic partners, family members, and close friends.

Ben de Seni Seviyorum: “I Love You, Too” in Turkish

If someone says seni seviyorum to you and you want to say it back, use ben de seni seviyorum (“I love you, too”).

Ben de literally translates to “me too,” so it’s the perfect word to show the feeling is mutual.

Seni Çok Seviyorum: “I Love You Very Much” in Turkish

When seni seviyorum doesn’t feel enough, you can add a short word between them: çok, meaning “very much” or “a lot.”

Seni çok seviyorum, or “I love you very much” works very well when you want to add emphasis to your affectionate words.

Senden Hoşlanıyorum: “I Like You” in Turkish

If you’re not quite ready for “I love you,” you can say senden hoşlanıyorum. It means “I like you,” and you’d mostly use it to show interest in the early stages of dating.

Sana Aşığım: “I’m in Love with You” in Turkish

For a more passionate declaration of love, say sana aşığım. This phrase translates to “I’m in love with you” and is very intense.

You’d use it for your partner or romantic interest.

Sana Bayılıyorum: “I Adore You” in Turkish

Sana bayılıyorum means both “I adore you” and “I’m very fond of you.”

The “I’m very fond of you” part makes this phrase a bit less intense — you can use it with romantic partners, or friends and family that you love.

How to Ask Someone on a Date in Turkish

Not ready for “I love you” yet? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered for some dating vocabulary and phrases in Turkish:

English Turkish Audio “Would you like to go out to dinner with me?” Benimle yemeğe çıkmak ister misin? “Want to go to the movies together?” Birlikte sinemaya gidelim mi? “Would you like to grab a coffee together?” Birlikte bir kahve içmek ister misin? “Are you free tomorrow evening?” Yarın akşam boş musun? “Shall we meet up this evening?” Bu akşam buluşalım mı? “Want to go out for breakfast on Sunday?” Pazar günü kahvaltıya çıkalım mı? Other Romantic Phrases in Turkish

So the date went really well, and you already said seni seviyorum? You may want to get a little more creative!

Here are some romantic Turkish phrases you can say:

Seni çok özledim – “I miss you a lot”Sen benim her şeyimsin – “You are my everything”Hayatımın aşkısın – “You are the love of my life”Seni sonsuza kadar seveceğim – “I will love you forever”Benim için çok özelsin – “You are very special to me”Seni her geçen gün daha çok seviyorum – “I love you more with every single day”Sen benim ruh eşimsin – “You are my soulmate”Terms of Endearment in Turkish

Turkish people often use sweet nicknames for their loved ones. They often appear alongside “I love you.” For example, seni seviyorum aşkım, “I love you, my love,” is a common phrase partners might say to each other.

Here are some common terms of endearment in Turkish:

English Turkish Audio “My love” Aşkım “My dear” Canım “My life” Hayatım “My sweet” Tatlım “My beautiful” Güzelim “My one and only” Birtanem “My lover” Sevgilim “My honey” Balım “My angel” Meleğim “My baby” Bebeğim FAQsHow do you say I love you in Turkish?

The most common way to say “I love you” in Turkish is seni seviyorum.

What do Turkish people call their lover?

Turkish people often use terms of endearment like aşkım (“my love”), canım (“my dear”), or hayatım (“my life”) when calling their partners.

What is I love you very much in Turkish?

I love you very much in Turkish is “seni çok seviyorum.” The word çok means “very much,” and seni seviyorum means “I love you.”

How do you express your love in Turkish?

You can express love in Turkish through phrases like seni seviyorum (“I love you”), sana aşığım (“I’m in love with you”), or sana bayılıyorum (“I adore you”). You can also use endearment words like aşkım (“my love”) or canım (“my dear”).

Express Your Love in Turkish!

If you’re in a relationship with a Turkish speaker, saying “I love you” in their language will help you connect on a deeper level.

Check out our Turkish resources to build even more vocabulary and spread the love!

New mission: Speak Turkish in two months!How to Learn Turkish: An Introductory Guide for Beginners Is Turkish Hard to Learn? Why Turkish Is Easier Than You Think Black Friday Deals for Turkish Language Courses

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Published on February 04, 2025 04:00

January 28, 2025

Yes and No in Greek: Essential Greek Vocabulary

“Yes” and “no” in Greek are ναι (nai) and όχι (ochi). Learning them will help you accept and decline offers, agree or disagree with statements, and navigate daily life conversations better.

But instead of learning ναι and όχι and calling it a day, why not add to your vocabulary and study related expressions as well? In this article, we’ll cover how to say “of course”, “no way”, and “sure”, besides your usual ναι and όχι.

Table of contentsΝαι (Nai): “Yes” in Greek Using ναι in Greek Sentences Όχι (Ochi): “No” in Greek Using όχι in Greek Sentences Other Ways to Say “Yes” and “No” in Greek “Of Course” in Greek “No Way” in Greek Non-Verbal Ways of Saying “Yes” and “No” in Greek Responding to “Yes” and “No” in Greek “No Problem” in Greek “Yes, please” and “No, thank you” in Greek “Thank You” in Greek Responding to “Thanks” in Greek Agreeing in Greek Disagreeing in Greek FAQs How do you say yes in Greece?Does nai mean yes in Greek?How do you say no in Greece?What is the Greek word for no?How do you pronounce yes and no in Greek?Ναι and Όχι Are Some of the Most Common Greek Words!

Here’s a vocabulary list before we jump in:

English Greek Audio “Yes” Ναι (nai) “No” Όχι (ochi) “Indeed” Μάλιστα (malista) “Certainly” Βέβαια (vevaia) “Of course” Φυσικά (fisika) “Of course not” Και βέβαια όχι (ke veveia ochi) “Of course not” Φυσικά όχι! (fisika ochi) “Unfortunately not” Δυστυχώς, όχι (distihos ochi) Ναι (Nai): “Yes” in Greek

The Greek word for “yes” is ναι, pronounced like “neh”.

Using ναι in Greek Sentences

Ναι is used in both formal and informal situations. Here are some example sentences in Greek:

Μιλάτε αγγλικά; (Milate anglika?) – “Do you speak English?”Ναι, μιλάω. (Nai, milao.) – “Yes, I do.”Είναι αυτό το λεωφορείο για την Αθήνα; (Ine afto to leoforio gia tin Athina?) – “Is this bus for Athens?”Ναι, είναι. (Nai, ine.) – “Yes, it is.”Έχετε μενού στα αγγλικά; (Echete menu sta anglika?) – “Do you have a menu in English?”Ναι, βεβαίως. (Nai, veveos.) – “Yes, certainly.”Όχι (Ochi): “No” in Greek

“No” in Greek is όχι, pronounced “OH-hee,” with the word stress on the first syllable. The “h” sounds similar to the Scottish pronunciation of “loch.”

Using όχι in Greek Sentences

Όχι expresses negation in all contexts. For example:

Είστε από την Ελλάδα; (Iste apo tin Ellada?) – “Are you from Greece?”Όχι, δεν είμαι. (Ochi, den ime.) – “No, I’m not.”Θέλετε επιδόρπιο; (Thelete epidorpio?) – “Would you like dessert?”Όχι, ευχαριστώ. Είμαι χορτάτος. (Ochi, efcharisto. Ime chortatos.) – “No, thank you. I’m full.”Other Ways to Say “Yes” and “No” in Greek

Want to go beyond “yes” and “no?” Then it’s useful to learn how to say words like “of course” and “sure”.

“Of Course” in Greek

When you want to express strong agreement or emphasize your willingness to do something, these Greek phrases meaning “of course” will come in handy.

Most of them work in both formal and informal situations:

Μάλιστα (malista) – “Yes, indeed” or “certainly”Βέβαια (vevaia) or *βέβαιος (veveios) – “Certainly” or “of course”Φυσικά (fisika) – “Naturally” or “of course”Σίγουρα (sigoura) – “Sure”Οπωσδήποτε (oposdipote) – “Definitely”Σαφώς – “Definitely / clearly”Προφανώς – “Obviously”Αμέ (Ame) – “Yeah” (informal)“No Way” in Greek

When you want to express strong disagreement or disbelief, you’ll need these phrases to say “no way” or “of course not.”

Δεν παίζει (den pezi) – “No way” (slang — literal translation: “it doesn’t play”)Με την καμία (me tin kamia) – “No way” (slang)Και βέβαια όχι! (ke veveia ochi) – “Of course not!”Φυσικά όχι! (fisika ochi) – “Of course not!”Σίγουρα όχι! (sigura ochi) – “Of course not!”Δεν υπάρχει περίπτωση (den iparhi periptosi) – “There is no way”Με τίποτα (me tipota) – “By no means” (informal)Non-Verbal Ways of Saying “Yes” and “No” in Greek

In Greek, nodding the head up and down, as in many cultures, means “yes.”

But for “no,” there’s a specific gesture you should know about, which is called Τσου. Here’s a fun video to check it out:

@ariannapapalexopoulos The GREEK NO #TSOU 🇬🇷 #water #fyp #greekamerican #greekjokes #greekhumor #greece #greek #no #language #bodylanguage #greekcomedy #greektiktok #greektiktoker ♬ original sound – TwinGirlPeeks

Responding to “Yes” and “No” in Greek

So you asked something, the person said no, and you want to say “no problem” in Greek.

Or they said yes, and you want to reply “thank you.”

Here’s a handy vocabulary list:

“No Problem” in Greek

You might need to say “no problem” after someone thanks you or when they tell you something is not possible.

Κανένα πρόβλημα (kanena provlima) – “No problem” (informal)Δεν πειράζει (den pirazi) – “It doesn’t matter” (informal)Εντάξει (endaxi) – “Okay”Τίποτα! (tipota!) – “No problem!” (informal — literal translation: “nothing”)“Yes, please” and “No, thank you” in Greek

Use these phrases when accepting or politely declining an offer.

To sound nice and polite, add παρακαλώ (“please”) after your “yes,” and ευχαριστώ (“thank you”) after your “no.”

Ναι, παρακαλώ (nai, parakalo) – “Yes, please”Όχι, ευχαριστώ (ochi, efcharisto) – “No, thank you”“Thank You” in Greek

“Thank you” in Greek is ευχαριστώ (efcharisto). Learning it will help you sound polite, and thank people when they accept your offer.

Here are some other ways of saying “thank you” in Greek:

Ευχαριστώ πάρα πολύ (efcharisto para poli) – “Thank you very much”Σας ευχαριστώ (sas efcharisto) – “Thank you” (formal or plural)*Ευχαριστούμε (efcharistoume) – “(We) thank you” (used when thanking on behalf of a group of people)Responding to “Thanks” in Greek

Alternatively, if someone thanks you, you can use these expressions to say “you’re welcome.”

Παρακαλώ (parakalo) – “You’re welcome”Τίποτα (tipota) – “It’s nothing”Να ‘στε καλά (na ‘ste kala) – “Be well”Agreeing in Greek

These words will help you express agreement:

Σύμφωνοι (simfoni) – “Agreed”Εντάξει (endaxi) – “Okay”Βεβαίως (veveos) – “Certainly”Disagreeing in Greek

Sometimes you need to say no, but want to do it politely. These phrases will help you disagree without causing offense.

Δυστυχώς, όχι (distychos, ochi) “Unfortunately, no”Λυπάμαι, αλλά… (lipame, alla…) “I’m sorry, but…”Φοβάμαι πως όχι (fovame pos ochi) “I’m afraid not”FAQsHow do you say yes in Greece?

In Greece, you say ναι (nai) for “yes.”

Does nai mean yes in Greek?

This little word confuses many speakers as it sounds similar to the English word “no,” but ναι (nai) indeed means “yes” in Greek!

How do you say no in Greece?

In Greece, you say όχι” (ochi) for “no.”

What is the Greek word for no?

The Greek word for “no” is όχι” (ochi).

How do you pronounce yes and no in Greek?

“Yes” or ναι (nai) is pronounced as “neh.” The “-eh” is relatively short, and it sounds like the “e” in the English word “bed.”

“No” or όχι (ochi) is pronounced as “OH-hee.” The word stress is on “OH,” the first syllable. The χ is the letter “chi” in Greek, which sounds similar to the “ch” in the word “loch” with a Scottish pronunciation.

Ναι and Όχι Are Some of the Most Common Greek Words!

“Yes” and “no” are essential words in Greek, as in any other language. They won’t make you fluent straight away, but they’ll familiarize you with the basics, help accept and reject offers, or show agreement and disagreement.

Check out our recommendations for Greek resources to continue learning the basics!

Learn Greek Online: 39 Free Resources and Classes to Learn the Greek Language 40+ Cool Greek Words That Will Make You Want to Learn Greek 63 Must-Know Japanese Slang Words (to Sound like a Local)Black Friday Deals for Greek Language Courses 100+ Essential Greek Words for Beginners

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Published on January 28, 2025 04:00

January 21, 2025

200+ Turkish Words for Everyday Conversations

You don’t need to know every single Turkish word to communicate effectively. A good approach you can take is to learn the most common words. This way, you can talk about your daily-life, describe the world around you, and understand the main topics of a conversation. The basic Turkish words will then serve as building blocks, as you continue learning.

In this article, we categorized the most common Turkish words into nouns, adjectives, verbs, and more, to make it easier for you to remember them. Next to each word, you’ll find an audio recording, so you’ll learn how to pronounce the words as well. Let’s start!

Table of contentsTurkish Greetings Polite Words in Turkish The Most Common Turkish Nouns Food and Drinks in Turkish Family in Turkish Places in Turkish Time-related Vocabulary in Turkish Describing People in Turkish The Most Common Turkish Verbs Turkish Adjectives Turkish Colors Turkish Subject Pronouns Turkish Conjunctions and Connectors Turkish Question Words Bonus: Words You’ll Hear in Turkish Series All the Time Mix and Match These Words in Your SpeechTurkish Greetings

Greetings are usually your first words in any language, and Turkish is no exception. Here are different ways to say hello, goodbye, and how are you in Turkish:

English Turkish Audio “Hello” Merhaba “Hi” Selam “Good morning” Günaydın “Good evening” İyi akşamlar “Welcome” (informal) Hoş geldin “Welcome” (formal) Hoş geldiniz “See you later” Görüşürüz “How are you?” (informal) Nasılsın? “How are you?” (formal) Nasılsınız? “I’m fine” İyiyim Polite Words in Turkish

Use these phrases to sound kind and make a good impression. Besides your usual polite teşekkür ederim, which is thank you in Turkish, you’ll also find bonus phrases like “enjoy your meal” and “get well soon” below:

English Turkish Audio “Please” Lütfen “Thank you” Teşekkür ederim “Thanks” Teşekkürler “Thanks” (informal) Sağ ol “Sorry” Özür dilerim “Get well soon” Geçmiş olsun “Enjoy your meal” Afiyet olsun Literal translation: “Health to your hands”
(used when you want to compliment someone's cooking or handiwork) Elinize sağlık Literal translation: “May it be easy for you”
(a polite phrase used to acknowledge someone's work or effort) Kolay gelsin The Most Common Turkish Nouns

Word lists work best when you categorize words into groups.

Here are the most common Turkish nouns related to food, family, places, and more. You’ll most likely use these words daily, so learning these is a good way to get started with the language:

Food and Drinks in Turkish

Whether you’re shopping in the supermarket or reading a recipe, it’s likely that you’ll see these common food and drink words in Turkish:

English Turkish Audio “Food” Yemek “Drink” İçecek “Bread” Ekmek “Su” Water “Tea” Çay “Coffee” Kahve “Meat” Et “Fish” Balık “Chicken” Tavuk “Fruit” Meyve “Onion” Soğan “Pepper” Biber “Tomato” Domates “Cheese” Peynir “Milk” Süt “Egg” Yumurta “Pasta” Makarna

False friend alert: The word pasta in Turkish means “cake.” If you forget makarna (the Turkish word for “pasta”) and say pasta instead, you may end up with a cake!

Family in Turkish

Turkish distinguishes between paternal relatives (father’s side), maternal relatives (mother’s side), blood relatives, and relatives by marriage.

Don’t worry, the Turkish words for other family members aren’t as complicated!

English Turkish Audio “Mother” Anne “Father” Baba “Sibling” Kardeş “Older sister” Abla “Older brother” Abi “Spouse” Eş “Grandfather” Dede “Grandmother” Nene “Uncle” (paternal) Amca “Uncle” (maternal) Dayı “Uncle” (by marriage — husband of your relative or sibling) Enişte “Aunt” (maternal) Teyze “Aunt” (paternal) Hala “Aunt” (by marriage — husband of your relative or sibling Yenge Places in Turkish

Now let’s move on with the most common place names you’ll find in the city:

English Turkish Audio “House” Ev “School” Okul “Hospital” Hastane “Restaurant” Restoran “Hotel” Otel “Bank” Banka “Airport” Havaalanı “Train station” Tren istasyonu Time-related Vocabulary in Turkish

Words like “today,” “now,” or “tomorrow” help us talk about plans, activities, and events. Here are some important time-related Turkish words:

English Turkish Audio “Day” Gün “Week” Hafta “Month” Ay “Year” Yıl “Hour” Saat “Minute” Dakika “Second” Saniye “Morning” Sabah “Noon” Öğle “Evening” Akşam “Night” Gece “Today” Bugün “Yesterday” Dün “Tomorrow” Yarın “Now” Şimdi “Later” Sonra Describing People in Turkish

Let’s move on with words like “person,” “friend,” “woman,” or “man” that help us describe people:

English Turkish Audio “Person” İnsan “Friend” Arkadaş “Woman” Kadın “Man” Adam “Girl” Kız “Boy” Oğlan “Child” Çocuk “Baby” Bebek The Most Common Turkish Verbs

In the list below, we chose the most common Turkish verbs you’ll encounter and use in everyday conversations:

English Turkish Audio “To do/make” Yapmak “To come” Gelmek “To go” Gitmek “To know” Bilmek “To want” İstemek “To see” Görmek “To watch” Bakmak “To give” Vermek “To take” Almak “To say” Demek “To eat” Yemek “To drink” İçmek “To work/study” Çalışmak “To read” Okumak “To write” Yazmak “To speak” Konuşmak “To understand” Anlamak “To learn” Öğrenmek “To love” Sevmek “To find” Bulmak [image error]

Important: Turkish word order isn’t the same as English. In Turkish, the verb usually comes at the end of the sentence. It might feel strange at first, but you’ll get used to it!

For example, to say “I’m learning Turkish,” we’ll conjugate the verb öğrenmek and put it at the end of the sentence — so it’s Ben Türkçe öğreniyorum.

You may have also noticed that there aren’t any words for “to be” or “to have” in the list above. This isn’t a coincidence. These concepts are expressed as suffixes in Turkish. For example, “Ben öğretmenim” means “I am a teacher,” but there’s no separate word for “am.”

And instead of the verb “to have,” you would use the words var (“there is”) or yok (“there isn’t”) to express possession. For instance, Benim bir kedim var means “I have a cat.”

Turkish Adjectives

Want to add more color to your descriptions? Adjectives are your nouns’ best friends. Let’s explore some common Turkish adjectives and how to use them with nouns:

English Turkish Audio “Big” Büyük “Small” Küçük “Beautiful” Güzel “Ugly” Çirkin “Good” İyi “Bad” Kötü “New” Yeni “Old” (for objects) Eski “Young” Genç “Old” (for people) Yaşlı “Long/tall” Uzun “Short” Kısa “Hot” Sıcak “Cold” Soğuk “Easy” Kolay “Difficult” Zor “Fast” Hızlı “Slow” Yavaş “Expensive” Pahalı “Cheap” Ucuz

Turkish adjectives always come before the nouns. So now let’s combine some of the nouns we covered above with these adjectives:

Sıcak çay: “Hot tea”Soğuk su: “Cold water”Güzel ev: “Beautiful house”Yeni okul: “New school”Uzun gün: “Long day”İyi insan: “Good person”Pahalı restoran: “Expensive restaurant”Turkish Colors

Colors are some of the most common adjectives in any language. In Turkish, you’ll hear these colors all the time:

English Turkish Audio “Red” Kırmızı “Blue” Mavi “Yellow” Sarı “Green” Yeşil “White” Beyaz “Black” Siyah “Orange” Turuncu Turkish Subject Pronouns

Pronouns help you refer to people and things without repeating names. Here are the essential Turkish subject pronouns:

Ben: “I”Sen: “You” (singular, informal)O: “He/She/It”Biz: “We”Siz: “You” (plural or formal singular)Onlar: “They”Turkish Conjunctions and Connectors

Although they won’t mean much on their own, conjunctions are key to speaking any language fluently. With words like “and,” “but,” and “or,” you can connect different sentences together.

English Turkish Audio “And” Ve “But” Ama “Or” Veya “Because” Çünkü “If” Eğer Turkish Question Words

These question words will help you ask for clarification when you don’t understand what people say:

English Turkish Audio “What” Ne “Who” Kim “Why” Neden “How” Nasıl “Where” Nerede “Which” Hangi “When” Ne zaman Bonus: Words You’ll Hear in Turkish Series All the Time

If you’re a fan of Turkish dramas, these words will ring a bell. If not, why not watch some to practice your listening skills?

Here are some bonus words, mostly fillers and endearment words, that you’ll hear all the time:

English Turkish Audio “Yes” Evet “No” Hayır “Of course” Tabii ki “Sure” Olur “No way” Olmaz “Never” Asla “Oh my!” Aman! “Oh!” (surprise or disbelief) Yaa! “No way!” Yok artık! “Come on!” Hadi! “My dear” Canım “My love” Aşkım “God willing” İnşallah “I swear” Valla “Older brother”(also used as a respectful form of address people) Abi “Older sister” (also used as a respectful form of address people) Abla “Unfortunately” Maalesef Mix and Match These Words in Your Speech

We chose the words on this list on purpose — they’re words you’ll hear all the time. Whether you’re watching Turkish TV shows, listening to music, or chatting with native speakers, these words will pop up time and time again.

Once you hear them in context, you’ll be more likely to understand how to use them by yourself. Do check our content recommendations for learning Turkish to start practicing the common words today!

New mission: Speak Turkish in two months!101 Core Japanese Words — The Most Commonly Used Words in Japanese How to Learn Turkish: An Introductory Guide for Beginners Is Turkish Hard to Learn? Why Turkish Is Easier Than You Think Black Friday Deals for Turkish Language Courses

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Published on January 21, 2025 04:01

January 14, 2025

Turkish Numbers: How to Count from 1 to 1000+ in Turkish

Paying the bill in Turkey? Giving your phone number to your Turkish friend? Or asking what time it is to a local? You’ll need Turkish numbers for all these tasks.

Let’s start from the beginning: 1 to 10: bir, iki, üç, dört, beş, altı, yedi, sekiz, dokuz, on. These will be the most important numbers you’ll learn. Once you’re confident with them, study 10 to 20, and then the multiples of 10 until 100.

Table of contentsThe Basics: Turkish Numbers 1-10 Moving Forward: Turkish Numbers 11-19 Counting by Tens: Turkish Numbers 20-90 The Big Ones: 100, 1000, and Beyond in Turkish Turkish Numerals: How to Say “First,” “Second,” “Third” in Turkish Using Turkish Numbers in Real Life: 5 Contexts You’ll Use Turkish Numbers Telling Time Shopping and Prices Giving Your Phone Number Age and Birthdays Measurements and Quantities FAQs How do you count to 10 in Turkish?How are numbers written in Turkey?What are the numbers to 20 in Turkish?Fluent in Turkish Numbers!

Before we move on to detail each number, here’s how you pronounce the key Turkish numbers from 1 to 100:

Number How it’s written in Turkish Pronunciation in Turkish 1 Bir 2 İki 3 Üç 4 Dört 5 Beş 6 Altı 7 Yedi 8 Sekiz 9 Dokuz 10 On 11 On bir 12 On iki 13 On üç 14 On dört 15 On beş 16 On altı 17 On yedi 18 On sekiz 19 On dokuz 20 Yirmi 30 Otuz 40 Kırk 50 Elli 60 Altmış 70 Yetmiş 80 Seksen 90 Doksan 100 Yüz 1000 Bin [image error] The Basics: Turkish Numbers 1-10

Learning how to count from 1 to 10 in Turkish will be the most important part of your learning. These numbers are the building blocks for all the rest — for example, to say 23, yirmi üç, you’ll need to learn how to say 3 üç first.

The Turkish numbers from 1 to 10 are:

birikiüçdörtbeşaltıyedisekizdokuzonMoving Forward: Turkish Numbers 11-19

Once you’ve mastered 1-10, it’s time to tackle 11-19. In Turkish, these numbers follow a logical pattern — just combine on (“ten”) with the corresponding single digit. So “eleven” in Turkish would be on bir, a combination of on (“ten”) and bir (“one”).

on bir (“eleven,” literally “ten one”)on iki (“twelve,” “ten two.” This pattern continues for all the other numbers until 19)on üçon dörton beşon altıon yedion sekizon dokuzCounting by Tens: Turkish Numbers 20-90

Once you know individual numbers for 20, 30, 40, and so on, you can construct any number between 20 and 99 with ease. For example, 20 in Turkish is yirmi. Memorizing yirmi means you know 21 as well, as you simply add bir (“one”) to the end, to make up yirmi bir, “twenty one.”

The numbers you should know between 20 and 90 are:

yirmiotuzkırkellialtmışyetmişseksendoksan

Then, to form numbers between these multiples of ten, you combine the multiple of ten with the single digit. For example:

22 is yirmi iki
37 is otuz yedi
45 is kırk beş
51 is elli bir

The Big Ones: 100, 1000, and Beyond in Turkish

“One hundred” in Turkish is yüz. How do you say two hundred? This time, you add iki (“two”) before yüz. So here are the numbers 100 to 900:

yüziki yüzüç yüzdört yüzbeş yüzaltı yüzyedi yüzsekiz yüzdokuz yüz

Then you can form the numbers in between. Here are some examples:

iki yüz otuz beşüç yüz yirmidört yüz doksan dörtbeş yüz doksan üçaltı yüz on sekizdokuz yüz doksan dokuz

After 999, the most important number is “one thousand,” bin. 2000, 3000, 4000, and the rest all follow the same logic as the hundreds: you add the number before bin.

biniki binüç binTurkish Numerals: How to Say “First,” “Second,” “Third” in Turkish

You’ll hear ordinal numbers often in Turkish — they indicate order or sequence, similar to their English counterparts (first, second, third, etc.). To form ordinal numbers in Turkish, we generally add the suffix -ıncı, -inci, -uncu, -üncü to the number, with the exact form depending on vowel harmony rules. Don’t worry if this sounds complicated right now — it gets easier with time.

Here is how you say first to tenth in Turkish:

birinci (“first”)
ikinci (“second”)
üçüncü (“third”)
dördüncü (“fourth”)
beşinci (“fifth”)
altıncı (“sixth”)
yedinci (“seventh”)
sekizinci (“eighth”)
dokuzuncu (“ninth”)
onuncu (“tenth”)

Using Turkish Numbers in Real Life: 5 Contexts You’ll Use Turkish Numbers

Now it’s time to put knowledge into practice! Let’s take a look at some real-life situations where you’re likely to use numbers:

Telling Time

In formal Turkish, you’ll hear the time expressed using the 24-hour clock system:

3:15 – Üç on beş (literally “three fifteen”)14:30 – On dört otuz (“fourteen thirty”)22:45 – Yirmi iki kırk beş (“twenty-two forty-five”)

As for informal situations, you will often hear the words buçuk (“half”) and çeyrek (“quarter”) alongside the number. Here is how you would tell the time on a daily basis:

6:30 – Altı buçuk (“six and a half”)7:45 – Sekize çeyrek var (“quarter to eight”)10:45 – Onu çeyrek geçe (“quarter past ten”)Shopping and Prices

The Turkish currency is the lira (TL). Here’s how prices are typically expressed:

5 TL – Beş lira12.50 TL – On iki lira elli kuruş or on iki buçuk lira99.99 TL – Doksan dokuz lira doksan dokuz kuruş

Note: kuruş is the equivalent of cents.

Another useful phrase for this section — “how much does it cost” in Turkish is fiyat ne kadar?

Giving Your Phone Number

Turkish phone numbers typically have 10 digits. You’ll usually say them in groups:

0532 123 45 67 – Sıfır beş yüz otuz iki – yüz yirmi üç – kırk beş – altmış yedi “zero five hundred and thirty two, hundred and twenty three, forty five, sixty seven”Age and Birthdays

To tell your age in Turkish, use the number followed by “yaşındayım:”

Yirmi yedi yaşındayım: “I’m 27 years old.”Annem elli iki yaşında: “My mother is 52 years old.”Otuz yaşındasın: “You’re thirty years old.”Measurements and Quantities

Another place where you’ll hear the numbers is when you’re shopping by the kilo, gram, or meter. Here are some examples of numbers used with units of measurement:

İki kilo: “2 kilos”500 grams: “Beş yüz gram”1.5 meters: “Bir buçuk metre”FAQsHow do you count to 10 in Turkish?

Counting from 1 to 10 in Turkish is as follows:

Bir
İki
Üç
Dört
Beş
Altı
Yedi
Sekiz
Dokuz
On

How are numbers written in Turkey?

Numbers in Turkey are written using the Arabic numeral system, which is the same system used in most Western countries — 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.

When writing large numbers, Turkish uses a period (.) as the thousands separator and a comma (,) as the decimal separator. For instance, 1.000.000,50 (one million and fifty cents). This is the opposite of the system used in English-speaking countries.

What are the numbers to 20 in Turkish?

Here are the numbers from 1 to 20 in Turkish:

Bir
İki
Üç
Dört
Beş
Altı
Yedi
Sekiz
Dokuz
On
On bir
On iki
On üç
On dört
On beş
On altı
On yedi
On sekiz
On dokuz
Yirmi

Fluent in Turkish Numbers!

Start by learning the Turkish numbers from 1 to 10, and then make your way up to 1000. Having a strong foundation will help you master all these numbers. Make sure to support your learning with other Turkish resources, including podcasts, apps, dictionaries, and books.

The post Turkish Numbers: How to Count from 1 to 1000+ in Turkish appeared first on Fluent in 3 Months.

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Published on January 14, 2025 04:00

January 7, 2025

Italian Numbers: Counting from 1 to 100+ in Italian

What do you need to know when the waiter hands you the bill in Rome, or when you’re asking what time the last train leaves from Florence? Italian numbers, of course!

In this article, we cover the numbers from 0 to 1 billion, their pronunciations and spellings, and some tips on how to remember them. In short, all you need for your upcoming trip and more!

Table of contentsThe Basics: Italian Numbers 0-10 Italian Numbers 11-20 Italian Numbers 21-99 Italian Numbers 100 and Beyond Ordinal Numbers in Italian Practical Applications of Italian Numbers Telling the Time Dates, Years, and Ages Handling Money and Prices in Italy Emergency Telephone Numbers in Italy Uno, Due, Tre: You’re Ready!

function runSplitTest(){var randomNumber = Math.floor(Math.random() * 2) + 1console.log(randomNumber)var copy = "";if (randomNumber == 3){ copy = 'A note from the Fluent in 3 Months team before we get started: You can chat away in Italian for at least 15 minutes with the "Fluent in 3 Months" method. All it takes is 90 days. <a href="https://fluentin3months.com/challenge... this link to find out more.</a>'} else { copy = 'Before we get started, if you’re looking for an online Italian course, here’s the course I recommend: <a href="https://www.fluentin3months.com/olly-... Uncovered - Learn Italian Through the Power of Story</a>, a course with a fascinating new method by my friend Olly. You can try it for free for 7 days!'}console.log(copy)var copyToChange = document.querySelector("p.copyText").innerHTML = copy;}runSplitTest();The Basics: Italian Numbers 0-10

Let’s start with the numbers from 0 to 10 — arguably the most important ones. Why? Because they’ll come up all the time. For example, in English, you’ll need to know “two” to say “twenty-two.” It’s the same in Italian.

So it makes sense to learn 1-10 in Italian very well before moving forward with the rest:

Number Italian Audio 0 Zero 1 Uno 2 Due 3 Tre 4 Quattro 5 Cinque 6 Sei 7 Sette 8 Otto 9 Nove 10 Dieci Italian Numbers 11-20

Now that you’ve got the basics down, let’s tackle 11 to 20.

Number Italian Audio 11 Undici 12 Dodici 13 Tredici 14 Quattordici 15 Quindici 16 Sedici 17 Diciassette 18 Diciotto 19 Diciannove 20 Venti

Notice a pattern? Most of these numbers end or start with -dici (which comes from “dieci, meaning “ten”).

Pay attention to the spellings here, as the double consonants may sometimes be confusing. For instance, sedici (16) has one ‘d’ while diciassette (17) has two ‘s’s and ‘t’s.

If you need to brush up on your Italian pronunciation, this is a good moment to do so — Italian is a phonetic language, so you write it as you pronounce it, and vice versa. So in diciassette, you’ll actually hear the two ‘s’s and ‘t’s.

Italian Numbers 21-99

Once you hit 21, forming numbers becomes much easier. You simply combine the tens (venti, trenta, quaranta, etc.) with the single digits we learned earlier.

Let’s start by learning the tens:

Number Italian Audio 20 Venti 30 Trenta 40 Quaranta 50 Cinquanta 60 Sessanta 70 Settanta 80 Ottanta 90 Novanta

Now, let’s combine them with the units (1-9). Here’s how it works:

21 – Ventuno (venti + uno)22 – Ventidue (venti + due)23 – Ventitre (venti + tre)24 – Ventiquattro (venti + quattro)25 – Venticinque (venti + cinque)26 – Ventisei (venti + sei)27 – Ventisette (venti + sette)28 – Ventotto (venti + otto)29 – Ventinove (venti + nove)

Remember, in Italian, these numbers are written as one word, not separately like in English.

There are a few other quirks to watch out for:

Numbers ending in 1 or 8 drop the last vowel of the ten. So it’s ventuno, not ventiuno, and ventotto, not ventiotto.For 3, the ‘tre’ changes to ‘tré’ when it’s at the end of a number (ventitré, trentatré, etc.)

Here are some random numbers so you’ll understand better:

56 – cinquantasei99 – novantanove42 – quarantadue89 – ottantanove64 – sessantaquattro35 – trentacinque

Want someone to guide you as you learn the Italian numbers 0-100? Fluent in 3 Months’ Italian native speaker Alice has a great video:

Italian Numbers 100 and Beyond

Cento is “hundred,” mille is “thousand,” and millione is “million” in Italian.

This is roughly all you need to start forming larger numbers. You’ll need to pay attention to the endings for the thousands (2,000 is duemila, not duemille, for example.) But that’s it.

Here’s how it works:

Number Italian Audio 100 Cento 200 Duecento 300 Trecento 400 Quattrocento 500 Cinquecento 600 Seicento 700 Settecento 800 Ottocento 900 Novecento 1,000 Mille 2,000 Duemila 3,000 Tremila 4,000 Quattromila 5,000 Cinquemila 6,000 Seimila 7,000 Settemila 8,000 Ottomila 9,000 Novemila 1,000,000 Un milione 2,000,000 Due milioni 1,000,000,000 Un miliardo 2,000,000,000 Due miliardi

Ready for a challenge? Let’s form some numbers between 100 and 1,000,000 to practice.

372 – trecentosettantadue153 – centocinquantatré100,000 – centomila278 – duecentosettantotto401 – quattrocentouno1,845 – milleottocentoquarantacinque5,309 – cinquemilatrecentonove595 – cinquecentonovantacinque632 – seicentotrentadue747 – settecentoquarantasette

Our Italian native speaker Alice has you covered for bigger Italian numbers too:

Ordinal Numbers in Italian

Don’t let the word “ordinal” confuse you — these are simply numbers that indicate rank, like first, second, third, and so on. You might hear them in your daily life, such as when people say “first floor,” “third street,” etc.

Quick note: Unlike cardinal numbers, ordinal numbers change form based on gender. Use the -o ending for masculine nouns and -a for feminine nouns.

Rank Italian Audio 1st primo/prima 2nd secondo/seconda 3rd terzo/terza 4th quarto/quarta 5th quinto/quinta 6th sesto/sesta 7th settimo/settima 8th ottavo/ottava 9th nono/nona 10th decimo/decima

To form ordinal numbers after 10th, add -esimo (masculine) or -esima (feminine) to the cardinal number, with some spelling changes:

11th: undicesimo/undicesima20th: ventesimo/ventesima21st: ventunesimo/ventunesima

Want some examples of ordinal numbers with masculine and feminine nouns? Here are some you might hear in your daily life:

Il primo giorno (“the first day”)La prima volta (“the first time”)Elisabetta Seconda (“Elizabeth II”)Il terzo posto (“the third place”)Il quarto capitolo (“the fourth chapter”)L’ottavo mese (“the eighth month”)Practical Applications of Italian Numbers

Now that you’ve got the numbers down, let’s put them to use!

Telling the Time

You can use both the 12-hour and the 24-hour clock to tell time in Italian. When someone asks you che ora è or che ore sono (“what time is it”), reply with the number or form a full sentence using these templates:

1:00 – È l’una (“It’s 1 o’clock” — we used è as 1 is singular)8:00 – Sono le otto (“It’s 8 o’clock” — we used sono as 8 is plural)14:30 – Sono le quattordici e trenta (“It’s fourteen thirty”)5:30 – Sono le cinque e mezza (“It’s five and a half”)09:15 – Sono le nove e un quarto (“It’s quarter past nine”)09:15 – Sono le nove e quindici (“It’s nine fifteen”)15:45 – Sono le quattro e meno un quarto (“It’s quarter to four”)15:45 – Sono le quindici e quarantacinque “It’s fifteen forty five”)Dates, Years, and Ages

When talking about dates, use cardinal numbers for days (except for the first of the month, which is “primo”).

May 5th – il cinque maggioJuly 1st – il primo luglio

For years, simply say the number:

1990 – millenovecentonovanta

To ask someone’s age, you can use the phrase Quanti anni hai? (“How old are you?”) Their answer will start with Ho followed by their age and anni. (“I am … years old.”)

Handling Money and Prices in Italy

When asking about prices, use Quanto costa? (“How much does it cost?”). And listen carefully for the number — for your budget’s sake!

Emergency Telephone Numbers in Italy

Hopefully, you’ll never need these, but it’s always good to be prepared. It’s useful to know how to pronounce Italian emergency numbers in case you need them while traveling.

112 – General emergency number (like 911 in the US)113 – State police115 – Fire brigade118 – Medical emergenciesUno, Due, Tre: You’re Ready!

With a bit of practice, you’ll figure out how to count in Italian! Don’t forget to practice other daily-life topics in Italian such as shopping and making payments — they often go hand in hand with the numbers!

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Published on January 07, 2025 04:00

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