Planning a trip to Demre? Whether you’re browsing the market stalls, ordering fresh gözleme, or asking for directions to the ancient tombs of Myra, a few Turkish words can go a long way. This quick and easy phrase guide is here to help you connect, explore, and enjoy every warm “Merhaba!” that comes your way.
👋 Greetings & Essentials
Turkish
English
Pronunciation
Merhaba
Hello
mehr-hah-bah
Günaydın
Good morning
gew-nahy-duhn
İyi akşamlar
Good evening
ee ak-sham-lar
Hoşça kal
Goodbye (when they’re staying)
hosh-cha kahl
Güle güle
Goodbye (when they’re leaving)
goo-leh goo-leh
Lütfen
Please
loot-fen
Teşekkür ederim
Thank you
teh-shehk-kur eh-deh-reem
Bir şey değil
You’re welcome
beer shey deh-eel
Evet / Hayır
Yes / No
eh-vet / hah-yuhr
Affedersiniz
Excuse me / Sorry
ahf-feh-der-sin-iz
📍 Getting Around
Turkish
English
Pronunciation
Nerede?
Where is…?
neh-reh-deh
Tuvalet nerede?
Where is the bathroom?
too-vah-let neh-reh-deh
Burası neresi?
What is this place?
boo-rah-suh neh-reh-see
Lütfen haritaya bakar mısınız?
Can you look at the map, please?
loot-fen hah-ree-tah-yah bah-kar muh-suh-nuhz
Yardım eder misiniz?
Can you help me?
yar-dum eh-der mee-suh-nuhz
🧾 Eating Out
Turkish
English
Pronunciation
Menü var mı?
Do you have a menu?
meh-noo var muh?
Bu nedir?
What is this?
boo neh-deer?
Tavsiye eder misiniz?
Do you recommend something?
tahv-see-yeh eh-der mee-suh-nuhz?
Su
Water
soo
Kahve
Coffee
kah-veh
Çay
Tea
chai
Bira / Şarap
Beer / Wine
bee-rah / shah-rahp
Et / Tavuk / Balık
Meat / Chicken / Fish
et / tah-vook / bah-luhk
Tatlı
Dessert
taht-luh
Hesap lütfen
The bill, please
heh-sahp loot-fen
🛍️ Shopping & Markets
Turkish
English
Pronunciation
Ne kadar?
How much is it?
neh kah-dahr?
Pahalı
Expensive
pah-hah-luh
Ucuz
Cheap
oo-jooz
Pazarlık olur mu?
Can we bargain?
pah-zar-luhk oh-loor moo?
Çok güzel!
Very nice!
chok goo-zel
💡 Useful Extras
Turkish
English
Pronunciation
Anlamadım
I don’t understand
ahn-lah-mah-duhm
İngilizce biliyor musunuz?
Do you speak English?
een-gee-leez-jeh bee-lee-yor moo-suh-nooz?
Biraz Türkçe biliyorum
I speak a little Turkish
bee-raz turk-cheh bee-lee-yo-room
Harika!
Awesome!
hah-ree-kah
Çok teşekkürler
Thanks a lot
chok teh-shehk-kur-ler
💬 Fun Local Words You Might Hear in Demre
Turkish
Meaning
Pronunciation
Hadi
Come on / Let’s go
hah-dee
Canım
My dear / Sweetheart (friendly)
jah-nuhm
Abi / Abla
Older brother / sister (respectful way to address someone)
ah-bee / ah-blah
Mis gibi
Smells amazing!
mees gee-bee
Deniz
Sea (also… my name!)
deh-neez 😄
Final Tip:
Turkish people are incredibly warm and welcoming — even a few words in Turkish will open doors and hearts. Don’t worry about perfect grammar or pronunciation. Just smile, say “Merhaba!”, and enjoy the magic of Demre.
