As you embark on your journey to learning Turkish and progress to the A2 level, expanding your vocabulary is critical. At this stage, you’re expected to understand and use phrases and expressions related to areas of most immediate relevance. This includes basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography, employment, and more. To help you along the way, we’ve compiled a list of essential Turkish words and phrases that will enhance your communication skills and deepen your understanding of the language.
Basic Phrases and Greetings
Communication starts with simple greetings and everyday phrases. Here are some key words and expressions that will help you engage in basic conversations:
1. **Merhaba** – Hello
2. **Günaydın** – Good morning
3. **İyi akşamlar** – Good evening
4. **İyi geceler** – Good night
5. **Hoşça kal** – Goodbye (when you are leaving)
6. **Güle güle** – Goodbye (when someone else is leaving)
7. **Nasılsın?** – How are you?
8. **Teşekkür ederim** – Thank you
9. **Bir şey değil** – You’re welcome
10. **Lütfen** – Please
11. **Evet** – Yes
12. **Hayır** – No
Numbers and Counting
Being able to count and understand numbers is crucial for everyday tasks such as shopping, telling time, and more. Here are the basic numbers in Turkish:
1. **Bir** – One
2. **İki** – Two
3. **Üç** – Three
4. **Dört** – Four
5. **Beş** – Five
6. **Altı** – Six
7. **Yedi** – Seven
8. **Sekiz** – Eight
9. **Dokuz** – Nine
10. **On** – Ten
For more advanced counting, here are some multiples of ten:
1. **Yirmi** – Twenty
2. **Otuz** – Thirty
3. **Kırk** – Forty
4. **Elli** – Fifty
5. **Altmış** – Sixty
6. **Yetmiş** – Seventy
7. **Seksen** – Eighty
8. **Doksan** – Ninety
9. **Yüz** – One hundred
Time and Days of the Week
Telling time and understanding days of the week are important skills in any language. Here’s how to talk about time and days in Turkish:
1. **Saat** – Hour/Clock
2. **Dakika** – Minute
3. **Saniye** – Second
4. **Bugün** – Today
5. **Yarın** – Tomorrow
6. **Dün** – Yesterday
7. **Pazartesi** – Monday
8. **Salı** – Tuesday
9. **Çarşamba** – Wednesday
10. **Perşembe** – Thursday
11. **Cuma** – Friday
12. **Cumartesi** – Saturday
13. **Pazar** – Sunday
Common Verbs
Verbs are the action words that bring sentences to life. Here are some common verbs you should know at the A2 level:
1. **Yapmak** – To do/make
2. **Gitmek** – To go
3. **Gelmek** – To come
4. **Almak** – To take/buy
5. **Vermek** – To give
6. **Söylemek** – To say/tell
7. **Konuşmak** – To speak
8. **Dinlemek** – To listen
9. **Çalışmak** – To work
10. **Sevmek** – To love/like
Family and Relationships
Talking about family and relationships is a common topic in everyday conversation. Here are some essential words:
1. **Aile** – Family
2. **Anne** – Mother
3. **Baba** – Father
4. **Kardeş** – Sibling
5. **Abla** – Older sister
6. **Abi** – Older brother
7. **Çocuk** – Child
8. **Eş** – Spouse
9. **Arkadaş** – Friend
10. **Komşu** – Neighbor
Food and Drink
Discussing food and drink is a delightful way to practice your Turkish, especially when you’re dining out or shopping for groceries. Here are some key terms:
1. **Yemek** – Food/To eat
2. **İçmek** – To drink
3. **Su** – Water
4. **Çay** – Tea
5. **Kahve** – Coffee
6. **Ekmek** – Bread
7. **Peynir** – Cheese
8. **Et** – Meat
9. **Sebze** – Vegetable
10. **Meyve** – Fruit
Shopping and Money
When you’re shopping in Turkey, knowing the appropriate words can make the experience much smoother. Here are some terms related to shopping and money:
1. **Fiyat** – Price
2. **Para** – Money
3. **Ne kadar?** – How much?
4. **Ucuz** – Cheap
5. **Pahalı** – Expensive
6. **Mağaza** – Store
7. **Alışveriş** – Shopping
8. **Satın almak** – To purchase
9. **Kasiyer** – Cashier
10. **Fatura** – Bill
Directions and Locations
Navigating your way through a city or finding specific locations will require some basic directional vocabulary. Here are some helpful words and phrases:
1. **Burada** – Here
2. **Orada** – There
3. **Yakın** – Near
4. **Uzak** – Far
5. **Sağ** – Right
6. **Sol** – Left
7. **Düz** – Straight
8. **Ön** – Front
9. **Arka** – Back
10. **Nerede?** – Where?
Example Sentences for Directions
1. **Burası neresi?** – Where is this place?
2. **Oraya nasıl giderim?** – How do I get there?
3. **Sağa dönün.** – Turn right.
4. **Dümdüz gidin.** – Go straight ahead.
Adjectives and Descriptions
Adjectives help you describe people, places, and things more vividly. Here are some common adjectives:
1. **Büyük** – Big
2. **Küçük** – Small
3. **Uzun** – Long/Tall
4. **Kısa** – Short
5. **Güzel** – Beautiful
6. **Çirkin** – Ugly
7. **Kolay** – Easy
8. **Zor** – Difficult
9. **Hızlı** – Fast
10. **Yavaş** – Slow
Common Nouns
Nouns are essential for building your vocabulary. Here are some everyday nouns that you will find useful:
1. **Kitap** – Book
2. **Ev** – House
3. **Araba** – Car
4. **Kalem** – Pen
5. **Bilgisayar** – Computer
6. **Telefon** – Phone
7. **Masa** – Table
8. **Sandalye** – Chair
9. **Pencere** – Window
10. **Kapı** – Door
Colors
Knowing the names of colors can help you in various situations, from describing objects to shopping for clothes:
1. **Kırmızı** – Red
2. **Mavi** – Blue
3. **Yeşil** – Green
4. **Sarı** – Yellow
5. **Beyaz** – White
6. **Siyah** – Black
7. **Gri** – Gray
8. **Kahverengi** – Brown
9. **Turuncu** – Orange
10. **Pembe** – Pink
Weather
Discussing the weather is a common way to start a conversation. Here are some words related to weather:
1. **Hava** – Weather
2. **Güneşli** – Sunny
3. **Yağmurlu** – Rainy
4. **Karlı** – Snowy
5. **Rüzgarlı** – Windy
6. **Sıcak** – Hot
7. **Soğuk** – Cold
8. **Bulutlu** – Cloudy
9. **Nemli** – Humid
10. **Fırtına** – Storm
Transportation
When traveling, knowing transportation-related vocabulary is incredibly useful. Here are some important words:
1. **Otobüs** – Bus
2. **Tren** – Train
3. **Uçak** – Airplane
4. **Gemi** – Ship
5. **Taksi** – Taxi
6. **Bilet** – Ticket
7. **Durak** – Stop
8. **İstasyon** – Station
9. **Ulaşım** – Transportation
10. **Havalimanı** – Airport
Health and Emergencies
In case of emergencies, knowing the right words can be crucial. Here are some terms related to health and emergencies:
1. **Doktor** – Doctor
2. **Hastane** – Hospital
3. **Eczane** – Pharmacy
4. **Acil** – Emergency
5. **İlaç** – Medicine
6. **Hasta** – Patient/Sick
7. **Ateş** – Fever
8. **Ağrı** – Pain
9. **Yaralanma** – Injury
10. **Ambulans** – Ambulance
Expressions and Idioms
Understanding some common expressions and idioms can make your Turkish sound more natural. Here are a few:
1. **Kolay gelsin** – May it come easy (used to wish someone ease in their work)
2. **Geçmiş olsun** – Get well soon
3. **Başınız sağ olsun** – My condolences
4. **Elinize sağlık** – Health to your hands (used to compliment someone who has prepared food or done some work)
5. **Gözünüz aydın** – May your eyes be bright (used to congratulate someone)
Common Questions
Knowing how to ask questions can greatly enhance your conversational skills. Here are some common question phrases:
1. **Kim?** – Who?
2. **Ne?** – What?
3. **Nerede?** – Where?
4. **Ne zaman?** – When?
5. **Neden?** – Why?
6. **Nasıl?** – How?
7. **Kaç?** – How many/How much?
Example Questions
1. **Bu nedir?** – What is this?
2. **Kim geliyor?** – Who is coming?
3. **Nerede yaşıyorsun?** – Where do you live?
4. **Ne zaman gideceksin?** – When will you go?
5. **Neden ağlıyorsun?** – Why are you crying?
6. **Nasıl hissediyorsun?** – How do you feel?
7. **Kaç yaşındasın?** – How old are you?
Practice Makes Perfect
The key to mastering any language is consistent practice. Try to incorporate these new words into your daily conversations, write them in sentences, and use them in context. Engage with native speakers, watch Turkish TV shows and movies, and listen to Turkish music to reinforce your learning.
Remember, expanding your vocabulary is a gradual process. Be patient with yourself and enjoy the journey of learning Turkish. With these essential A2 level words and phrases, you’ll be well on your way to becoming more proficient in the language. Happy learning!
