Modern Turkish Lessons

Welcome to the third lesson of Learn Modern Turkish! In this lesson, we will cover the days of the week in Turkish and their usage in everyday conversation. By the end of this lesson, you will be able to talk about schedules, appointments, and daily activities with ease.

The Days of the Week

Let’s start by learning the names of the days in Turkish:

1. Pazartesi – Monday
2. Salı – Tuesday
3. Çarşamba – Wednesday
4. Perşembe – Thursday
5. Cuma – Friday
6. Cumartesi – Saturday
7. Pazar – Sunday

Pronunciation Tips

• Pazartesi: Break it down as “pa-zar-te-si.”
• Çarşamba: Pronounced “char-sham-ba,” with the “ş” sound similar to “sh” in English.
• Perşembe: Pronounced “per-shem-be,” again with the soft “sh” sound.
• Cuma: Sounds like “ju-ma,” with a soft “j” sound similar to the French “jour.”

Origins of Some Names

• Pazartesi (Monday) comes from “pazar” (Sunday or market) and “ertesi” (next). It literally means “the day after market day.”
• Cumartesi (Saturday) combines “cuma” (Friday) with “ertesi” (next), meaning “the day after Friday.”

Using Days of the Week in Sentences

Here are some common examples of how to use the days of the week in conversations:

1. To talk about plans:

• A: Pazartesi günü ne yapıyorsun? (What are you doing on Monday?)
• B: İşe gideceğim (işe gidiyorum). (I will go to work.)

1. To discuss appointments:

• A: Doktor randevun ne zaman? (When is your doctor’s appointment?)
• B: Çarşamba (günü). (On Wednesday.)

1. To talk about past events:

• A: Geçen pazar ne yaptın? (What did you do last Sunday?)
• B: Arkadaşlarımla buluştum. (I met with my friends.)

Prepositions and Phrases to Use with Days

• Günü: This form means “on [day].” Example: Pazartesi günü (on Monday).
• Her: Means “every.” Example: Her cuma (every Friday).
• Geçen: Means “last.” Example: Geçen salı (last Tuesday).
• Önümüzdeki: Means “next.” Example: Önümüzdeki perşembe (next Thursday).

Cultural Note: The Importance of Friday (Cuma)

In Turkish culture, Cuma (Friday) holds special significance, especially for Muslims, as it is a day for congregational prayers. Many businesses may have shorter working hours on Friday afternoons to allow time for prayer.

Quick Practice: Match the Days

Let’s see if you can match the Turkish names to the English ones:

• Cumartesi
• Salı
• Perşembe
• Pazar

(Answers: Saturday, Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday)

Wrap-Up

Now you know the days of the week in Turkish and how to use them! Practice incorporating them into your daily conversations and planning. In the next lesson, we will dive into talking about time and how to ask and answer questions about the clock. Görüşmek üzere! (See you next time!)

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Welcome to the second lesson of Learn Modern Turkish! In this lesson, we will introduce you to numbers in Turkish, covering how to count from 1 to 10, and laying the foundation for larger numbers.

Counting from 1 to 10

Let’s start by learning the basic numbers from 1 to 10. These will be essential in daily conversations, whether you’re shopping, telling time, or giving directions.

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

Basic Pronunciation Tips

• Bir is pronounced like “beer” in English.
• İki is pronounced “ee-kee,” with emphasis on the first syllable.
• Dört has a distinct “ö” sound, similar to the “eu” in the French word “deux.”
• Make sure to roll the “r” slightly when pronouncing dört and beş.

Forming Numbers Beyond 10

Turkish uses a simple and logical system for constructing numbers. Once you learn the basics, combining them to form larger numbers becomes intuitive.

• 11 – On bir (literally “ten one”)
• 12 – On iki (“ten two”)
• 20 – Yirmi
• 30 – Otuz
• 40 – Kırk
• 50 – Elli
• 60 – Altmış
• 70 – Yetmiş
• 80 – Seksen
• 90 – Doksan
• 100 – Yüz

Practical Examples

Let’s apply these numbers in context:

1. At a store:

• A: Bu elma ne kadar? (How much is this apple?)
• B: Beş lira. (Five lira.)

1. Talking about age:

• A: Kaç yaşındasın? (How old are you?)
• B: Yirmi beş yaşındayım. (I am 25 years old.)

Quick Quiz: Practice Numbers

Try to say the following numbers in Turkish:

• 14 (On dört)
• 26 (Yirmi altı)
• 37 (Otuz yedi)
• 49 (Kırk dokuz)
• 82 (Seksen iki)

Cultural Note: The Number “40” in Turkish

The number kırk (40) holds cultural significance in Turkish. It often appears in expressions, such as:

• Kırk yıl hatırı var – “It has a memory for 40 years.” This expression highlights the lasting impact of even small gestures of kindness.

That’s it for today’s lesson! Practice these numbers daily to build confidence in using them naturally. In the next lesson, we’ll cover days of the week and telling time. Görüşmek üzere! (See you next time!)

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Welcome to the first lesson of Learn Modern Turkish! In this lesson, we will cover basic Turkish greetings, their meanings, and how to use them in daily conversation.

Common Greetings

The two most commonly used greetings in Turkish are “Selam” and “Merhaba.” Both of these words are used to say “hello” and are interchangeable in informal settings.

• Selam – A casual way to say “hi,” similar to “hello” in English.
• Merhaba – A slightly more formal greeting but still widely used in everyday conversations.

Both “Selam” and “Merhaba” originate from Arabic, as Turkish has absorbed words from many languages throughout its history. However, they are fully integrated into modern Turkish and commonly used today.

Time-Based Greetings

In Turkish, there are specific greetings based on the time of day. These expressions help structure conversations naturally and respectfully.

• Günaydın – “Good morning”
• Breakdown: “Gün” means “day” and “aydın” means “bright” or “light.” Together, it conveys the idea of wishing someone a bright and good day in the morning.
• Tünaydın – “Good afternoon”
• This is a less commonly used word, but it follows the same structure as “Günaydın.” “Tün” means “night” and “aydın” means “bright.” It is used in the afternoon but is not as widespread as other greetings.
• İyi günler – “Good day”
• “İyi” means “good,” and “günler” is the plural form of “day.” It is commonly used when greeting someone in the daytime or as a polite way to say goodbye.
• İyi akşamlar – “Good evening”
• “İyi” means “good,” and “akşam” means “evening.” This phrase is used after sunset, both as a greeting and a farewell.
• İyi geceler – “Good night”
• “İyi” means “good,” and “geceler” is the plural form of “night.” This phrase is typically used when parting ways late at night or before going to bed.

Using Greetings in Context

Here are some example conversations:

1. Morning Greeting

• A: Günaydın! Nasılsın? (Good morning! How are you?)
• B: Günaydın! İyiyim, teşekkür ederim. Ya sen? (Good morning! I’m fine, thank you. And you?)

1. Evening Greeting

• A: İyi akşamlar! (Good evening!)
• B: İyi akşamlar! Nasılsınız? (Good evening! How are you?)

These greetings form the foundation of Turkish daily communication. Practice using them, and soon they will become second nature.

That’s it for today’s lesson! Try using these greetings in your own conversations, and stay tuned for the next episode, where we will explore polite expressions and introductions. Hoşça kalın! (Stay well!)

Fifteen years ago, I launched the Learn Modern Turkish podcast on Apple iTunes. Over time, it gained a dedicated audience and became a successful resource for Turkish learners worldwide. Now, I am excited to bring you a much more complete and enhanced version of that journey—this time, in the form of a comprehensive blog and podcast.

Here, you will find concise lessons designed to make learning Turkish effective and engaging. Each lesson is structured to provide clear explanations, practical examples, and audio support to help you master the language. In addition to the podcast, I am introducing written materials to reinforce your learning experience.

The goal of this platform is simple: to promote the Turkish language and support learners in their journey toward fluency. Whether you are a beginner or looking to refine your skills, you will find valuable resources to guide you.

I also welcome your input! If you have suggestions for future lessons or topics you’d like to see covered, feel free to reach out using the contact form.

Enjoy your learning experience, and welcome to Learn Modern Turkish!

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