Turkish Phrases for North Cyprus: A Practical Phrasebook
You do not strictly need Turkish in North Cyprus — English works across tourism, in hotels, car rental, restaurants and most shops in Famagusta, İskele and Long Beach, as of 2026. But a handful of phrases turns transactions into warmth, and Turkish has one big advantage for a learner: it is phonetic, so once you know the letters, you read words exactly as written. This page is the practical kit — greetings, ordering, numbers, the tricky letters — with a menu glossary that points at the dishes in the what to eat in North Cyprus guide.
How do you pronounce Turkish letters?
Turkish is read as written once you know six letters that English does not have. Learn these and the rest of the alphabet behaves:
| Letter | Sounds like | Example |
|---|---|---|
| ı (dotless i) | the ‘a’ in “about” | ıspanak (ISS-pa-nak) |
| ş | ”sh” | teşekkür (teh-shek-KOOR) |
| ç | ”ch” | çay (chai, tea) |
| ğ (soft g) | silent — lengthens the vowel before | dağ (daah, mountain) |
| ö | German ö / the vowel in “her” | döner (DUH-nehr) |
| ü | French u / “ew” rounded | üzGüm (grape) |
Two more that look familiar but differ: c is a soft “j” (cacık is “ja-juk”), and j is the soft French j as in “measure”. Stress in Turkish is light and usually falls toward the end of the word.
What are the essential Turkish phrases?
The everyday kit — greetings, courtesy and the survival lines. Capitals mark the stressed syllable:
| English | Turkish | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | Merhaba | mehr-hah-BAH |
| Good morning | Günaydın | goon-eye-DUN |
| Goodbye (the one leaving) | Hoşça kal | HOSH-cha kal |
| Goodbye (the one staying) | Güle güle | goo-LEH goo-LEH |
| Please | Lütfen | LOOT-fen |
| Thank you | Teşekkürler | teh-shek-koor-LEHR |
| You’re welcome | Rica ederim | ree-JAH eh-deh-REEM |
| Yes / No | Evet / Hayır | eh-VET / ha-YUR |
| Excuse me | Affedersiniz | af-feh-DEHR-see-neez |
| Sorry | Pardon / Özür dilerim | par-DON / uh-ZOOR dee-leh-REEM |
| Do you speak English? | İngilizce biliyor musunuz? | een-gee-LEEZ-jeh bee-lee-yor MOO-soo-nooz |
| I don’t understand | Anlamıyorum | an-la-MUH-yo-room |
| How much is it? | Ne kadar? | neh ka-DAR |
| Where is…? | … nerede? | neh-reh-DEH |
| The bill, please | Hesap, lütfen | heh-SAP LOOT-fen |
| Cheers | Şerefe | sheh-reh-FEH |
How do you count and order in a restaurant?
Numbers first, then the ordering lines. The numbers you actually use, one to ten plus the round ones:
| Number | Turkish | Number | Turkish |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | bir | 7 | yedi |
| 2 | iki | 8 | sekiz |
| 3 | üç | 9 | dokuz |
| 4 | dört | 10 | on |
| 5 | beş | 20 | yirmi |
| 6 | altı | 100 | yüz |
To order, the simplest pattern is “bir [thing], lütfen” — “one [thing], please”. A few ready lines:
- A table for two — İki kişilik bir masa (ee-KEE kee-shee-LEEK)
- A coffee, please — Bir kahve, lütfen
- Water — Su (soo) · still / sparkling — sade / maden suyu
- The bill, please — Hesap, lütfen
- It was delicious — Çok lezzetliydi (chok lez-zet-lee-DEE)
For Cypriot coffee specifically, you order it by sweetness: sade (no sugar), orta (medium), şekerli (sweet). The Cypriot coffee guide covers the ritual and where to drink it.
What do the words on a Cypriot menu mean?
A mini-glossary so a menu reads, not guesses — these are the dishes the what to eat guide explains in full:
| Menu word | What it is |
|---|---|
| Hellim | Halloumi — the island’s grilling cheese |
| Şeftali kebabı | Caul-fat-wrapped grilled meat rolls (no peach involved) |
| Molehiya | Jute-leaf stew with lamb or chicken |
| Kolokas | Taro root, slow-cooked |
| Pirohu | Boiled dough parcels with cheese and mint |
| Magarına bulli | Pasta with boiled chicken, dry hellim and mint |
| Çakıstes | Cracked, dressed green olives |
| Meze | The spread of small plates that opens a meal |
| Izgara | Grilled / from the grill |
| Tatlı | Dessert (e.g. samsı, syrup pastry) |
A market run is a good low-pressure place to try the words out — stall holders are patient, and the local markets guide covers the days and the cash etiquette. For the courtesies you will lean on most across a whole trip, the first-time visitors guide sets the wider scene.
Is the Cypriot dialect different — and does it matter?
Lightly, and not in a way that blocks a visitor — standard Turkish is understood everywhere. As colour rather than necessity, Cypriot Turkish (Kıbrıs Türkçesi) is a documented dialect with a few common features you may overhear:
- A softening of k toward g — kahve (coffee) said as gave.
- The casual greeting napan? for “how are you / what are you up to?”
- A scatter of British-era loanwords in everyday speech.
These are common examples drawn from dialect literature, offered as friendly recognition, not a lesson — you will be understood perfectly in standard Turkish or in English. The dialect is part of the local character, the same way the food and the markets are.
One practical place the phrases pay off is the road: a “teşekkürler” at a petrol station or a “nerede?” when you are looking for a turn. Kipra Rent A Car is a Famagusta-based local company with VAT and third-party insurance included in every displayed price and English spoken throughout the booking and the Ercan airport handover — so the phrasebook stays a pleasure rather than a requirement.
A few words ready, the car the rest: book a car · WhatsApp +90 546 996 1004 — English spoken.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do they speak English in North Cyprus?
In tourism, yes — hotels, car rental, restaurants and most shops in Famagusta, İskele and Long Beach operate comfortably in English, as of 2026. A few Turkish phrases are courtesy rather than necessity, and they are warmly received; out in villages and at market stalls, a little Turkish goes further.
How do you pronounce the Turkish letters ı, ş and ç?
ı (dotless i) is the 'a' in 'about'; ş is 'sh'; ç is 'ch'. Also: ğ (soft g) lengthens the vowel before it and is barely sounded; ö is the German ö / the vowel in 'her'; ü is the French u. Turkish is phonetic — once you know the letters, words read as written.
What is the one phrase to learn first?
Teşekkürler (teh-shek-koor-LEHR), thank you — or the shorter teşekkür ederim. It is the phrase you will use most and the one most warmly received. Merhaba (hello) is a close second.
Is the Cypriot dialect different from mainland Turkish?
Lightly, in everyday speech — a softening of k toward g (kahve 'coffee' becomes gave), and local greetings like napan? for 'how are you?'. Standard Turkish is understood everywhere, so the dialect is colour rather than a barrier for a visitor.