Pronunciation

The alphabet in Turkish is based on the Latin alphabet. However, the pronunciations of the letters are a little different from English, and there are also some perhaps unfamiliar letters included, too. So, let's start learning the Turkish alphabet!

A

Pronounced like the a in arm, but shorter.

For example:

• akvaryum - aquarium
• akşam - evening
• aile - family

B

Or be. Pronounced like the b in 'big.

For example:

• büyük - big
• baba - father
• bardak - cup

C

Or ce. Now things have started to go different, here! Be careful, in Turkish, c is pronounced sort of like the j in jelly.

For example:

• can - life
• camii - mosque
• cep - pocket

Ç

Or çe. This is pronounced like the ch in chocolate

For example:

• çene - chin
• çay - tea
• çocuk - child

D

Or de. This is pronounced like the d in 'delight.

For example:

• dergi - magazine
• dün - yesterday
• deniz - sea

E

Pronounced like the e in bread

For example:

• ev - house
• ekmek - bread
• elma - apple

F

Or fe. This is pronounced like the f in forget.

For example:

• fare - mouse
• fakir - poor
• fikir - idea

G

Or ge. This is pronounced like the g in go.

For example:

• gazete - Newspaper
• gece - night
• göz - eye

Ğ

In Turkish, this is referred to as yumuşak "g" (soft "g"), because technically that's what it is! It can never be used at the beginning of a word, but simply lengthens the previous vowel. Think of it as the Turkish equivalent of the gh in through.

For example:

• dağ - mountain
• ağaç - tree
• doğum - birth

H

Or ha. This is pronounced like the h in heaven.

For example:

• hafta - week
• hayır - no
• hata - mistake

I

This is another one to watch out for! It's not pronounced like an i! As a matter of fact, the lowercase version of this is a dotless i (ı). It has no exact English equivalent, but is pronounced like the er in farmer (but think of the way a British person would say it).

For example:

• ılık - warm

Try and learn those off by heart, particularly c, ç, ğ and ı!

İ

This is the opposite of an I, it's an İ! The lowercase version is a dotted i, just like in English. It's pronounced like the ee in see, but shorter.

For example:

• iyi - good
• inanç - belief
• iğne - needle

J

Or je. Pronounced like the s in pleasure, but a more accurate equivalent of it would be the j in the French word, jour.

For example:

• jeton - token
• jilet - razor blade
• jenerik - (film) credits

K

Or ka. Pronounced like the c in car. As you will see, Turkish has no Q, and therefore K is used instead of it.

For example:

• kurt - wolf
• kalem - pencil
• kahvaltı - breakfast

L

Or le. Pronounced like the l in little.

For example:

• lale - tulip
• lacivert - navy (colour)
• lanet - curse

M

Or me. Pronounced like the m in man.

For example:

• masa - table
• mutfak - kitchen
• mektup - letter

N

Or ne. Pronounced like the n in now.

For example:

• ne - what
• nane - mint
• namus - honour

O

Pronounced like the o in oh.

For example:

• o - he/she/it
• otobüs - bus
• oda - room

Ö

Pronounced like the eu in the French word seul, or the ö in the German word schön. There is no English equivalent, but the closest one I can think of is the i in bird.

For example:

• öğle - noon
• öğretmen - teacher
• ölçü - measurement

P

Or pe. Pronounced like the p in pet.

For example:

• parça - piece
• peynir - cheese
• para - money

R

Or re. I guess you're wondering, "Where's Q?". Well, in Turkish there is no letter Q.

Anyway, it's pronounced like the r in the Italian word, Roma. You have to pronounce it like the Italians do.

For example:

• rahat - peaceful
• rakam - digit
• rakı - Raki (yup, the alcoholic drink)

This time it might be a good idea to learn i, j, and ö off by heart.

S

Or se. Pronounced like the s in see.

For example:

• soğan - onion
• salam - salami (a Turkish delicacy)
• sel - flood

Ş

Or şe. Pronounced like the sh in shout.

For example:

• şey - thing
• şarap - wine
• şişe - bottle

T

Or te. Pronounce like the t in tea.

For example:

• tabak - plate
• tavsiye - recommendation
• televizyon - television

U

Pronounced like the ou in the French word boum.

For example:

• uçak - plane
• ucuz - cheap
• ufak - small

Ü

Pronounced just like the German ü, or the u in the French expression, "j'ai perdu".

For example:

• ürün - product
• üç - three

V

Pronounced like the v in vase.

For example:

• Vikikitap - Wikibooks (Ws are transliterated as Vs in Turkish, therefore Wiki would be transliterated as Viki, and the word kitap means book)
• vazo - vase

Y

Where's the w and x? Turkish also doesn't have these letters. Y is pronounced like the y in in you.

For example:

• yarın - tomorrow
• yarım - half
• yukarı - above

Z

The final letter of the Turkish alphabet. Pronounced like the z in zoo.

For example:

• zeytin - olive