Directions

1. Ayasofya nerede?

   A-ya-sof-ya ne-re-de?

   Where is Hagia Sophia?

   Usage

   Used to ask the location of a landmark or place

   Grammar Note

   "Nere" (where) + locative "-de" = "nerede" (where is it). Can be used alone as a complete question.

2. Sola dönün

   So-la dö-nün

   Turn left

   Usage

   Used when giving or following directions to turn left

   Grammar Note

   Pair with "sağa dönün" (turn right) and "düz gidin" (go straight) for a complete direction toolkit.

3. Düz gidin

   Düz gi-din

   Go straight

   Usage

   Used to direct someone to go straight ahead

   Grammar Note

   Imperative of "gitmek": "git" (singular/informal) vs "gidin" (polite). Use "gidin" with strangers.

4. Buradan ne kadar uzakta?

   Bu-ra-dan ne ka-dar u-zak-ta?

   How far is it from here?

   Usage

   Used to check the distance to a destination

   Grammar Note

   "Uzak" (far) + locative "-ta". Typical replies include "Yürüme mesafesinde" (within walking distance).

5. Bana haritada gösterebilir misiniz?

   Ba-na ha-ri-ta-da gös-te-re-bi-lir mi-si-niz?

   Could you show me on the map?

   Usage

   Used when verbal directions are unclear and a map reference is needed

   Grammar Note

   "-ebilir misiniz" is one of the most polite request forms. Works well when showing a map on your phone.

6. En yakın metro istasyonu nerede?

   En ya-kın met-ro is-tas-yo-nu ne-re-de?

   Where is the nearest metro station?

   Usage

   Useful for finding public transport, especially in Istanbul

   Grammar Note

   Superlatives in Turkish use "en" before the adjective: "en yakın" (nearest), "en ucuz" (cheapest).

7. Yanlış yola girdim sanırım

   Yan-lış yo-la gir-dim sa-nı-rım

   I think I went the wrong way

   Usage

   Used to let someone know you have lost your way

   Grammar Note

   "Sanırım" (I think) is the first-person present of "sanmak". Adds a tone of uncertainty to the statement.

8. Kapalıçarşı'ya nasıl gidebilirim?

   Ka-pa-lı-çar-şı'ya na-sıl gi-de-bi-li-rim?

   How can I get to the Grand Bazaar?

   Usage

   Asking for directions to Istanbul's Grand Bazaar

   Grammar Note

   First person potential of "gitmek". Proper nouns take an apostrophe before case suffixes: "Kapalıçarşı'ya".

9. Trafik işaretleri var mı?

   Tra-fik i-şa-ret-le-ri var mı?

   Are there any road signs?

   Usage

   Used to ask if there are signs to help navigate

   Grammar Note

   "Var mı?" = "Is there?" Simply add question particle "mı" to "var" (there is).

10. Köprü nerede?

    Köp-rü ne-re-de?

    Where is the bridge?

    Usage

    Useful in Istanbul where bridges are key landmarks

    Grammar Note

    In Istanbul, "Boğaz Köprüsü" (Bosphorus Bridge) and "Galata Köprüsü" (Galata Bridge) are famous landmarks.

11. Sağ

    Right

    Usage

    Point to this to indicate "right" to a driver or guide; "turn right" is "Sağa dönün". The bare word can also mean "alive/well", but in a direction context it means right

12. Sol

    Left

    Usage

    Point to this to indicate "left"; "turn left" is "Sola dönün"

13. Düz

    Straight ahead

    Usage

    Indicates "keep going straight"; as a sentence, "Düz gidin"

14. Geri dönün

    Go back / Turn around

    Usage

    Show this to a driver who has gone past your stop

15. Burada durun

    Stop here / Pull over here

    Usage

    Tells a taxi or dolmuş driver where you want to get out

16. Otel

    Hotel

    Usage

    Point to this to give a hotel as your destination; best shown together with the hotel's name

17. Havalimanı

    Airport

    Usage

    Point to this to give the airport as your destination; "havaalanı" means the same and is equally common

18. Otobüs durağı

    Bus stop

    Usage

    Point to this to ask for or name a bus stop; the intercity coach terminal is "otogar"

19. Metro

    Subway (metro)

    Usage

    The underground metro; Istanbul's tram is "tramvay" and the cross-Bosphorus line is "Marmaray"

20. Büyükelçilik

    Embassy

    Usage

    For asking where an embassy is; the Japanese embassy is "Japonya Büyükelçiliği" (Ankara), while a consulate general is "Başkonsolosluk"

21. ATM

    Usage

    Point to this when looking for a cash machine; also called "bankamatik"

22. Döviz bürosu

    Currency exchange office

    Usage

    A street money-changer; their signs often read just "DÖVİZ"

23. Çamaşırhane

    Laundromat

    Usage

    Covers laundry shops generally; most in Turkey are drop-off, so a coin laundry is "self servis çamaşırhane"

24. Kuzey

    North

    Usage

    Use when checking a map or a compass direction

25. Güney

    South

    Usage

    Use when checking a map or a compass direction

26. Doğu

    East

    Usage

    Use when checking a map or a compass direction

27. Batı

    West

    Usage

    Use when checking a map or a compass direction

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