Café & Drinks

1. Bir çay lütfen

   Bir çay lüt-fen

   One tea, please

   Usage

   Ordering Turkish black tea at a çayhane or restaurant

   Grammar Note

   Turkish çay is served in small tulip-shaped glasses with sugar on the side. "Demli" = strong, "Açık" = light.

2. Türk kahvesi istiyorum

   Türk kah-ve-si is-ti-yo-rum

   I would like a Turkish coffee

   Usage

   Ordering traditional Turkish coffee at a café or after a meal

   Grammar Note

   Specify sweetness: "sade" (no sugar), "az şekerli" (slightly sweet), "orta" (medium), "çok şekerli" (very sweet).

3. Ayran var mı?

   Ay-ran var mı?

   Do you have ayran?

   Usage

   Asking for the popular Turkish yogurt drink, often paired with meals

   Grammar Note

   Ayran is the classic pairing with kebab and Turkish meals. Also available canned throughout Turkey.

4. Bir şişe su lütfen

   Bir şi-şe su lüt-fen

   A bottle of water, please

   Usage

   Basic phrase for ordering bottled water

   Grammar Note

   Specify size: "büyük şişe" (large bottle) or "küçük şişe" (small). Tap water is "musluk suyu".

5. Portakal suyu var mı?

   Por-ta-kal su-yu var mı?

   Do you have orange juice?

   Usage

   Asking for juice, especially useful at breakfast

   Grammar Note

   "X suyu" = "X juice". Popular options: "elma suyu" (apple juice), "vişne suyu" (sour cherry juice).

6. Alkollü içecek var mı?

   Al-kol-lü i-çe-cek var mı?

   Do you serve alcohol?

   Usage

   Checking if a venue serves alcohol (some places do not due to religious observance)

   Grammar Note

   Turkey is secular; many restaurants serve alcohol. However, during Ramadan or in conservative areas, availability may vary.

7. Rakı içebilir miyim?

   Ra-kı i-çe-bi-lir mi-yim?

   Can I have rakı?

   Usage

   Ordering rakı, Turkey's national anise-flavored spirit

   Grammar Note

   Rakı turns milky white when mixed with water — hence its nickname "aslan sütü" (lion's milk). Pair with fish or meze.

8. Soğuk içecek istiyorum

   So-ğuk i-çe-cek is-ti-yo-rum

   I would like a cold drink

   Usage

   Useful in Turkey's hot summers when asking for a cold beverage

   Grammar Note

   "Sıcak" (hot/warm) and "soğuk" (cold) are key adjectives for specifying drink temperature.

9. Şeker koymayın lütfen

   Şe-ker koy-ma-yın lüt-fen

   Please do not add sugar

   Usage

   Requesting no sugar in tea or coffee

   Grammar Note

   Negative imperative of "koymak" (to put): "koyma" (informal) or "koymayın" (polite).

10. Hesap, lütfen

    He-sap, lüt-fen

    The bill, please

    Usage

    Asking for the bill at a café or çayhane

    Grammar Note

    "Hesap lütfen" is the standard way to ask for the bill. Check payment: "Kredi kartı kabul ediyor musunuz?" (Do you accept credit cards?)

11. Buzsuz

    No ice

    Usage

    Ask for a drink without ice; the suffix "-suz" means "without" (buz = ice)

12. Sıcak su

    Hot water

    Usage

    Ask for hot water for baby formula, instant food, or taking medicine; boiled water is "kaynamış su"

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