Turkish · 15 phrases
The Basics
The first hour of Turkish: the particles and reflexes that make you sound local before you own any real vocabulary. "Lan," "ya," "be," the shame-word "ayıp," the sighs and the head-tilt "no." None of it is truly filthy — but get "lan" and "ya" placed right and you'll pass for fluent far above your pay grade.
Allah Allah! ah-LAH ah-LAH What on earth?! / How strange! / What the—?! Aman! ah-MAHN Oh come on / whatever / good grief Ayıp! ah-YUHP Shame on you! / That's not on! Be BEH Man / geez — punchy emphasis, friendlier and older-school than 'lan' Kafayı geriye atma ('cık') gesture No. (a silent, complete 'no') Helal olsun! heh-LAHL ol-SOON Good on you! / Respect! / You earned it! Of ya! OFF YAH Ugh! / For crying out loud! Sağlığına! sah-luh-uh-NAH To your health! / Cheers (gentle) Ya YAH Come on / seriously / ugh — a softener-slash-intensifier tacked on for feeling Yapma ya! yahp-MAH YAH No way! / Come on! / Get outta here! / Stop it! Yarabbi! yah-RAH-bee Oh my God! / Good Lord! Hadi be! hah-DEE BEH Get outta here! / No way! / Yeah right! Lan LAHN Man / dude / hey — a rough vocative that dials the whole sentence up or down Salak sah-LAHK Idiot / dummy Yürü git! yew-REW GEET Get outta here / off you go / do one