[merlin]

Rather than keep going on about how you must ideally learn some Turkish, I have received a few emails from members asking to post some essential Turkish, particularly for residents.

Oh how I wish I had a site like this when I moved here some 5 years ago!

[merlin]

Vegetables:

vegetable: sebze
artichokes: enginar
asparagus: kuskonmaz (pr kushkonmaz)
bean: fasulye (pr fasoolia)
Brussels sprout: Bruksel lahanasi (pr brooxel laharnercy)

cabbage: lahana
carrot: havuc (pr havooch)
cauliflower: karnibahar
corn: misir (pr missoor)
cucumber: salatalik (pr sulatulik)
eggplant: patlican (pr putlijan)
garlic: sarimsak (pr sarimsuk)
string bean: cali fasulye (pr Jally fasoolia)
green pepper: yesil biber (pr Yeshil Bibbair)
leek: pirasa
lettuce: marul (pr maroo)
mushroom: mantar
okra: bamya
onion: sogan (pr sowon)
pea: bezelye (pr bezelier)
potato: patates
radish: turp
red pepper: kirmizi biber (pr Crimsi bibair)
tomato: domates
zucchini: kabak (pr kabuk)

Fruits:
fruit: meyve
apple: elma
apricot: kayisi (pr ki isi)
banana: muz (pr mooz)
cherry: kiraz
sour or black cherry: visne (sour and darker, used for jam and juice)
grapefruit: greyfurt
yellow melon: kavun (pr karvoon)
orange: portakal
peach: seftali (pr chef tarli)
pear: armut (pr armoot)
pineapple: ananas
pomegranate: nar
strawberry: cilek (pr chilek)
tangerine: mandalina
watermelon: karpuz (pr carpooz)

On the open markets most produce is sold by the kilo. However imported fruits and vegetables may be sold by the packet.

Supermarkets like Migros have recently started to introduce packet sales ie. packets of cucumbers and peppers. These are also sold by weight but offer you less than the normal kilo, ideal if you only want a small portion.

[merlin]

Boneless: kemiksiz (pr kemiksis)
Breast (for chicken): tavuk bonfile (pr tavook bonfille)
Chicken: Tavuk (pr tavook)
Chicken thigh: tavuk budu (pr tavook boot)
Chicken wing: tavuk kanadi (pr tavook canard)
Foreleg: kol
Ground beef: kiyma
Lamb: Kuzu (pr koozoo)
Large stew beef: gulas
Leg: but (pr boot)
No-fat, lean: yagsiz (pr yarl sis)
Rib: pirzola
Rump roast: dana nuar
Small stew beef: kusbasi (pr koosh bashy)
Steak: biftek (pr beef take)
Tenderloin: bonfile (pr bon filly)
Veal, beef: Dana

There are some very good butchers in Kusadasi. However, I prefer to shop in Selcuk, where the prices are much more reasonable.

A good way to save money is to purchase a deep freezer, do a deal with a local butcher for quantity purchases and stock up at a good price!

For example, in Kusadasi chicken per kg is averaging around 3.5-4YTL per kg. I currently pay 2YTL from my butcher, so shop around and be prepared to bargain.

[merlin]

When you buy fish from the fish seller (Balikci), the gutting and cleaning of the fish is included in the price.

You can find various kinds of fish according to the season.

fish: balik (pr bol erk)
trout: alabalik (pr aler bolork)
red mullet: barbunya for big ones, tekir for smaller
sole: dil
anchovy/sprats: hamsi (pr humsee)
shrimp: karides
swordfish: kilic (pr kill itch)
sea bass: levrek
blue fish: lufer (pr loofer)
red sea bream: mercan (pr merjun)
salmon: somon

Kusadasi has a very nice fish market near the harbour. I would avoid buying fish from street traders unless you know the fish they are selling is fresh. Just a word of caution, its traditional not to serve your guests a fish dish accompanied by a yoghurt dish, apparently the two do not mix well and will be frowned on by any Turkish dinner guests.

[merlin]

Due to limited funding, Turkish State hospitals don’t have the best sanitary conditions. They are always full of patients and have endless queues. The lack of hygiene, lack of staff and lack of care is easily felt.

However, Kusadasi Devlet (General) is very well presented and has English speaking staff to help you with your needs. Not my favourite port of call and the matron would be more ideally suited to a womans prison!

At the General Hospital, you will need to take money with you - Turkish money - and pay in advance for any medical treatment.

There is the private Kusadasi hospital near the Friday market and this is well equipped to cope with all major emergencies as well as minor incidents.

I must say I am not a big fan of this hospital, they have you over a barrel as far as cost is concerned and generally as tourists have insurance cover, they exploit this to the full (IMHO).

If you are living here in Kusadasi, I would thoroughly recommend Health Insurance which can be purchased from all the major banks. One word of caution, if you are rushed to the private hospital for any reason, you must have either your medical insurance card (provided by your insurer) or enough cash funds to settle the bill. They WILL NOT let you leave the hospital until your bill is settled in FULL.

For minor ailments I would recommend the General Hospital.

How many should I take per day?: Gunde kac tane almaliyim? (pr Goonder catch tanner almay lee yim)

I am diabetic/Asthmatic: Seker hastasiyim (pr Sheker hast ass e yim)

I am ill/ I am in pain: Hastayim (pr Haster yim)

I‘ve got something in my eye: Gozumde bir sey var
(pr Gooz oom der beer shay var)

I have stomach-ache: Midem agriyor (pr Meedem ary yor)

I have a tooth-ache: Disim agriyor (pr dish im ar e yor)

I have a cold: Usutmusum (pr oo shoot moo shoom)

I have the flu: Nezle oldum

I am nauseated: Midem bulaniyor

Where can I find a doctor?: Nereden doktor bulabilirim?
(pr nair den doctor bool aby leerim)

Where can I find a dentist?: Nereden disci bulabilirim?
(pr nair den dish gee bool aby leerim)

Where is the nearest pharmacy?: En yakin eczane nerede? (pr n yakin ez arni nair de)

Ambulance: Ambulans

Bandage: Sargibezi (pr sargy bezy)

Blood Test: Kan Tahlili (pr cun tar lily)

Blood: Kan (pr cun)

Cotton Wool: Pamuk (pr pam ook)

Cut: Kesik

Fever: Ates (pr ar tesh)

Fractured: Kirik

Heart Attack: Kalp Krizi

Hospital: Hastane

Medicine: Ilac (pr ill uch)

Plaster: Yara Bandi

Sting: Ari Sokmasi

Sun Burn: Gunes Yanigi (pr goo nesh yan ee gee)

Sun Stroke: Gunes Carpmasi (pr goo nesh charp masi)

Urine Test: Idrar Tahlili

X-Ray : Rontgen (pr roont gen)

[merlin]

You may find these words useful when consulting a dentist:

Abscess: apse
Artificial tooth: takma diş (pr takma dish)
Bridge: koopru (pr Koopru)
Canine tooth: kopek disi (pr kopek dishy)
Crown: kuron
Enamel: Dis minesi (pr dish minesi)
Fistula: Fistul (pr Fistool)
Front teeth: on disler (pr un dishler)
Gumboil: dis iltihabi (pr dish ilty habby)
Lower teeth: alt dişler (pr oult dishler)
Pulling out tooth: dis cekmek (pr dish check mek)
Rotten tooth: curuk dis (pr choo rook dish)
Side teeth: yan dişler (pr yan dishler)
Tooth: dis (pr dish)
Upper teeth: ust disler (pr oost dishler)
Toothpaste: dis marcun (pr dish marjen)

[merlin]

Generally, most of the Kusadasi taxi drivers speak very good English (when it suits them!)

It is generally a good idea to barter a fixed price and make sure the price is for all your party and not per person. I have heard of this happening during the 2004 season.

Try and pay in Turkish money, it saves having to convert how much YTL is required in your head and if the taxi driver is busy you might inadvertantly be short changed.

When paying the taxi driver with a large denomination note ie. 10 20 50 or 100YTL ALWAYS hold onto the money at one end when passing the note to the driver, let him also hold it and make sure he acknowledges the note denomination.

Why?

I have not heard of this happening in Kusadasi (Marmaris) - where taxi drivers are handed a high denomination note and they cleverly switch it for a very low denomination ie 1YTL and say its you mistake.

SO be careful!

Close the window please: cami kapatin lutfen (pr jammy cup ut loot fun)

Open the window please: cami acin lutfen (pr jammy ach in loot fun)

Stop here: burada durun (pr border dooren)
Left; sol
Right: sag (pr sar)
Turn on the meter: taksimetreyi calistirin (pr taxi metreer chalish tirin)

Wait please: lutfen bekleyin (pr loot fun bekleyin)

All taxis are painted yellow and unlike the UK there is no private service other than those offered by hotels. Do not under any circumstances accept lifts from strangers and do not hitch hike.

[merlin]

Colour: Renk
Colourless- Renksiz
Dark: Koyu
Light: Acik (pr achik)
Colourful: Renkli
Pastel: Pastel
Bright: Parlak
Subdued: Mat

Beige: Bej
Black: Siyah
Blue: Mavi
Bronze: Bronz
Brown: Kahverengi (pr carver rengy)
Burgundy: Bordo
Cream: Krem
Dark blue: Lacivert
Gold: Altin
Gray: Gri
Green: Yesil (pr yeshil)
Ivory: Fildisi (pr fildishy)
Lilac: Lila
Orange: Turuncu (pr tourun jew)
Red: Kirmizi (pr kirim ze)
Rose: Pembe
Salmon: Somon
Silver: Gumus (goo moosh)
Smoke: Fume (pr foomy)
Turquoise: Turkuaz
Violet, Purple : Mor
White: Beyaz
Yellow: Sari

[merlin]

Afternoon: Ogleden sonra (pr orle den sonrer)
Afternoon: Aksam ustu (pr uk shum oustoo)
Day: Gun/Gunduz (pr gern or gern derz)
Early: Erken
Evening: Aksam (pr uk shum)
Late: Gec (pr getch)
Midnight: Gece yarisi (pr geger yarisi)
Morning: Sabah
Night: Gece (pr geger)


Week: Hafta
Monday: Pazartesi
Tuesday: Sali
Wednesday: Carsamba (pr char shember)
Thursday: Persembe (pr pur shember
Friday: Cuma (pr jew ma)
Saturday: Cumartesi (pr jew mart esi)
Sunday: Pazar

Month: Ay (pr eye)
January: Ocak (pr ojack)
February: Subat (pr shoe butt)
March: Mart
April: Nisan
May: Mayis
June: Haziran
July: Temmuz
August: Agustos
September: Eylul (pr a lool)
October: Ekim
November: Kasim
December: Aralik

Year:Yil, Sene (pr senner)

Season: Mevsim
Spring: Ilkbahar
Summer: Yaz (pr yuz)
Fall (Autumn) : Sonbahar or Guz (pr gooz)
Winter: Kis (koosh)

[x0x_JoAnNe_x0x]

awwwww wow thanks lee! they'll be very handy not too keen on the sick butchers pic tho put me off my special k for the day! xx