Turkish/Pronunciation and Alphabet/İ-R

Know c, ç, ğ and ı off by heart? Good, now let's move on.

İ

/i/

Click for sound

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

For example:

• iyi /iˈji/
• inanç /iˈnɑntʃ/
• iğne /iːˈnɛ/

J

/ʒ/

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Or je. Pronounced like the s in pleasure, but a more accurate equivalent of it would be the j in the French word, jour. This letter is used in Turkish words of foreign origin.

For example:

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

K

/k/	Click for sound
/kʲ/	Click for sound

Or ke. Pronounced like the c in car generally before a, ı, o and u (back vowels). Before e, i, ö, ü (front vowels) like k in Kate. But of course there some exceptions. In some words of foreign origin, even if the letter comes before a, ı, o and u, it is pronounced like k in Kate. As you will see, Turkish has no Q, and therefore K is used instead of it.

For example:

• kurt - wolf
• kalem - pencil
• kâğıt - paper - This word is of foreign origin, and k in this word is pronounced like k in Kate. Notice the pronunciation difference between kalem and kâğıt, (listen to the Google Translate pronunciation of these words)
• kahvaltı - breakfast

L

/ɫ/	Click for sound
/l/	Click for sound

Or le. Pronounced l in let (clear l, listen ) before e, i, ö and ü. Before a, ı, o and u it is generally pronounced like l in luck (dark l, listen ). But of course there some exceptions as there are in the letter k. In most words of foreign origin, even if the letter comes before a, ı, o and u, it may be pronounced like l in let.

• Did you know? In Turkish, words of Turkish origin do not start with the letter l. All words starting with l are of foreign origin.

For example:

• lale (tulip) listen : This word is of Persian origin. Both ls in this word pronounced like l in let
• kol (arm): l in this word is pronounced like l in luck.
• lanet (curse): This word is of Arabic origin. L in this word pronounced like l in let.

M

/m/

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Or me. Pronounced like the m in man.

For example:

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

N

/n/

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Or ne. Pronounced like the n in now.

For example:

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

O

/o/

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Pronounced like the o in oh.

For example:

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

Ö

/œ/

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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 English approximation is the i in bird. The exact pronunciation is made by shaping your lips to say o (as in organ), but saying e (as in bread) instead.

For example:

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

P

/p/

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Or pe. Pronounced like the p in pet.

For example:

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

R

/ɾ/

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

This one's simple, just pronounce it like the Spanish and the Italians do (roll the R), but a bit shorter.

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.

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