What language is spoken in Turkey?
The official language of Turkey is Turkish, spoken throughout the country. English is widely understood in tourist areas and major cities such as Istanbul and Ankara.
Turkish, National Language
The Turkish language is the official and primary language of Turkey, spoken by almost the entire population. This language belongs to the family of Turkic languages and has used the Latin alphabet since Atatürk's reforms in 1928.
Useful Languages for Travelers
- English: widely understood in tourist areas, hotels, restaurants and historic sites
- German: frequently spoken in coastal regions due to German tourism
- French: less widespread but present in some upscale hotels
Advice from our local agency
Learning a few basic words in Turkish (merhaba for hello, teşekkürler for thank you) is always appreciated by Turkish people and facilitates communication. Our English-speaking local guides accompany you to help overcome the language barrier.