Which one should you use?
While su alabilir miyim translates to "can I have water", you can use bir su alabilir miyim to sound more natural when asking for a single unit, such as a single bottle or a glass. To address a waiter or server directly and make the request even more polite, you can switch from the first-person "can I" to the second-person polite "can you" form: su alabilir misiniz?
How does it change in a sentence?
Because this phrase is a question, it must end with a question mark in written Turkish. If you wish to address someone politely or in a plural sense, you change the verb to the second-person polite form su alabilir misiniz?
How do you pronounce it?
The sounds are similar to English: [s]end for the /s/, c[oo]l for the /u/, a[b]out for the /b/, cr[ee]k for the /i/, AmE a[t]om for the /ɾ/, [m]uch for the /m/ and [y]es for the /j/.
Did you know?
- The word su is part of several common Turkish idioms, such as suya düşmek, which literally means 'to fall into the water' but actually means 'to be ruined' or 'to fail'.
- In some traditional settings, it is customary to serve a small glass of su alongside a cup of Turkish coffee to cleanse the palate before drinking.
- In Turkish culture, offering a glass of su is a deeply rooted gesture of hospitality, and refusing it can sometimes be seen as impolite to a host.
Examples in context
- Özür dilerim, su alabilir miyim lütfen?Excuse me, can I have water, please?
- Lütfen bir şişe su alabilir miyim?Can I have a bottle of water, please?
Example conversation
At a restaurant in Istanbul.
- ElifAffedersiniz, bir bardak su alabilir miyim?Excuse me, can I have a glass of water?
- MehmetTabii ki, hemen getiriyorum.Of course, I am bringing it right away.
- ElifÇok teşekkür ederim.Thank you very much.
- MehmetRica ederim, Elif Hanım.You're welcome, Ms. Elif.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Turkish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
