Welcome to this comprehensive guide on how to say numbers in Turkish! Whether you are planning a trip to Turkey, learning the language, or simply curious about counting in Turkish, this guide is here to help. We will cover both formal and informal ways of expressing numbers, provide tips for pronunciation, and include examples along the way.
Table of Contents
1. Cardinal Numbers
Cardinal numbers are the basic numbers used for counting in Turkish. Let’s start with the numbers from 0 to 10:
0 – Sıfır
In Turkish, the number zero is called “sıfır”. It is pronounced as “suh-fuhr” with a relatively short “uh” sound. This term is used universally in all situations.
1 – Bir
The number one in Turkish is “bir”. It sounds similar to the English word “beer”, but without the “r” sound at the end.
2 – İki
To say “two” in Turkish, you use the word “iki”. Pronounce it as “ee-kee”.
3 – Üç
The number three is “üç” in Turkish. Remember to pronounce the vowel “ü” as the “u” in “rude”, and add a soft “ch” sound at the end.
4 – Dört
In Turkish, “four” is expressed as “dört”. The “ö” is similar to the “u” in “hurt”. Pronounce it as “durt”.
5 – Beş
The number five is “beş” in Turkish. It is pronounced as “besh”.
6 – Altı
To say “six” in Turkish, you use the term “altı”. Pronounce it as “al-tuh” with a soft “uh” sound.
7 – Yedi
In Turkish, the number seven is “yedi”. Pronounce it as “yeh-dee”.
8 – Sekiz
The number eight is expressed as “sekiz” in Turkish. Pronounce it as “seh-keez”.
9 – Dokuz
To say “nine” in Turkish, use the term “dokuz”. Pronounce it as “doh-kooz”.
10 – On
The number ten is “on” in Turkish. Simply pronounce it as “on”.
2. Formal and Informal Usage
Now that we’ve covered the basic cardinal numbers, let’s discuss their usage in both formal and informal contexts.
Formal Usage
In formal situations, such as business meetings or official conversations, it is most appropriate to use complete cardinal numbers. For example:
Toplamda 25 kişi katıldı. (A total of 25 people attended.)
When expressing large numbers, Turkish follows a similar pattern to English, grouping them into thousands, millions, billions, etc., using “bin” (thousand) and “milyon” (million). Here are a few examples:
- 5,250 – Beş bin iki yüz elli
- 1,000,000 – Bir milyon
- 2,500,000 – İki buçuk milyon
Informal Usage
In informal settings, such as casual conversations among friends or family, it is common to use abbreviated forms of numbers. These shortened versions are widely accepted and used colloquially:
- 10 – on
- 20 – yirmi
- 30 – otuz
- 40 – kırk
- 50 – elli
- 60 – altmış
- 70 – yetmiş
- 80 – seksen
- 90 – doksan
For example, in an informal conversation, you may hear someone say “on lira” (ten lira) instead of “on TL” (TL is the Turkish currency symbol).
3. Pronunciation Tips
To ensure accurate pronunciation of numbers in Turkish, here are some helpful tips:
- The letter “r” is pronounced softly, almost like a muted “r”.
- Make sure to emphasize the vowels clearly, especially “ü” and “ö”.
- The letter “c” is pronounced as a soft “ch” sound.
- Pay attention to the stress on the syllables, which generally falls on the last syllable.
4. Additional Examples
Let’s discover some more numbers in Turkish:
- 13 – on üç
- 28 – yirmi sekiz
- 42 – kırk iki
- 56 – elli altı
- 64 – altmış dört
- 79 – yetmiş dokuz
- 83 – seksen üç
- 99 – doksan dokuz
With these examples, you are well on your way to mastering numbers in Turkish!
Conclusion
Congratulations on reaching the end of this guide on how to say numbers in Turkish! We have covered a range of cardinal numbers, provided information on formal and informal usage, gave pronunciation tips, and shared various examples along the way. Remember to practice regularly to improve your proficiency. Whether you’re counting money, ordering at a restaurant, or simply having a conversation, understanding Turkish numbers will greatly enhance your language skills and cultural experience. Good luck!
