abi elder brother
abla elder sister
aman oh! ah! mercy! for goodness sake!
ayol/ay exclamation favoured by women; well!
ayran drink made of yogurt and water
bey sir; used with first name, Mr.
börek a flaky, filled pastry
dolma cooked stuffed vegetables
dürüm sandwich wrap
efendi gentleman, master
efendim Yes. (answer to call). I beg your pardon?
estağfurallah phrase used in reply to an expression of thanks, exaggerated praise, or self-criticism
fatiha the opening chapter of the Quran
geçmiş olsun expression of sympathy for a person who has had or is having an illness or misfortune
hacı hadji, pilgrim to Mecca
hanım lady; used with first name, Mrs., Miss.
hoca hodja, Muslim teacher
ibne faggot (derogatory)
inşallah if God wills; hopefully
kandil one of four Islamic feast nights
kilim flat-weave carpet
lokum Turkish delight
maşallah what wonders God has willed; used to express admiration
mevlit a religious meeting held in memory of a dead person
meyhane Turkish taverna
meze appetizers, traditionally accompany drinking
namaz ritual worship, prayer
oglancı pederast, not necessarily considered “gay” in Western sense
peştemal waist cloth worn at a Turkish bath
poğaça flaky pastry
rakı raki, an anise-flavored spirit
sen you, second person singular; used in familiar address
siz you, second person plural; used in formal address
teyze aunt; used to address older women
vallahi by God; I swear it is so