Turkish Abbreviations: A Guide to 70+ Common Turkish Language Abbreviations

Discover the 100 most common Turkish abbreviations with their meanings and English translations! From government institutions like T.C. (Republic of Turkey) and MEB (Ministry of National Education) to texting slang such as slm (hi) and nbr (what’s up), this practical guide helps you understand Turkish signs, news, and everyday conversations. Perfect for Turkish learners, travelers, and anyone exploring Turkish language and culture.

Turkish Language Abbreviations: The 70 Most Common Turkish Abbreviations You Should Know

Abbreviations are everywhere in Turkish — from everyday conversations and text messages to government institutions and public signs. Whether you’re reading the news, filling out official forms, or chatting online, understanding Turkish abbreviations can make a huge difference in your comprehension.

In this post, you’ll discover 70 of the most common Turkish abbreviations with their meanings and English translations. These are especially useful for Turkish learners, travelers, and anyone interested in the Turkish language and culture.

🗂️ What Are Turkish Abbreviations?

Turkish abbreviations (kısaltmalar) are shortened forms of words or phrases, created to save time and space. Just like in English (e.g., USA, TV, FAQ), Turkish uses abbreviations for:

• Government institutions (e.g., T.C. – Türkiye Cumhuriyeti)
• Companies and organizations (e.g., THY – Türk Hava Yolları)
• Everyday speech and texting (e.g., slm – selam)
• Education and professions (e.g., Dr. – Doktor, Prof. – Profesör)

Turkish abbreviations are often written in capital letters, though informal ones (especially in texting) are lowercase.

🇹🇷 70 Common Turkish Abbreviations and Their Meanings

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🏛️ Government & Institutions

• T.C. – Türkiye Cumhuriyeti (Republic of Turkey)
• TBMM – Türkiye Büyük Millet Meclisi (Grand National Assembly of Turkey)
• TSK – Türk Silahlı Kuvvetleri (Turkish Armed Forces)
• YSK – Yüksek Seçim Kurulu (Supreme Election Council)
• SGK – Sosyal Güvenlik Kurumu (Social Security Institution)
• EGM – Emniyet Genel Müdürlüğü (General Directorate of Security)
• MEB – Millî Eğitim Bakanlığı (Ministry of National Education)
• DPT – Devlet Planlama Teşkilatı (State Planning Organization)
• JGG – Jandarma Genel Komutanlığı (Gendarmerie General Command)
• DGM – Devlet Güvenlik Mahkemesi (State Security Court)

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🏢 Companies, Airlines & Organizations

• THY – Türk Hava Yolları (Turkish Airlines)
• TRT – Türkiye Radyo Televizyon Kurumu (Turkish Radio and Television Corporation)
• TTK – Türk Tarih Kurumu (Turkish Historical Society)
• TDK – Türk Dil Kurumu (Turkish Language Association)
• BOTAŞ – Boru Hatları ile Petrol Taşıma A.Ş. (Petroleum Pipeline Corporation)
• TÜBİTAK – Türkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Araştırma Kurumu (Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey)
• TÜİK – Türkiye İstatistik Kurumu (Turkish Statistical Institute)
• İETT – İstanbul Elektrik Tramvay ve Tünel İşletmeleri (Istanbul Electric Tram and Tunnel Company)
• İBB – İstanbul Büyükşehir Belediyesi (Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality)
• PTT – Posta ve Telgraf Teşkilatı (Postal and Telegraph Organization)

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🏫 Education & Professions

• Dr. – Doktor (Doctor)
• Prof. – Profesör (Professor)
• Doç. – Doçent (Associate Professor)
• Yrd. Doç. – Yardımcı Doçent (Assistant Professor)
• ÖSYM – Ölçme, Seçme ve Yerleştirme Merkezi (Student Selection and Placement Center)
• AÖF – Açıköğretim Fakültesi (Open Education Faculty)
• LYS – Lisans Yerleştirme Sınavı (Undergraduate Placement Exam)
• YGS – Yükseköğretime Geçiş Sınavı (Higher Education Entrance Exam)
• KPSS – Kamu Personeli Seçme Sınavı (Public Personnel Selection Exam)
• Öğr. Gör. – Öğretim Görevlisi (Lecturer)

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💬 Texting & Internet Slang

• slm – selam (hi / hello)
• nbr – ne haber (what’s up)
• tşk – teşekkür (thanks)
• tşkler – teşekkürler (thanks a lot)
• mrb – merhaba (hello)
• by – bay (bye)
• iyi akş. – iyi akşamlar (good evening)
• i. gec. – iyi geceler (good night)
• sn – sayın (dear / respected)
• kbn – kanka / bro (slang for friend)

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🚗 Transportation & Travel

• HGS – Hızlı Geçiş Sistemi (Fast Pass System)
• OGS – Otomatik Geçiş Sistemi (Automatic Pass System)
• TCDD – Türkiye Cumhuriyeti Devlet Demiryolları (Turkish State Railways)
• DHMİ – Devlet Hava Meydanları İşletmesi (State Airports Authority)
• İDO – İstanbul Deniz Otobüsleri (Istanbul Sea Buses)
• TÜRSAB – Türkiye Seyahat Acentaları Birliği (Association of Turkish Travel Agencies)
• UETDS – Ulaştırma Elektronik Takip ve Denetim Sistemi (Transport Electronic Tracking System)
• MOT – Motorlu Taşıtlar (Motor Vehicles)
• STK – Sivil Toplum Kuruluşu (NGO – Non-Governmental Organization)

💰 Finance & Economy

• TL – Türk Lirası (Turkish Lira)
• KDV – Katma Değer Vergisi (Value Added Tax – VAT)
• ÖTV – Özel Tüketim Vergisi (Special Consumption Tax)
• BDDK – Bankacılık Düzenleme ve Denetleme Kurumu (Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency)
• SPK – Sermaye Piyasası Kurulu (Capital Markets Board)
• TCMB – Türkiye Cumhuriyet Merkez Bankası (Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey)
• TMSF – Tasarruf Mevduatı Sigorta Fonu (Savings Deposit Insurance Fund)
• VKN – Vergi Kimlik Numarası (Tax Identification Number)
• IBAN – Uluslararası Banka Hesap Numarası (International Bank Account Number)
• SGK – Sosyal Güvenlik Kurumu (Social Security Institution)

⚕️ Health & Emergency

• MHRS – Merkezi Hekim Randevu Sistemi (Central Physician Appointment System)
• AÇS – Ana Çocuk Sağlığı (Mother and Child Health)
• TTB – Türk Tabipleri Birliği (Turkish Medical Association)
• UMKE – Ulusal Medikal Kurtarma Ekibi (National Medical Rescue Team)
• AFAD – Afet ve Acil Durum Yönetimi Başkanlığı (Disaster and Emergency Management Authority)
• 112 – Acil Servis (Emergency – ambulance)
• 155 – Polis (Police emergency line)
• E-Nabız – Elektronik Sağlık Sistemi (Electronic Health System)
• SGK – Sosyal Güvenlik Kurumu (Social Security Institution)
• AÜT – Acil Ücret Tarifesi (Emergency Fee Tariff)

📚 How to Learn and Use Turkish Abbreviations

• Read Turkish newspapers and websites: Abbreviations appear constantly in headlines and articles.
• Watch Turkish news and TV: You’ll hear government and institution abbreviations frequently.
• Use flashcards: Create digital or paper flashcards to memorize them easily.
• Practice in context: Try recognizing abbreviations in public signs, forms, or online posts.

🧭 Final Thoughts

Learning Turkish abbreviations might seem like a small step, but it’s a big move toward fluency. Once you start recognizing these short forms, reading Turkish texts and communicating online will become much easier.

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