80 Incredible Turkish Slang Words to Help You Understand Native Speakers

Date: April 25, 2025

Posted By: Ali AKPINAR

Learning Turkish slang is one of the most exciting ways to connect with the culture and truly immerse yourself in the language. While formal Turkish will get you far, understanding and using slang will help you sound more natural and connect with native speakers on a deeper level. Turkish slang is full of humor, creativity, and vivid expressions that give language a unique flavor.

Learn Turkish yourself online, anytime, anywhere!

80 TURKISH SLANG WORDS (including everyday phrases)

In this blog post, we’ll explore 80 incredible Turkish slang words that will help you understand native speakers better, engage in casual conversations, and blend in with locals. These phrases range from friendly expressions to funny sayings and are used in everyday life, so they’ll make your Turkish feel more authentic.

Download Turkish language courses for self-study (video lessons + PDF worksheets and books)

1. General Slang for Everyday Conversations

Abi Used to refer to an older male or a close friend (literally means “brother”)
Abla Used to refer to an older female or a close female friend (literally means “sister”)
Kardeşim “My sibling,” but used to refer to a friend or even a stranger
Beyefendi Polite term for a man (can be shortened to “bey”)
Hanımefendi Polite term for a woman (can be shortened to “hanım”)
Naber? Short for “Ne haber?” meaning “What’s up?”
Ne var ne yok? “What’s going on?”
Vallahi “I swear,” used to emphasize the truth of something
Yani “I mean,” often used when explaining or filling a pause
Hadi ya! “Really?” or “No way!”
Hadi bakalım A phrase expressing encouragement, like “Let’s go” or “Alright then”
Bakalım “Let’s see,” often used when uncertain about something
Tamam “Okay” or “Alright”
Boş ver “Forget it,” or “Never mind”
Ne diyon? “What are you saying?” (informal, used when confused or surprised)

Download Turkish language lessons for self-study (video lessons + PDF worksheets)

2. Expressing Emotions and Reactions

Çok iyi! “Very good!” or “Great!”
Harika! “Awesome!”
İyi ki varsın! “I’m so glad you exist!” (expression of appreciation)
Süper! “Super!”
Yuh! “Wow!” or “No way!” used when you’re shocked
Aman Tanrım! “Oh my God!”
Kafayı yemek “To go crazy” or “To lose your mind”
Kıskanmak “To be jealous,” but used in many playful and funny contexts
Güle güle “Goodbye,” but literally means “Go smiling”
Çekil git “Get lost” or “Go away”
Bıktım “I’m fed up” or “I’m sick of it.”
Ağzına sağlık “Good job!” or “Well said!”
Tüh! Expression of disappointment or frustration
Öff An exclamation used to express annoyance or impatience

Download Turkish language books for self-study (video lessons + PDF books)

3. Funny and Playful Slang

üş! Expression of surprise, similar to “What the heck!” or “Whoa!”
Yavaş ol! “Slow down!” or “Take it easy”
Sakın! “Don’t even think about it!”
Oha! “Oh my God!” or “No way!”
Fırtına gibi “Like a storm” – used to describe someone who’s doing something fast or with energy
Efsane “Legendary,” used to describe something awesome or impressive
Bomba gibi “Like a bomb” – used to describe something great or impactful
Çakmak “To hit” or “To high-five”
Tıkalı “Blocked,” used to describe someone who’s acting stubborn or a situation that’s not moving forward
Fena değil “Not bad,” often used to downplay something positively
Yıldız olmak “To become a star” or “To stand out” in a crowd
Kafana göre takıl “Do as you please” or “Go with the flow”
Beni bırak! “Leave me alone!” used in moments of annoyance or frustration

Download Turkish language worksheets for self-study (video lessons + PDF worksheets)

4. Slang for Actions and Habits

Çekirdek çitlemek “To eat sunflower seeds,” often used to describe a relaxing or lazy activity
Otur kalk “Sit up, stand up,” used for someone who is being active or doing too much
Göz var nizam var “Where there’s an eye, there’s order,” meaning neatness counts or something’s organized
Yapmak ne ki! “What’s there to do?!” said when something is simple
Daldım “I spaced out” or “I zoned out.”
Takılmak “To hang out” or “To chill”
Girmek “To enter,” but used in phrases like “girme” meaning “don’t get involved”
Yarış yapmak “To race” or “To compete,” but used figuratively in a casual context
Fırlatmak “To throw” but in a metaphorical sense of rushing or making something happen quickly
Dolaşmak “To wander around,” often used when describing aimless movement
Yavaşlamak “To slow down,” either physically or in terms of life pace
Geçmek “To pass” or “To move on” in life or a situation
Rahatına bakmak “To enjoy oneself,” typically used when someone is relaxing or having a good time

5. Slang for Relationships and Friendship

Kanka “Best friend” or “Bro,” a very informal and affectionate term
Dostum “My friend,” typically used to refer to a close companion
Aşkım “My love,” used in romantic contexts
Hayatım “My life,” often used as an endearing term for a partner
Canım “My dear” or “My darling”
Bebeğim “My baby” (can be used for loved ones)
Araba devirmemek “Not to screw up” in a situation, but also used in relationships to indicate “keeping things cool.”
Beni anla “Understand me,” used when trying to make someone see your point of view
Hadi bakalım! A phrase of encouragement, like “Go for it!”
Beni aldatma. “Don’t deceive me,” used in both romantic and non-romantic situations
Yatakta kral “King of the bed,” a humorous expression used for someone who is a pro at sleeping or relaxing

6. Slang for Compliments and Insults

Kral “King,” used to describe someone who’s doing something excellently
Bomba “Bomb,” meaning something or someone is amazing
Köz gibi “Like a coal,” used to describe someone who’s very attractive or hot
Herkesin gözü sende “Everyone has their eyes on you,” used to describe someone who’s attracting a lot of attention
Hani “Where’s the…” or “What happened to…” often used sarcastically
Yandı “It’s over,” used when something’s ruined or gone wrong
Süpermen “Superman,” used to describe someone who’s extremely talented or confident
Bozuk plak “Broken record,” used to describe someone who repeats the same thing over and over
Çok yaşa! “Bless you!” after someone sneezes, but can also be used to sarcastically respond to someone when they do something “small”
Ayıp “Shame” or “Shame on you,” used to scold or express disapproval

7. Miscellaneous Fun Slang

Tavsiye etmek “To suggest,” often used to express advice
Başlamak “To begin,” but used informally to indicate initiating something without pause
Şaka maka “Joking aside,” used when transitioning from humor to seriousness
Salla gitsin “Let it go,” used when something’s not important enough to stress about

Mastering Turkish slang will not only enhance your fluency but also deepen your understanding of the culture. Slang words and phrases reflect the personality, humor, and creativity of a language, making conversations more engaging and fun. So, next time you’re chatting with a native speaker, try using a few of these expressions to sound more natural and connected to the Turkish way of speaking!