Say It Like a Turk—Simple Rules, Big Results
Turkish might look tricky at first, but it’s actually one of the easiest languages for kids to pronounce. Why? Because Turkish spelling is almost always phonetic, what you see is what you say!
Each Letter, One Sound
Unlike English, Turkish letters don’t play hide and seek. Each letter makes just one sound. For example, the letter “c” is always pronounced like the “j” in jam, and “ş” sounds like “sh” in shoe. Once you learn the rules, you can read almost anything in Turkish!
Some Turkish letters might be new to you. Here are a few examples:
- ç = like “ch” in chocolate
- ğ = lengthens the vowel before it (not pronounced on its own)
- ı = like the ‘e’ in problem, but without rounding your lips
- ö and ü = similar to German or French vowel sounds
Practice Makes Perfect
Kids can have fun practicing Turkish by sounding out simple words like kedi (cat), anne (mom), or elma (apple). Because Turkish is phonetic, once they know the alphabet, they can sound out even new words with confidence.
Fun Practice Ideas for Kids
Alphabet Song Challenge: Make up your own Turkish alphabet tune or find one online and sing along with flashcards.
Tongue Twister Time: Try short tongue twisters like Bir berber bir berbere gel beraber Berberistan’da berber dükkanı açalım demiş, it’s fun and helps build fluency!
Apps like Dinolingo turn pronunciation practice into play. With interactive audio features, songs, and native speaker videos, kids learn to speak Turkish clearly and naturally while having fun.
Sources: