What is a common mistake with “Bu ne demek”?

✗ Bu ne anlam? → ✓ Bu ne demek?: The natural question uses demek.

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How to say “What does this mean” in Turkish

Ben: "Ayıp" ne demek? (What does "ayıp" mean?) Zeynep: Utanılacak şey demek, "shame" gibi. (It means something to be ashamed of, like "shame".)

Bu ne demek?

boo neh deh·mehk

Bu ne demek? means "What does this mean?". Point at a word on a menu or sign, or repeat a word you heard and add "ne demek?": "Kısmet ne demek?".

Ben"Ayıp" ne demek?What does "ayıp" mean?

ZeynepUtanılacak şey demek, "shame" gibi.It means something to be ashamed of, like "shame".

TuristBu ne demek?What does this mean?

Garson"Günün çorbası", yani bugünün çorbası."Soup of the day", meaning today's soup.

"Ne demek!" said as an exclamation means "Don't mention it!" or "Of course!", not a question. Context and tone tell the difference.

Turks love explaining idioms. Asking "Bu ne demek?" about a proverb can start a long and fun conversation.

Turks are thrilled when a foreigner tries Turkish. A simple Merhaba, ben… wins you smiles, tea and new friends.