Guide · 7 min read

Turkish numbers and bargaining at the bazaar

The Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, the spice markets and the weekly street markets (pazar) are some of the most exciting places in Türkiye. They are also where Turkish numbers suddenly become very useful. Understanding prices in Turkish protects you from misunderstandings, and bargaining in Turkish, even a little, is the most fun you can have while shopping.

Fatih Koçoğlu · Turkish teacher

This guide teaches you the numbers step by step and then shows you how bargaining really works, with the phrases sellers use and how to answer them.

Numbers 1 to 10

Turkish numbers are short and regular. Learn these ten and you have the base for everything: bir (1), iki (2), üç (3), dört (4), beş (5), altı (6), yedi (7), sekiz (8), dokuz (9), on (10). Notice that bir also means "a" or "one": bir çay is "a tea".

Tens, hundreds and thousands

The tens are: yirmi (20), otuz (30), kırk (40), elli (50), altmış (60), yetmiş (70), seksen (80), doksan (90). Then yüz (100) and bin (1,000). To build a number, you simply put the parts in a row: on bir (11), yirmi beş (25), yüz elli (150), bin iki yüz (1,200). There are no "and"s and no exceptions.

A useful detail: you say "yüz" for 100, not "bir yüz", and "bin" for 1,000, not "bir bin". But for a million you say "bir milyon". Prices are written with a dot for thousands (1.500 TL) and a comma for decimals (12,50 TL), the opposite of English.

The currency is the Turkish lira (Türk lirası, TL, ₺). Kuruş is one hundredth of a lira, but you will rarely see coins smaller than one lira today.

▶ Video lessons

▶Ne kadar? / Sana özel

▶Kilosu kaç?

YouTube: @learnturkishwithfatih →

Asking prices

The key question is "Bu ne kadar?" (how much is this?). For several items say "Bunlar ne kadar?". At a fruit or vegetable stall, prices are per kilo, so ask "Kilosu kaç?" (how much per kilo?). Then order the amount you want: "Yarım kilo domates, lütfen" or "Bir kilo elma, lütfen".

Where you can and cannot bargain

Bargaining is normal in the Grand Bazaar, the Spice Bazaar, souvenir shops in tourist areas, carpet and leather shops, and sometimes with taxis without a meter. It is not normal in supermarkets, chain stores, pharmacies, restaurants or at most food stalls with marked prices. At the local weekly pazar, prices are already low; you can ask for a small discount when you buy a lot, but do not haggle over a few lira.

The bargaining dance

Bargaining in Türkiye is a friendly ritual, not a fight. It often begins with tea. The seller may say "Sana özel!" (special price, just for you) before giving a first price. You react with a smile and "Çok pahalı!" (too expensive!). Then ask for a discount: "Biraz indirim yapar mısınız?". Make your own offer, usually lower than what you want to pay, and let the seller come down step by step.

When the price is close, ask "Son fiyat ne?" (what's your final price?). If you are not happy, thank the seller and slowly walk away. Often you will hear "Tamam, tamam, gel!" (okay, okay, come back!). If not, the price was probably already fair.

When you agree, say "Tamam, alıyorum" or "Bunu alıyorum" (I'll take it). Do not continue bargaining after you agree; that is considered rude.

Phrases sellers use, and what they mean

"Buyurun, bakın!" means "Come in, have a look!". "Ne arıyorsunuz?" is "What are you looking for?". "Hepsi el yapımı" means "It's all handmade". "Kaliteli" means "good quality". "Son fiyat bu" means "This is the final price". And "Güle güle kullanın!" is the warm goodbye after you buy something: "enjoy using it!".

A shopkeeper may also say "Bereket versin" (may it bring abundance) when you pay, especially if you are the first customer of the day. The first sale of the day, siftah, is believed to bring luck, so a seller may give you a good price in the morning.

Paying: cash, cards and change

Cash often gets you a better price in the bazaar. Ask "Nakit olursa ne kadar?" (how much if I pay cash?). Many shops accept cards, though some add a small fee. Small notes are useful, and sellers often ask for exact change. Learn "Bozuk paranız var mı?" (do you have small change?) and "Fiş alabilir miyim?" (can I have a receipt?).

A practice dialogue at the bazaar

Read this out loud. Seller: "Buyurun, bakın! Ne arıyorsunuz?" You: "Sadece bakıyorum. Bu şal ne kadar?" Seller: "Sana özel, dört yüz lira." You: "Çok pahalı! İki yüz olur mu?" Seller: "Olmaz abla, bu el yapımı. Üç yüz elli." You: "İki yüz elli. Son fiyat ne?" Seller: "Tamam, üç yüz. Güle güle kullan!" You: "Tamam, alıyorum. Teşekkürler!" You just bought a scarf for three hundred lira and saved one hundred, all in Turkish.

Tips for a good bargain

Know the approximate price before you go: check a few shops before buying. Be friendly and patient; drinking the offered tea does not oblige you to buy. Buy several items in the same shop for a bigger discount. Do not start bargaining if you have no intention of buying. And remember that a few lira matter more to a small shopkeeper than to you.

Finally, practise the numbers out loud: say the prices you see in your own shops at home in Turkish for a week. When you hear "Yüz elli lira" in the bazaar, you will understand instantly, and the seller will know it. My travel phrasebook below includes all numbers, prices and shopping phrases in one compact, offline book.