Fact & Figures
Official Name & Capital Republic of Turkey (Ankara)
Official Language Turkish (English widely spoken)
Currency & Time Zone Turkish Lira (TRY) / GMT+3
Electricity & Dial Code 220V (EU Standard) / +90
Key Facts & Practical Information
- Foundation: 29 October 1923
- Largest Cities: Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Adana, Antalya
- Geography: 814.578 km² area bordered by the Mediterranean, Aegean, and Black Seas.
- Business Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM for banks, government, and corporate offices.
- Health & Water: High standard public and private hospitals are widely available. Tap water is chlorinated, but bottled water is recommended and cheap.
- Communications: Nationwide 3G/4.5G coverage provided by three major GSM operators with widespread internet access.
Turkish Language & Pronunciation Guide
Turkish is completely phonetic and grammatically logical. Each letter has only one sound, and the accent usually falls on the first syllable. Try pronouncing loan words like ketçap, taksi, futbol, ofsayt for practice.
Special Character Sounds:
c: 'j' as in 'jam'
ç: 'ch' as in 'church'
ğ: silent (elongates vowel)
ı: 'er' as in 'number'
ö: 'or' sound in 'word'
ş: 'sh' as in 'shut'
ü: 'u' as in 'fuse'
