Is Turkish Hard To Learn? (7 Things You Can Expect)

Turkish is hard to learn, especially if you are unfamiliar with the Turkic language family. It is one of the most complicated languages to master and likewise challenging when it comes to grammar.

In general, Turkic dialects contain their unique set of grammatical rules that don’t exist in the other Semitic languages, such as Arabic or Hebrew. However, if you’re thinking of pursuing this language, then check these nine things we have for you!

Is Turkish Hard To Learn? 

Turkish is not easy to learn, but it is easy to read. Turkish grammar is complex. The articles change depending on the nouns and verbs depending on voice, mood, and tense, as well as inanimate vs. animate gender. However, Turkish is an ancient and beautiful language with deep roots in the history and traditions of Turkey.

If you’re interested in learning Turkish, the following information will help you decide whether it would be worthwhile, so keep reading!

1. Official Language of Turkey

Turkish is the official language of Turkey and Cyprus.

Between 80 and 90 million speakers speak Turkic languages worldwide.

Additionally, 38 municipalities in Kosovo, including Mamusha and the Iraqi province of Kirkuk, have Turkish as their official language.

Since the thirteenth century, Turkish has been spoken in the region that now makes Turkey. It was the foundation for Ottoman Turkish, the empire’s written language!

Keep in mind that Turkish is not a dialect of Arabic. It belongs to a distinct language family called Turkic. 

Currently, there are large Turkish-speaking populations in several nations, including the United States, Australia, France, the Netherlands, Austria, Belgium, and the United Kingdom!

2. Animated Dialect

Turkish is one of the most complex languages for English speakers to learn. 

Regarding sentence structure, Turkish has 28 phonemes or distinct sounds that affect word meaning. At the same time, vowel harmony is responsible for the language’s distinctive sound.

In terms of grammar, numerous rules determine the order in which one should arrange things. For example, the Turkish language uses postpositions instead of prepositions. 

On the other hand, a contemporary vocabulary containing a sizable number of loanwords from western Europe is used, and the usage is combating!

3. Turkish is an Agglutinative Language

Turkish is an agglutinative language, meaning grammatical relationships are denoted by adding suffixes to stems.

Words are created by stringing together morphemes using the morphological process of agglutination. 

Turkish is a grade III language as categorized by the Foreign Service Institute. This indicates that it will take students approximately 1100 hours, or 44 weeks, to become fluent in Turkish.

4. Latin Script, Attributive Forms, & Basic Phrases in Turkish

Latin Script, Attributive Forms, & Basic Phrases in Turkish

Start getting acquainted with the Latin-based Turkish alphabet, which consists of 29 letters (8 vowels and 21 consonants).

Like the present participle in English, Turkish verbs can also have attribute forms and relative clauses. 

You can also start familiarizing yourself with some of their introductory words and phrases, like Merhaba (hello), Aşk (love), and Mutluluk (happiness).

5. Learning Turkish to Understand Culture

Knowing Turkish is beneficial for anthropology, archaeology, and history students.

Learning Turkish will also make your travels there much more straightforward, allowing you to tour the country.

On the other hand, if you are interested in learning about various crafts, you can look into the diverse arts that the Turks have developed over time. 

6. Resources to Learn the Turkish Language

You can use tutoring services like Preply ($3/hour) and Italki ($6-$20 per hour), which offer structured courses, exam rehearsals, and conversation practice.

Textbooks like Elementary Turkish ($60.96) and Manisa Turkish ($6.99) are wonderful options for learning grammar in plain-spoken, non-technical language.

Speaking and comprehension can also be improved using a collection of podcasts. Check out “Let’s Learn Turkish, Tuned in Turkish, and SBS Turkish, all of which are free to stream.

Lastly, you can learn from services like Babbel ($6.95) or Busuu ($9.99) monthly subscriptions to better comprehend the language!

You can also find Turkish movies on streaming services like Netflix. 

7. Career Opportunities if you are Fluent in Turkish

Fluently speaking Turkish and English will give you an advantage over applicants in many roles across various industries. These could include translating, interpreting, purchasing, and negotiating services.

On average, a Turkish-English translator in the U.S. can make around $50,000. Furthermore, various opportunities in part-time and freelance interpreting and translating services could boost your income. 

Additionally, learning Turkish is more critical than ever, especially for individuals and organizations interested in conducting business in Turkey!

To learn more, you can also see our posts on Vietnamese, Urdu, Spanish, Mandarin, Hindi, and Russian.

Conclusion

As you can see, Turkish is a very different language from English. Learning Turkish is hard. From grammar to vocabulary, there’s a lot to take in. But with perseverance and the help of friends who speak Turkish fluently, you can make huge strides with this language.

While this is indeed a deterrent for many people, once you develop an interest in the language, you start appreciating it in your way.

Ultimately, the best part is that learning Turkish opens the door to a new country and offers a chance to enhance your career prospects by gaining new skills.