Writing on signs in Turkey
Ğ and the dotless ı
Turkish uses the Latin alphabet with ğ, ş, ç and a dotless ı. A capital İ with a dot is another sure sign.
- ğ (g with a little cup) is only Turkish.
- ş has a cedilla underneath; Romanian ș has a comma.
- Words like Caddesi, Sokak and Mağazası.
12 photos, grouped by the clue they show.
Key clue Shop sign 6
Key clue Street sign 6
Turkey: what its writing looks like
Turkish uses the Latin alphabet with a few extra letters: ğ (a g with a small cup), ş and ç with a cedilla, and the dotless ı. The capital İ keeps its dot.
Common words on signs are Caddesi (avenue), Sokak (street) and Eczane (pharmacy).
Turkish is written the same way across Turkey, from Istanbul to the east.
Look-alikes: how to tell them apart
Romania
VietnamRomanian has ș and ț with a comma below, not a cedilla, and no ğ. Vietnamese stacks two accents on one letter.
Questions about the writing in Turkey
Which letters are only Turkish?
ğ and the dotless ı are the best clues. A capital İ with a dot is another.
What does Caddesi mean?
Avenue or main street. Sokak is a smaller street.