Bu restoranda içki satılmıyor.

Bu restoranda means in this restaurant.

The ending -da is the locative case, which is often used for in, at, on depending on context.

• bu = this
• restoran = restaurant
• restoranda = in/at the restaurant

So:

• bu restoran = this restaurant
• bu restoranda = in this restaurant

The d in -da matches Turkish consonant harmony here. After some words, this ending appears as -ta / -te / -da / -de.

İçki usually means alcoholic drink or liquor/alcohol in a general sense.

In this sentence, it does not mean just any drink. It specifically refers to alcoholic beverages.

So Bu restoranda içki satılmıyor means something like:

• Alcohol is not sold in this restaurant
• Alcoholic drinks are not sold in this restaurant

Because satılmıyor is passive, while satmıyor is active.

• satmak = to sell
• satmıyor = he/she/it is not selling
• satılmıyor = it is not being sold

In this sentence, the focus is not on who sells it. The focus is on the fact that alcohol is not sold there.

So Turkish uses the passive:

• içki satılmıyor = alcohol is not sold

If you said satmıyor, you would need a seller, such as:

• Bu restoran içki satmıyor = This restaurant does not sell alcohol

That sentence is also possible, but it has a slightly different structure and focus.

It can be broken down like this:

• sat- = sell
• -ıl- = passive marker
• -mıyor = negative present continuous / current general situation

So:

• satılıyor = is being sold
• satılmıyor = is not being sold

This form is very common on signs and notices in Turkish.

Turkish does not need a separate word for is in this kind of sentence the way English often does.

The meaning of is not being sold is already built into satılmıyor.

So English needs several words:

• is not being sold

But Turkish can express that in one word:

• satılmıyor

This is very normal in Turkish verb structure.

In Turkish, negation is usually built into the verb.

Here the negative marker is -m-, and it combines with the tense/aspect ending:

• satılıyor = is being sold
• satılmıyor = is not being sold

So unlike English, Turkish usually does not use a separate word like not for ordinary verbal negation.

Great question. The Turkish -yor form often corresponds to the English present continuous, but in real usage it can also describe a current general situation.

So Bu restoranda içki satılmıyor usually means:

• alcohol is not sold here
• this restaurant does not sell alcohol

It does not necessarily mean someone is trying to buy alcohol at this exact moment.

This is very common in Turkish: a -yor form can describe what is generally done or not done in a place.

Yes, Bu restoranda içki satılmaz is also possible.

Both can mean that alcohol is not sold there, but the nuance is a little different:

• satılmıyor = not sold / not being sold; very natural for a current real-world situation, business policy, or notice
• satılmaz = literally more like is not sold / would not be sold as a general rule or principle

In many everyday contexts, they are quite close. But satılmıyor often sounds more direct and common in speech and signage about the present situation.

Because içki is not a direct object here in an active sentence. The sentence is passive.

Compare:

• Bu restoran içki satmıyor. = This restaurant does not sell alcohol.

• Bu restoranda içki satılmıyor. = Alcohol is not sold in this restaurant.

In the passive version, içki functions more like the thing affected by the action, and it appears without the accusative ending here.

Also, Turkish often leaves nouns in their basic form when speaking generally or non-specifically.

Yes. Turkish word order is flexible.

The basic sentence is:

• Bu restoranda içki satılmıyor.

But you may also hear:

• İçki bu restoranda satılmıyor.
• Bu restoranda satılmıyor içki. (less neutral, more marked)

The original version is the most neutral and natural for a standard statement.

Turkish often moves words around for emphasis:

• Bu restoranda first emphasizes the place.
• İçki first emphasizes what is not sold.

No. You could also say:

• Restoranda içki satılmıyor. = Alcohol is not sold in the restaurant.
• Bu restoranda içki satılmıyor. = Alcohol is not sold in this restaurant.

Adding bu makes it specifically this restaurant, not just some restaurant already understood from context.

The letter ı is one of the sounds English speakers often need to practice.

It is:

• not the same as English i
• not the same as Turkish i

A simple way to think of it is:

• i = like ee in see
• ı = a deeper, more central vowel, with unrounded lips

Examples here:

• içki has regular i
• satılmıyor contains ı in -ıl-

So satılmıyor is not pronounced with an ee sound there.

The most natural match is the passive English structure:

• Alcohol is not sold in this restaurant.

That is why the Turkish uses the passive satılmıyor.

A more active English translation, such as:

• This restaurant does not sell alcohol

can also match the meaning well, even though the Turkish grammar is different.