Learn Hardcore Turkish: Bu sokaktaki yeni kafe bayağı güzel, üstelik çok sessiz. - The new café on this street is pretty nice and very quiet.

The sequence -de/-da + ki turns a location phrase into an adjective meaning “the one that is in/on/at X.” So sokaktaki = “the (thing) that is on the street.” Here: Bu sokaktaki yeni kafe = “the new café on this street.”

How is sokaktaki built, and why is it a t (not d)?

sokak (street) + locative -ta (on/at, becomes -ta after a voiceless consonant like k) → sokakta “on the street”
Then add -ki → sokaktaki “the one that is on the street” In this pattern the part you add is always -ki; the t comes from the locative (-ta/-te) after a voiceless consonant.

What’s the difference between Bu sokaktaki yeni kafe and Bu sokakta yeni kafe?

Bu sokaktaki yeni kafe is a noun phrase: “the new café on this street” (specific).
Bu sokakta yeni kafe (var) is a clause with a location: “There is a new café on this street.” You usually add var and often bir for “a”: Bu sokakta yeni bir kafe var.

Where is the verb “is” in bayağı güzel and çok sessiz?

Turkish doesn’t use a separate “is/are” in simple present statements. Adjectives act as predicates by themselves: (O) güzel = “It is nice.” Tense/person markers can attach when needed (e.g., past: güzeldi).

When would you add -dir (e.g., güzeldir)?

-dir/-dır adds formality, generality, or emphasis. It’s common in written style or when stating known facts: İstanbul güzeldir “Istanbul is (indeed) beautiful.” In casual speech you usually drop it: İstanbul güzel.

Why is there no article like “the”? Does Bu make it definite?

Turkish has no articles. Definiteness is shown with context or determiners:

Bu = “this,” so Bu sokaktaki yeni kafe is clearly specific/definite.
For an indefinite “a,” use bir: yeni bir kafe.

What does bayağı mean here? Is it formal? Any pitfalls?

As an adverb, bayağı means “quite, pretty, rather,” and in everyday speech often approaches “very.” It’s neutral-to-colloquial. Synonyms: oldukça, epey, hayli, gayet. Note: as an adjective, bayağı can mean “vulgar/low,” but that’s a different use; here it’s an adverb, so no negative connotation.

How do you pronounce bayağı, and what is that ğ?

ğ (yumuşak g) doesn’t make a hard g sound; it lengthens/smooths the previous vowel. bayağı sounds like roughly “ba-yaa,” with a lengthened “a” at the end.

Can I just say çok güzel instead of bayağı güzel? What’s the nuance?

Yes. çok güzel = “very nice” (safe, common). bayağı güzel = “pretty/quite nice,” often felt a touch more colloquial; in many contexts it can be as strong as çok güzel in modern speech.

What exactly does üstelik do, and where can it go?

üstelik means “what’s more, moreover.” It introduces an additional, often strengthening point. Placement:

After a comma mid-sentence: …, üstelik …
Or at the start of a new sentence: Üstelik, … Close alternatives: ayrıca (also), hem de (and what’s more), üstüne üstlük (on top of that).

Is çok sessiz natural? Could I use sakin instead?

Yes, çok sessiz (“very quiet”) is natural. sessiz focuses on noise level. sakin means “calm/peaceful” (low activity). A café can be çok sessiz (very quiet) and/or çok sakin (very calm).

Is kafe the same as kahve?

No:

kafe = café (the place; loanword)
kahve = coffee (the drink). A traditional coffeehouse is kahvehane.

What’s the difference between sokak, cadde, and yol?

sokak: a smaller street in a neighborhood.
cadde: a main street/avenue.
yol: road/way (generic; also “route, path”).

Why is there no apostrophe in sokaktaki?

Apostrophes are used when adding suffixes to proper names: İstanbul’da. Common nouns don’t take an apostrophe: sokakta, sokaktaki.

Could I say … güzel ve çok sessiz instead of using üstelik?

Yes. ve just links two qualities (“nice and very quiet”). üstelik adds a “what’s more” feel, emphasizing the second point as an extra bonus.

How would I say it as two sentences: “There is a new café on this street. It’s pretty nice, and very quiet.”?

Bu sokakta yeni bir kafe var. Bayağı güzel, üstelik çok sessiz.

Is the -ki here the same as the ki that means “that” (as in biliyorum ki…)?

They’re different:

Suffix -ki attaches to nouns/phrases to form adjectives/pronouns (e.g., evdeki “the one at home”).
Conjunction ki is a standalone word meaning “that,” more common in formal/literary style. In speech, Turkish often uses diye or no conjunction instead.

How do I make it plural: “the new cafés on this street are pretty nice”?

Bu sokaktaki yeni kafeler bayağı güzel. If you want both points: Bu sokaktaki yeni kafeler bayağı güzel, üstelik çok sessiz.

Is sessiz built from ses + -siz?

Yes. ses (sound) + the suffix -sız/-siz (“without”) → sessiz (“without sound,” i.e., quiet). The double s is just what happens when ses meets -siz.