On the phone and forms of address

Answering the phone

A Turkish phone call opens with alo. The person answering often follows with efendim — a word with no single English equivalent. It means roughly yes? or pardon?, and it is used three ways:

• answering a call or a summons — Efendim?
• asking someone to repeat — Efendim, anlamadım.
• as a polite tag after a name — Ayşe Hanım efendim

Addressing people

abi literally means older brother, but it is used far beyond the family: to a shopkeeper, a taxi driver, any man a little older than you. It is warm and informal.

Agreeing, thanking, apologising

Personal details

On any form you will meet soyadı (surname), and in conversation nereli — where are you from? — asking about origin rather than the place you happen to be.