Middle East - Anthony Ham [566]
If you’d like a more comprehensive guide to Hebrew, get a copy of Lonely Planet’s Hebrew Phrasebook.
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CONVERSATION & ESSENTIALS
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ACCOMMODATION & SERVICES
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TIME & NUMBERS
Hebrew uses standard Western numerals for written numbers.
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TRANSPORT
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TURKISH
Ottoman Turkish was written in Arabic script, but this was phased out when Atatürk decreed the introduction of Latin script in 1928. In big cities and tourist areas, many locals know at least some English and/or German. In the southeastern towns, Arabic or Kurdish is the first language.
For a more in-depth look at the language, including a list of useful words and phrases, get a copy of Lonely Planet’s Turkish Phrasebook.
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PRONUNCIATION
The letters of the new Turkish alphabet have a consistent pronunciation; they’re reasonably easy to master, once you’ve learned a few basic rules. All letters except ğ (which is silent) are pronounced, and there are no diphthongs.
Vowels
Note that ö and ü are pronounced with pursed lips.
Consonants
Most consonants are pronounced as in English, but there are a few exceptions:
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CONVERSATION & ESSENTIALS
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HEALTH
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EMERGENCIES – TURKISH
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ACCOMMODATION & SERVICES
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TIME & NUMBERS
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TRANSPORT
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SIGNS – TURKISH
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Also available from Lonely Planet:
Middle East Phrasebook
Glossary
This glossary contains some English, Arabic (Ar), Egyptian (E), Farsi (Far), Hebrew (Heb), Jordanian (J), Kurdish (K), Lebanese (Leb) and Turkish (T) words and abbreviations you may encounter in this book. Click here for useful words dealing with food. For other useful words and phrases, see Language (Click here).
Abbasid dynasty – Baghdad-based successor dynasty to the Umayyad dynasty; ruled from AD 750 until the sacking of Baghdad by the Mongols in 1258
abu (Ar) – father or saint
acropolis – high city; hilltop citadel of a classic Hellenic city
agora – open space for commerce and politics in a classic Hellenic city, such as a marketplace or forum
ahwa – see qahwa
Ashkenazi – a Jew of German or Eastern European descent
Ayyubid dynasty – Egyptian-based dynasty (AD 1169–1250) founded by Saladin
Baath Party – secular, pan-Arab political party that ruled in Iraq until 2003 and still holds power in Syria
badia (J) – stone or basalt desert
bait – see beit
baksheesh – alms or tip
balad (Ar) – land or city
bawwab (Ar) – doorman
beit (Ar) – house; also bait
bey (T) – junior officer in Ottoman army; a term of respect that corresponds to Mr
calèche (E) – horse-drawn carriage
caliph – Islamic ruler
cami(i) (T) – mosque
caravanserai – see khan
cardo – road running north–south through a Roman city
carnet de passage – permit allowing entry of a vehicle to a country without incurring taxes
çarşı (T) – market or bazaar
çay (T) – see shai
centrale – telephone office
chador (Ar) – black, one-piece, head-to-toe covering garment; worn by many Muslim women
Decapolis – league of 10 cities, including Damascus, in the northeast of ancient Palestine
decumanus – road running east–west through a Roman city
deir (Ar) – monastery or convent
dervish – Muslim mystic; see also Sufi
Diaspora – community in dispersion or exile from their homeland
dolmuş (T) – minibus that sometimes runs to a timetable but more often sets off when it’s full
döner kebap (T) – see shwarma
Eid al-Adha – Feast of Sacrifice marking the pilgrimage to Mecca
Eid al-Fitr – Festival of Breaking the Fast celebrated at the end of Ramadan
emir – literally ‘prince’; Islamic ruler, military commander or governor
evi (T) – house
Fatimid dynasty – Shiite dynasty (AD 908–1171) from North