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Turkish driving terms in English: a glossary for the exam and the road
Updated 28 September 2026 · 6 min read
Even if you take the written exam in English, your driving school, the road signs and the driving test examiner will use Turkish. This glossary lists the words you will hear most often, grouped by topic, so you can follow your lessons and react calmly on the day.
Why learn the Turkish terms?
- Your lessons may be in Turkish. Many driving schools teach in Turkish only, even if you take the exam in English.
- Road signs use Turkish words. DUR, YOL VER and the names of places and exits are in Turkish.
- The driving test examiner usually speaks Turkish. Short instructions like "Sağa dön" (turn right) are easy to learn in advance.
The exam and the licence
| Turkish | English |
|---|---|
| Ehliyet / sürücü belgesi | Driving licence |
| E-sınav | Written (computer) exam |
| Direksiyon sınavı | Practical driving test |
| Sürücü kursu | Driving school |
| Kursiyer | Learner, course student |
| Harç | Licence fee (paid to the state) |
| Sağlık raporu (sürücü olur raporu) | Fit-to-drive health report |
| Nüfus Müdürlüğü (NVİ) | Population Directorate, where you collect your licence |
| e-Devlet | The government's online services portal |
| Randevu | Appointment |
Exam subjects
| Turkish | English |
|---|---|
| Trafik ve Çevre | Traffic and Environment |
| İlk Yardım | First Aid |
| Motor ve Araç Tekniği | Vehicle Technology |
| Trafik Adabı | Traffic Etiquette |
Road rules
| Turkish | English |
|---|---|
| Geçiş hakkı / geçiş üstünlüğü | Right of way / emergency vehicle priority |
| Ana yol / tali yol | Priority road / minor road |
| Kavşak | Junction |
| Dönel kavşak | Roundabout |
| Yaya geçidi | Pedestrian crossing |
| Hemzemin geçit | Level crossing |
| Sollama / geçme | Overtaking |
| Takip mesafesi | Following distance |
| Duraklama | Stopping briefly (to drop off passengers) |
| Park etme | Parking |
| Emniyet şeridi | Hard shoulder |
| Otoyol | Motorway |
| Bölünmüş yol | Divided road (dual carriageway) |
| Yerleşim yeri | Built-up (residential) area |
| Azami hız | Maximum speed |
| Promil | Blood alcohol level (per mille) |
Road signs
| Turkish | English |
|---|---|
| DUR | STOP |
| YOL VER | GIVE WAY |
| Girilmez | No entry |
| Park etmek yasaktır | No parking |
| Duraklamak ve park etmek yasaktır | No stopping or parking |
| Tek yönlü yol | One-way road |
| Dikkat | Caution, other danger |
In the car
| Turkish | English |
|---|---|
| Fren | Brake |
| El freni | Handbrake |
| Debriyaj | Clutch |
| Vites | Gear |
| Far (kısa / uzun) | Headlights (low beam / high beam) |
| Sinyal | Indicator |
| Ayna | Mirror |
| Kör nokta | Blind spot |
| Lastik | Tyre |
| Akü | Battery |
| Radyatör | Radiator |
| Motor yağı | Engine oil |
| Emniyet kemeri | Seat belt |
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First aid
| Turkish | English |
|---|---|
| Temel yaşam desteği | Basic life support (CPR) |
| Göğüs basısı | Chest compressions |
| Suni solunum | Rescue breaths |
| Koma (derlenme) pozisyonu | Recovery position |
| Kanama | Bleeding |
| Kırık | Fracture |
| Yanık | Burn |
| Bilinç | Consciousness |
| Nabız | Pulse |
| Turnike | Tourniquet |
Instructions in the driving test
| Turkish | English |
|---|---|
| Sağa dön / Sola dön | Turn right / Turn left |
| Düz devam et | Go straight on |
| Dur | Stop |
| Park et | Park |
| Geri git | Reverse |
| Sinyal ver | Signal |
| Yavaşla | Slow down |
How to learn them quickly
- Learn a few words a day. Ten words a day is enough to cover this list in about two weeks.
- Say them out loud in the car. Ask your instructor to use the Turkish instructions during lessons.
- Practise questions in English. Our free practice test uses the same subject names as the real exam, so the structure will feel familiar.
- Combine with signs. The road signs test helps you connect Turkish sign words with their meaning.
Ready for the exam?Take a free 20-question practice test in English and see which subject needs work.
Free practice testFAQ
Do I need to speak Turkish to get a driving licence in Turkey?
No. Foreign nationals can take the written e-exam in English and several other languages. Knowing the basic Turkish instructions still helps in lessons and in the driving test.
What does DUR mean?
DUR means STOP. You must stop completely at a DUR sign, even if the road is empty.
What is the Turkish word for driving licence?
Ehliyet, or officially sürücü belgesi.
What does Sağa dön mean?
Turn right. Sola dön means turn left.
More guides
Can you take the Turkish driving test in English?Which languages are allowed, how to request English, the exam format and how to pass.Turkish road signs and their meaningsSigns by shape and colour, with pictures and the pairs people mix up most.How to study for the driving licence exam: a 14-day study planA day-by-day 2-week plan, subject priorities, mock exam strategy and bilingual key terms.