with Seda
Books for Learning Turkish
A1
Study Resources
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There are many Turkish learning books available, and different books are useful at different stages. I have collected here the books I have created for my own students, along with a small selection of Turkish course books, grammar references and dictionaries that I recommend.
My Turkish Learning Books
I started creating my own Turkish learning books because I wanted my students to have materials they could use independently and return to as often as they needed.
My Everyday Turkish Vocabulary Builder Series currently includes four workbooks for beginners. Each book focuses on one everyday topic and works with a manageable group of useful Turkish words and phrases. The series is built around repetition and recall: you meet the vocabulary, write it, use it in different activities, check what you remember, and encounter it again in context. Each book focuses on 30 basic words and phrases within one category.
The books include different kinds of practice rather than a single vocabulary list. Depending on the topic, you will find writing activities, self-check quizzes, fill-in-the-blank exercises, dialogues, word games and role-play activities. There are also answer keys and space for further writing practice. Some books include a video resource where you can hear the vocabulary pronounced and practice along with me.
I also created two notebooks for learners who want to organize their own Turkish study. The Turkish Vocabulary Notebook is a place to collect new words as you encounter them and keep returning to them over time. The Turkish Verb Conjugation Notebook gives you a dedicated place to work with Turkish verbs and keep the forms you are learning organized.
You will also find my Turkish children's books in the collection. They offer another way to spend time with Turkish through stories and illustrations, and can be used by children, families learning Turkish together, or beginner learners who enjoy simple reading.
Explore my Turkish learning books on Amazon→
Complete Turkish: Beginner to Intermediate Course
By Asuman Çelen Pollard and David Pollard
A structured course for learners who want to work from beginner level toward intermediate Turkish. It combines grammar and vocabulary with reading, writing, listening and speaking practice across 18 units. It can be used for self-study or alongside lessons, and includes review sections, a verb reference and a glossary. The course covers approximately A1 to B1/B2 CEFR levels, so it is also a book you can keep using as your Turkish develops.
Turkish Grammar in Practice
By Yusuf Buz
A practical grammar reference for beginner to intermediate learners. The book contains 114 grammar units, generally pairing an explanation on the left-hand page with exercises on the right, plus 15 additional Grammar Essentials units. With more than 2,000 example sentences, around 3,000 practice questions, a dictionary and a full answer key, it works particularly well for self-study or as a companion to a Turkish course. You can work through it from the beginning or use individual units when you need practice with a specific grammar point.
The Larger Redhouse Portable Dictionary: English-Turkish & Turkish-English
By Serap Bezmez and C. H. Brown
A substantial two-way English-Turkish and Turkish-English dictionary with more than 100,000 entries. Along with everyday vocabulary, it includes idioms, terminology, slang and proverbs, with examples for many words and expressions. It also provides a pronunciation guide for English words designed around Turkish spelling and phonetics. A useful reference to keep nearby when studying, reading or writing in Turkish.
Turkish: An Essential Grammar
By Aslı Göksel and Celia Kerslake
A concise reference grammar for learners who want a deeper understanding of how modern Turkish works. It covers the main structures of the language with clear explanations, translated examples from both everyday and formal Turkish, tables and a glossary of grammatical terms. It is especially useful as a book to consult when you want to understand a particular structure in more detail, rather than as a course to work through lesson by lesson.
Basic Turkish Grammar for Foreigners
By Muhammed Ensar Erensayın
These are two Turkish grammar books that I particularly like. Basic Turkish Grammar for Foreigners is designed for A1–A2 learners, with English explanations supported by exercises, reading texts and vocabulary work. Advanced Turkish Grammar for Foreigners continues the series for learners who want to work with more advanced structures. I recommend them as practical grammar resources for learners who prefer detailed explanations and plenty of written practice.
Availability note: This book is published in Türkiye and may be easier to find through Turkish booksellers.
Yeni İstanbul Turkish for International Students
The Yeni İstanbul Turkish for International Students series is a structured course for learners who prefer to study Turkish level by level. The series covers A1, A2, B1, B2 and C1, with course books and workbooks designed around the CEFR levels. It is a useful option if you want to follow the same textbook series as your Turkish develops.
Choose your level:
A1 Beginner → View on Amazon
A2 Elementary → View on Amazon
B1 Intermediate → View on Amazon
B2 Upper-Intermediate → View on Amazon
C1 Advanced → View on Amazon
How to Use Your Turkish Study Materials
Having several books and resources can be useful, but you do not need to use everything every day. I wrote a separate guide on how to divide your Turkish study across the week and return to vocabulary, grammar, listening and speaking regularly.
Free Online Turkish Dictionaries
TDK Güncel Türkçe Sözlük
The official online dictionary of the Türk Dil Kurumu. I recommend it for checking current Turkish meanings, spelling and usage. The TDK site also gives access to other dictionaries, including dictionaries of idioms and proverbs, etymology and historical Turkish.
Kubbealtı Lugatı
Also known as Misalli Büyük Türkçe Sözlük, İlhan Ayverdi's dictionary is especially useful when you come across older vocabulary, literary language or words whose meanings have changed over time. It gives a broader historical view of Turkish vocabulary and is available online for free.
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