Phrase in 30 Seconds
The most essential phrase for survival and hospitality in Turkey, used to request or offer a single serving of water.
- Means: A literal glass of water, the standard unit of hydration.
- Used in: Restaurants, cafes, homes, and when taking medicine.
- Don't confuse: 'Su bardağı' is the empty glass object; 'bir bardak su' is the drink.
Explication à ton niveau :
Signification
A serving of water.
Contexte culturel
Offering water is the most basic form of 'ikram'. It is often served with a piece of Turkish delight or next to coffee to cleanse the palate. Pouring water behind someone leaving for a trip symbolizes a wish for a smooth, 'water-like' journey. In Islam, providing water to the thirsty is a highly regarded charity. This has led to the historical construction of 'sebil' (public fountains) across Turkey. A glass of water is the first thing offered to someone who has had a nightmare or a sudden fright (korku suyu).
The 'Bi' Shortcut
In casual Turkish, people almost always drop the 'r' in 'bir', saying 'bi bardak su'.
Tap Water Caution
In many Turkish cities, people don't drink tap water. When you ask for 'bir bardak su', they will usually give you filtered or bottled water.
The 'Bi' Shortcut
In casual Turkish, people almost always drop the 'r' in 'bir', saying 'bi bardak su'.
Tap Water Caution
In many Turkish cities, people don't drink tap water. When you ask for 'bir bardak su', they will usually give you filtered or bottled water.
The Coffee Rule
Always drink a sip of your water before tasting your Turkish coffee; it's the traditional way!
Ordering in Restaurants
If you want a free glass of water (tap/filtered), ask for 'sürahi suyu' or 'açık su', though this is becoming rarer in big cities.
Teste-toi
Fill in the missing word to ask for a glass of water.
Bir ______ su alabilir miyim?
'Bardak' is the correct container for water. 'Fincan' is for coffee/tea, 'tabak' is a plate, and 'kaşık' is a spoon.
Which of the following is the correct way to say 'a glass of water' in Turkish?
Choose the correct phrase:
The order must be Number (Bir) + Container (Bardak) + Substance (Su).
Complete the dialogue in a restaurant.
Garson: Ne içmek istersiniz? Müşteri: ________________.
You drink water (su), not bread (ekmek) or salt (tuz).
Match the phrase to the situation.
You are very thirsty at a friend's house. What do you say?
Water (su) is the best choice for thirst (susuzluk).
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Bardak vs. Fincan
Banque d exercices
5 exercicesBir ______ su alabilir miyim?
'Bardak' is the correct container for water. 'Fincan' is for coffee/tea, 'tabak' is a plate, and 'kaşık' is a spoon.
Choose the correct phrase:
The order must be Number (Bir) + Container (Bardak) + Substance (Su).
Garson: Ne içmek istersiniz? Müşteri: ________________.
You drink water (su), not bread (ekmek) or salt (tuz).
You are very thirsty at a friend's house. What do you say?
Water (su) is the best choice for thirst (susuzluk).
🎉 Score : /5
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsUsually not. Most restaurants will bring a sealed bottle and charge for it. However, some traditional 'esnaf' restaurants might provide a pitcher of water for free.
Yes, 'bir su' is a very common shorthand, especially in casual settings or when buying from a kiosk.
Turkish uses a direct noun-noun relationship for measurements. Adding 'of' (genitive) would change the meaning to 'the water's glass'.
'Bardak' is a standard glass. 'Kadeh' is specifically a wine glass or a stemmed glass.
Say 'Soğuk bir bardak su'.
You can ask for 'musluk suyu', but it's not recommended for drinking in most urban areas due to the taste and chlorine.
It's a blessing that means 'May you be as precious/holy as water,' said to someone who does you a favor, especially bringing water.
No, 'fincan' is only for small cups like those used for tea or coffee. Water always goes in a 'bardak'.
It usually refers to a 'su bardağı' which is 200ml.
Yes, 'bir' acts as the indefinite article 'a'. Saying just 'bardak su' sounds like a robotic list item.
Expressions liées
bir fincan kahve
similara cup of coffee
bir şişe su
similara bottle of water
su gibi aziz ol
builds onmay you be as precious as water
bir yudum su
specialized forma sip of water
kana kana su içmek
relatedto drink water to one's heart's content
Où l'utiliser
At a Restaurant
Customer: Affedersiniz, bir bardak su alabilir miyim?
Waiter: Tabii ki, hemen getiriyorum.
Visiting a Friend
Guest: Çok susadım, bir bardak su var mı?
Host: Aşk olsun, sorman hata! Hemen veriyorum.
Taking Medicine
Patient: İlacımı içeceğim, bir bardak su lazım.
Nurse: Buyurun, suyunuz burada.
In a Kitchen (Cooking)
Chef: Şimdi tencereye bir bardak su ekliyoruz.
Assistant: Sıcak su mu olsun, soğuk mu?
After a Scare
Person A: Çok korktum! Kalbim çarpıyor.
Person B: Sakin ol, gel bir bardak su iç.
At a Hotel Gym
Guest: Spor sonrası bir bardak su iyi gider.
Staff: Sebilden alabilirsiniz, efendim.
Mémorise-le
Moyen mnémotechnique
Think of a 'Bar' where you drink from a 'Dak' (duck-shaped) glass of 'Su' (soup-like water).
Association visuelle
Imagine a crystal clear glass on a hot Turkish summer day, with a single lemon slice floating in it, sitting on a blue tiled table.
Rhyme
Bardak bardak su, içince gider korku.
Story
A traveler in the Sahara finds a magic lamp. Instead of gold, he asks for 'bir bardak su'. The genie is impressed by his humble wisdom and gives him an eternal glass.
In Other Languages
Most languages use a partitive (of/de/von), but Turkish and some East Asian languages (like Chinese) use a direct measure-noun construction.
Word Web
Défi
Next time you are in a restaurant, try to order water using this phrase without looking at the menu.
Review this phrase every time you take a sip of water today.
Prononciation
Short 'i', soft 'r'.
Stress on the second syllable.
Pure 'u' sound.
Spectre de formalité
Bir bardak su rica edebilir miyim? (Requesting water)
Bir bardak su alabilir miyim? (Requesting water)
Bir bardak su versene. (Requesting water)
Bi' su atsana bana. (Requesting water)
The word 'bardak' comes from the Old Turkic 'bart' (a vessel), while 'su' is one of the most ancient and stable words in the Turkic language family, dating back to the Orkhon inscriptions.
Le savais-tu ?
The Turkish word 'su' is so short and ancient that it is one of the few words that hasn't changed in over 1,300 years of recorded history.
Notes culturelles
Offering water is the most basic form of 'ikram'. It is often served with a piece of Turkish delight or next to coffee to cleanse the palate.
“Kahvenin yanında bir bardak su her zaman bulunur.”
Pouring water behind someone leaving for a trip symbolizes a wish for a smooth, 'water-like' journey.
“Arkandan bir bardak su döktüm, çabuk gel.”
In Islam, providing water to the thirsty is a highly regarded charity. This has led to the historical construction of 'sebil' (public fountains) across Turkey.
“Su verenlerin çok olsun (May those who give you water be many - a blessing).”
A glass of water is the first thing offered to someone who has had a nightmare or a sudden fright (korku suyu).
“Korkma, al bir bardak su iç.”
Amorces de conversation
Çok sıcak bir günde ne içmek istersiniz?
Türk kahvesinin yanında neden su ikram edilir?
Birine bir bardak su verdiğinizde o size ne der?
Erreurs courantes
Bir su bardağı su
Bir bardak su
L1 Interference
Bir bardak suyu
Bir bardak su
L1 Interference
Bir bardak suyun
Bir bardak su
L1 Interference
Bir kupa su
Bir bardak su
L1 Interference
In Other Languages
Un vaso de agua
The presence of the preposition 'de'.
Un verre d'eau
The use of the apostrophe-linked partitive.
Ein Glas Wasser
German still maintains a slight pause or mental 'of' that Turkish lacks.
コップ一杯の水 (Koppu ippai no mizu)
Japanese requires a counter-word system.
كوب ماء (Kub ma')
Arabic word order is the same, but the grammatical relationship is called 'annexation'.
一杯水 (Yībēi shuǐ)
Chinese 'bēi' is a measure word, while Turkish 'bardak' is a standard noun.
물 한 잔 (Mul han jan)
The word order is reversed (Substance-Number-Container).
Um copo de água
The use of 'de' to show the relationship.
Spotted in the Real World
“Bana bir bardak su getirir misin?”
In a tense scene between the main character and his wife, a request for water serves as a brief pause in the dialogue.
“Bir bardak su gibi içtim seni.”
A metaphorical use of drinking someone like a glass of water.
“Behlül, bir bardak su ver bana.”
Commonly heard in high-society Turkish dramas during emotional moments.
Facile à confondre
Learners use this to ask for a drink, but it refers to the physical glass object.
Remember: 'Bir bardak su' is the drink; 'su bardağı' is what you buy at IKEA.
Learners might think this is just 'water' from a 'mine', but it means sparkling mineral water.
If you want plain water, just say 'su'. If you want bubbles, say 'maden suyu'.
Questions fréquentes (10)
Usually not. Most restaurants will bring a sealed bottle and charge for it. However, some traditional 'esnaf' restaurants might provide a pitcher of water for free.
practical tipsYes, 'bir su' is a very common shorthand, especially in casual settings or when buying from a kiosk.
usage contextsTurkish uses a direct noun-noun relationship for measurements. Adding 'of' (genitive) would change the meaning to 'the water's glass'.
grammar mechanics'Bardak' is a standard glass. 'Kadeh' is specifically a wine glass or a stemmed glass.
basic understandingSay 'Soğuk bir bardak su'.
practical tipsYou can ask for 'musluk suyu', but it's not recommended for drinking in most urban areas due to the taste and chlorine.
cultural usageIt's a blessing that means 'May you be as precious/holy as water,' said to someone who does you a favor, especially bringing water.
cultural usageNo, 'fincan' is only for small cups like those used for tea or coffee. Water always goes in a 'bardak'.
common mistakesIt usually refers to a 'su bardağı' which is 200ml.
practical tipsYes, 'bir' acts as the indefinite article 'a'. Saying just 'bardak su' sounds like a robotic list item.
grammar mechanics
