Turkish · A2 (Elementary)
Work in Turkish: Words & Phrases
Quick answer: The most useful Turkish words for work are iş sözleşmesi (employment contract), maaş (salary) and yıllık izin (annual leave). The full Turkish work phrase list with example sentences is below.
The essential Turkish vocabulary for work, with example sentences and English translations. This is A2 (Elementary) material — exactly the kind of practical language you need when you're learning Turkish to live, work, or settle abroad.
Source: Language Lab's Turkish curriculum (vocabulary & example sentences). · Join the beta →
Key work vocabulary
| Turkish | English |
|---|---|
| iş sözleşmesi | employment contract |
| maaş | salary |
| yıllık izin | annual leave |
| fazla mesai | overtime |
| istifa etmek | to resign |
| işe almak | to hire |
| süresiz sözleşme | permanent contract |
| süreli sözleşme | fixed-term contract |
| iş görüşmesi | job interview |
| uzaktan çalışma | remote work |
Example sentences
Yeni bir iş sözleşmesi imzaladım.
I signed a new employment contract.
Maaşım otuz bin lira.
My salary is thirty thousand lira.
On dört gün yıllık iznim var.
I have fourteen days annual leave.
Süresiz sözleşme aldım.
I got a permanent contract.
İstifa etmek istiyorum.
I want to resign.
Haftada iki gün uzaktan çalışıyorum.
I work remotely two days a week.
How to actually learn these
Reading a vocabulary list is not the same as being able to use the words when it counts. Research on adult language acquisition consistently shows that vocabulary retained through contextual use — hearing a word, producing it under mild pressure, and being corrected when you get it wrong — transfers to real speech far more effectively than passive list review. The fastest way to make vocabulary like this stick is to practise it in the actual conversations where it comes up: not drills, but a real back-and-forth where you have to retrieve the word and say it aloud. Language Lab turns vocabulary like this into voiced, real-life scenarios with Sonia, a live AI language tutor who holds real conversations, corrects you in context, and remembers the specific words you keep getting wrong across sessions. The vocabulary stops being something you read and becomes something you say — automatically, under pressure, when you actually need it.
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