Can You Really Learn Turkish by Watching TV Series? Here’s the Right Way!
“Hürrem Sultan,” “Bihter,” “Ertuğrul Bey…”
Sound familiar? If you’ve ever shed a tear over Aşk-ı Memnu, gotten lost in the Ottoman palace intrigue of Muhteşem Yüzyıl, or shouted “Allahu ekber!” alongside Ertuğrul in Diriliş: Ertuğrul, you’re already part of a global phenomenon.
Turkish dramas have conquered screens in over 150 countries, and guess what? They’re not just entertainment. They’re your secret gate for learning Turkish.
But here’s the catch: just binge-watching with English subtitles won’t cut it.
To turn drama time into real language progress, you need a strategy. Good news: it’s easier and more fun than you think!
Why Turkish TV Shows Are Perfect for Language Learners
Turkish series offer something complex grammatical textbooks can’t:
Real-life speech: To sense natural rhythm, emotion, and everyday expressions
Cultural context: To understand why people say “Yok artık!” or “Vallahi?” in certain situations
Repetition: To hear favorite phrases echo across episodes, helping them stick
Visual support: To figure out facial expressions, settings, and actions make meaning clear, even when you miss a word
And thanks to their global popularity, you can easily find high-quality Turkish audio with Turkish subtitles which is a must for active learning.
The Wrong Way vs. The Smart Way
❌ Passive Watching | ✅ Active Learning |
Streaming with English subs only | Start with Turkish subtitles, then go sub-free |
Watching full episodes nonstop | Focus on 2-3 minute scenes you can replay |
Ignoring unknown words | Keep a “Drama Journal” of new phrases & deyimler |
Never speaking out loud | Try shadowing: repeat lines as the character says them |
How to Study Turkish with TV Shows: A 5-Step Method
Pick a short scene (e.g., the famous “Bihter, seni seviyorum.” confession from Aşk-ı Memnu).
Watch once with Turkish subtitles.
Watch again without subtitles.
Write down 3–5 new words or phrases (e.g., kötü niyet, kendimi kaybettim, sana aşığım.)
Shadow the dialogue such as mimic tone, speed, and emotion. Bonus: record yourself!
Pro tip: Historical dramas like Diriliş: Ertuğrul use more formal Turkish which is great for vocabulary. Modern dramas like Aşk-ı Memnu or Kara Sevda reflect how Turks speak today.
Best Turkish Series for Language Learners (By Level)
Beginner (A1–A2):
Kuzey Güney, Kara Sevda, Bizimkiler, Kral Kaybederse: clear pronunciation, modern settings, relatable conversations.Intermediate (B1–B2):
Aşk-ı Memnu, Gümüş, Yasak Elma: emotional dialogues, rich vocabulary about relationships and society.Advanced (C1+):
Muhteşem Yüzyıl: complex sentences, Ottoman-era terms (but still widely understood).
Diriliş: Ertuğrul: formal, poetic, and full of idioms rooted in Turkish history and values.
All of these are available with Turkish subtitles on platforms like Netflix, BluTV, or YouTube.
Level Up with Free Tools
Language Reactor (for Netflix): Toggle between Turkish subtitles and translations, pause to replay lines.
Tureng or DeepL: Look up phrases like “kalbim kırıldı” and see daily usage examples.
YouGlish: Hear how native speakers pronounce tricky words in actual shows.
Ready for Real Practice?
You’ve got the shows. You’ve got the method.
Now it’s time to watch, repeat, and speak like a native.
And hey! Have you tried our Turkish Video Together feature yet?
It’s the perfect place to test your Turkish on your favorite scenes from popular Turkish series or movies.
Turn subtitles on, turn subtitles off... Just make sure your motivation to learn Turkish is always set to ON! 💬✨
Happy watching and even happier learning!