Learning Turkish with Babbel: I Tested and Here Are My Results

Krystyna

Polyglot, language geek and story teller

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So, confession time—I became obsessed with Turkish thanks to a pop star. Yep, Tarkan, the Turkish singer, was my gateway into the language.

I wanted to learn something different from the European and Slavic languages I already knew, so I went all in and even studied Turkology at the University of Frankfurt. I thought I’d pursue an academic career in it, but life had other plans, and I ended up in digital marketing instead.

But my love for Turkish? That never faded.

Fast forward to now, my family and I bought a house in Northern Cyprus, where Turkish is the official language.

Living here gave me the perfect excuse to fully commit to learning Turkish, so I decided to test out Babbel and see if it’s worth recommending to others who are learning the language too.

Spoiler: It’s pretty great. Let me break it down for you!

PROs

CONs

My Experience with Babbel’s Turkish Course

First off, Babbel is ridiculously easy to use. I’m no stranger to language apps, and sometimes they can feel overwhelming. But with Babbel, I was in and learning within minutes.

The interface is super clean, and the lessons are bite-sized, which means they’re perfect for busy people like me juggling family life and work.

Now, because I’ve been exposed to Turkish for a while, I already knew some basics. But for beginners, Babbel starts you off gently with greetings, simple vocabulary, and foundational grammar.

Honestly, it’s a smooth start, which is great because Turkish grammar can feel a bit alien if you’re used to European languages (agglutination, anyone?).

Begin learning a new language with Babbel! 🌟 Unlock up to 55% OFF your Babbel subscription today!

Babbel’s Registration Process

Signing up for Babbel is a breeze. Whether you’re on the website or the mobile app, it’s straightforward.

You just select your target language (Turkish, in my case) by clicking “More Languages” on the homepage.

Or click “Sign up” on the Babbel homepage.

Then, you have to answer a few questions to help Babbel customize your learning path.

These questions are all part of the process to tailor the experience to your needs. Expect to answer questions like:

Why do you want to learn Turkish?
How much time can you dedicate each day?
What’s your learning style?

After answering those questions, you’re ready to dive in.

You can skip the payment page if you want to try it out for free, but I went ahead and subscribed, knowing I was committed to learning Turkish.

And once that’s done, you’re off to your first lesson!

Learn more:

The Turkish Course Structure and Learning Path on Babbel

Babbel organizes Turkish in a really user-friendly way. You start with basic vocabulary, grammar, and phrases, then move up to more complex sentences.

Turkish is unique because it uses agglutination (adding suffixes to words), and Babbel handles this pretty well by breaking it into digestible chunks. No need to panic when you first encounter a word that’s a mile long!

The course covers everything from basic greetings to ordering food, asking for directions, and even more conversational stuff.

One of the things I appreciated was the way Babbel balanced vocabulary with grammar. You get a healthy mix of both, so you’re not just memorizing random words—you’re actually learning how to form proper sentences and use them in context.

And the progress tracker is a nice touch too. There’s something super satisfying about seeing your progress and knowing you’re advancing.

Begin learning a new language with Babbel! 🌟 Unlock up to 55% OFF your Babbel subscription today!

Babbel’s Self-Study Lessons to Learn Turkish

Each lesson on Babbel’s Self-Study subscription follows a familiar format.

You start with new vocabulary or grammar, then practice it through various exercises—listening, reading, and even speaking.

Turkish pronunciation isn’t as tough as some other languages I’ve studied, but it still has its quirks, so the speech recognition tool came in handy for making sure I was on the right track.

If you’re serious about perfecting your pronunciation, pairing Babbel with a tutor or even a language partner is a great option.

The self-study lessons also include conversation practice, which I loved because it helps cement the grammar and vocab you’ve just learned.

It’s practical, and I could already imagine myself using these phrases in Northern Cyprus when running errands or chatting with neighbors. Or even when my family and I travel to Turkey.

As the lessons get more advanced, Babbel introduces more complex grammar like verb conjugations and sentence structures, which is where the real learning happens.

The First Turkish Lesson on Babbel

When you start Babbel’s Turkish course, you can either dive into the first introductory lesson or skip ahead if you’re more advanced.

There’s also an option to study by topic, but if you’re a beginner, I’d recommend starting with the basics.

So, what’s the first lesson like?

From the home screen of your Turkish learning path, click “Start” to begin the first lesson all about “Hello!” or “Merhaba!”

You start with learning some common greetings like “Merhaba” (hello), “Lütfen” (please), and “Evet” (yes).

Babbel introduces the vocabulary, gives you the pronunciation, and then reinforces it with matching exercises and listening tasks. What I liked about this is how it tests your listening comprehension without being overwhelming.

In the next set of exercises, you hear the vocab and have to choose the matching image and word.

Each exercise builds on the last, helping you gradually piece together simple phrases.

There is also a set of strict listening exercises where you hear the Turkish vocab you learned and have to put parts of the word in order.

There are also these kinds of tips in the lesson, which I really like.

Next, you got more tips about the language.

The last set of exercises was matching the Turkish with the German translations.

And then you’re all done.

By the end of the lesson, you’re already starting to feel more comfortable recognizing these key words. The mix of listening, matching, and mini grammar tips makes it feel practical and keeps you engaged without info overload.

And after you finish?

You get a “Congratulations” screen with your score, and you can either redo the lesson or move on to the next one.

How Babbel’s Lessons Compare to Real Turkish

One thing I noticed is that Babbel teaches quite a bit of formal Turkish, which is useful in professional settings or for polite conversations.

But real-life Turkish? Well, it’s a bit more casual.

For instance, Babbel might teach you how to formally ask “Nasılsınız?” (How are you?), but in everyday life, most people say “N’aber?” (What’s up?).

That said, Babbel gives a solid foundation in Turkish, especially when it comes to the grammar.

Turkish is structured very differently from Indo-European languages, and Babbel does a great job easing learners into it.

But to sound more natural when speaking with locals, you’ll need to pick up some informal phrases along the way—maybe from chatting with native speakers or watching Turkish TV shows (which, by the way, are fantastic for language immersion).

Begin learning a new language with Babbel! 🌟 Unlock up to 55% OFF your Babbel subscription today!

How Much Turkish Can You Learn with Babbel?

Here’s the thing: Babbel is amazing for beginners and intermediate learners. It gives you a strong base and helps you reach a conversational level pretty quickly.

You’ll be able to order food, introduce yourself, ask for directions—everything you need for travel or casual conversations.

For more advanced learners, like if you’re hoping to become fluent, you’ll probably need to supplement with other resources.

And that’s exactly what I do.

I spend about 30 minutes a day practicing and learning Turkish on various apps (including Babbel), and then I binge on series at night.

I also spend time speaking to myself while I do house chores in the morning while the kids are at school, or I journal or write short stories. I may also dive into Turkish social media, check out Turkish videos on YouTube, and read a bit.

Babbel will definitely reinforce what you know, but fluency requires a lot more speaking practice, which Babbel’s self-study courses don’t fully provide. And if you’re thinking that’s okay, “I can sign up for Babbel Live and do online private or group lessons with a native Turkish tutor”—think again.

Babbel Live doesn’t have online classes for Turkish students like you and me. Or, not yet anyway. (#BabbelHintHint)

Still, for building confidence and learning at your own pace, Babbel is a good option.

Learn more about Babbel:

Pros of Learning Turkish with Babbel: What I Like

Engaging and Easy to Use: Babbel is one of those apps where you can just hop in and start learning without getting lost in complicated menus or features. It’s perfect for busy people, and honestly, the intuitive interface is a lifesaver. I can see why this would work for both beginners and people like me who already know a little Turkish.

Well-Structured Lessons: Turkish is a complex language, with its agglutinative structure and vowel harmony. Babbel does an amazing job balancing vocabulary, pronunciation, and grammar in bite-sized lessons. You don’t feel like you’re drowning in rules or memorization—it’s all spaced out in a way that feels natural.

Cultural Relevance: The little cultural tidbits throughout Babbel’s Turkish lessons make learning even more rewarding. I love that it’s not just about learning vocabulary or grammar but understanding how these words fit into real Turkish life. It’s helped me integrate better into the local culture in Northern Cyprus.

Speech Recognition: Turkish has some tricky vowel sounds, and Babbel’s speech recognition tool helps with practicing. It’s nice to have the app validate that I’m on the right track with pronunciation before I try it out in the “wild” with native speakers. Sure, it’s not the same as having a native speaker correct you, but it’s still handy.

Flexibility to Jump Around: One thing I love is that you’re not stuck on one rigid path. Babbel lets you jump ahead to different lessons if you’re curious or if you want to focus on specific topics, like food, travel, or business language. It gives you the freedom to tailor the experience to your needs, especially if you’re like me and already have some background in Turkish.

Turkish is structured very differently from Indo-European languages, and Babbel does a great job easing learners into it.

Krystyna

Language Blogger & Polyglott

Cons of Learning Turkish with Babbel: What I Like

Limited Casual Turkish: Babbel focuses a lot on formal Turkish, which is great for getting the basics down, but everyday conversations here in Northern Cyprus can be way more casual. I found myself needing to learn more slang and colloquial expressions outside of Babbel. While the app gives a good foundation, you’ll definitely need other resources to get more familiar with casual speech.

Advanced Learners May Need More: If you’ve already got a solid foundation in Turkish, Babbel might feel a bit too basic after a while. The lessons focus on beginner and intermediate learners, so once you reach a certain level, you might outgrow it. I found that after a few months, I wanted something more challenging to push me further, especially for conversational and writing skills.

Lack of Speaking Practice: While the speech recognition tool is useful, it’s not a substitute for real conversations with native speakers. Babbel doesn’t offer enough opportunities to practice free-flowing conversations, and I found that the lessons felt a bit too structured. If you want to become conversationally fluent, you’ll likely need to supplement with speaking practice outside the app—maybe through language exchange partners or a tutor.

Grammar Can Be Tricky: Turkish grammar is a different beast compared to European languages, and while Babbel does its best to explain it, there were times I felt like I needed more detailed explanations. The app simplifies things (which is great for beginners), but if you’re a stickler for understanding every grammar rule, you might feel left a bit wanting.

Babbel Subscription Costs and Pricing Options

Let’s talk about Babbel’s pricing.

It’s not free, but considering the quality of the lessons, I think it’s worth the investment. You can choose between a few different subscription plans—quarterly, semesterly, or yearly.

Here’s a quick breakdown of Babbel’s Self-Study subscription plan:

Babbel Self-Study Subscription Costs
To Learn Only One Language
3-month plan	US$9.95 per month
6-month plan	US$8.45 per month (save 15%)
12-month plan	US$6.95 per month (save 45%)
To Learn All 15 Languages
Lifetime plan	One-off US$299 (discounted from US$599)

There’s also a free trial available if you want to test the waters before committing, which is always a good idea!

Is Babbel Suitable for Turkish Learners?

Absolutely! For beginners and intermediates, Babbel is a great resource to kickstart your Turkish learning journey.

It’s structured, engaging, and covers all the essentials you need to start speaking Turkish confidently.

And for me? Living in Northern Cyprus, where Turkish is the official language, I found Babbel super helpful for practicing useful phrases and feeling more confident speaking with locals.

It’s a solid starting point for anyone serious about learning Turkish, and I’d definitely recommend it to anyone at the beginning or intermediate stages.

My Turkish Journey with Babbel—A Great Starting Point

Learning Turkish with Babbel has been like opening a door to a whole new world.

From my Tarkan fangirl days to now, living in Northern Cyprus, Babbel has been my steady companion. It didn’t just throw grammar drills at me; it made learning fun, structured, and—most importantly—manageable.

No app is perfect, of course. If you’re aiming for advanced fluency or street lingo, you’ll need to look beyond Babbel.

But for anyone looking to build a strong foundation in Turkish, it’s a fantastic starting point.

I’m not ready to debate politics in Turkish (yet!), but thanks to Babbel, I can navigate daily conversations with confidence.

So, whether you’re learning Turkish for fun or practical reasons, Babbel is definitely worth a try.

Until then—iyi öğrenmeler!

Begin learning a new language with Babbel! 🌟 Unlock up to 55% OFF your Babbel subscription today!

Krystyna

Language Learning Blogger

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Disclaimer: I select and review independently. If you buy through affiliate links, I may earn commissions that help support my testing at no extra cost to you. Please read my full disclosure for more information.

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