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First Name or Title?
Addressing others
with respect
The easiest and most respectful way to
address a Turkish professional is by his or her
occupational title alone. Simply say 'Doctor' [Doktor]
or 'Attorney' [Avukat]. If the professional is a
woman, add the word Bayan after the title [e.g.
Mrs./Miss Attorney is Avukat Bayan]
When your Turkish colleague does not have a
title, the situation becomes more complicated.
The order of names is: first name followed by
the surname.
The traditional mode of address was to use a
Turk's first name, followed by bey [for men] or
hanim [for women]. Use this form with older
people unless instructed otherwise.
Most Turks you will do business with use the
modern form of address. The modern way is to use
the surname, preceded by Bay for men or Bayan
for women. For example, Czengiz Dagci, a male
novelist, would traditionally be addressed as
Cengiz bey. The modern form of address is Bay
Dagci [note the difference in spelling: bey vs.
bay]. Nezihe Meric, a female author, would
traditionally by addressed as Nezihe hanim. The
modern form of address is Bayan Meric.
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