Planning a Home RenovationEv Tadilatı Planlamak
Banu and Cihan decide it's time to redo their kitchen. They talk about the budget, who should do the work and where they'll eat while it's going on.
Speakers: Banu (Cihan's wife), Cihan (Banu's husband)
The Dialogue
Read each Turkish line aloud, then check the English. Hide the translation to test yourself.
- Banu
Bu mutfağı artık yenilememiz gerekiyor. Dolaplar çok eskidi ve hiç kullanışlı değil.
We really need to redo this kitchen now. The cabinets are worn out and not practical at all.
- Cihan
Bence de. Ama bu büyük bir iş, bütçemizi iyi planlamalıyız. Sence ne kadar bir masraf çıkar?
I agree. But it's a big job; we need to plan our budget carefully. How much do you think it'll cost?
- Banu
Birkaç yerden fiyat teklifi aldım. İyi malzeme kullanırsak epey masraflı olacak.
I've gotten quotes from a few places. If we use good materials, it'll be pretty expensive.
- Cihan
Peki işi kime yaptıracağız? Güvenilir bir usta bulmak en önemlisi.
So who are we going to get to do the work? Finding a reliable contractor is the most important thing.
- Banu
Arkadaşımın tavsiye ettiği bir iç mimar var. Hem tasarımı yapıyor hem de kendi ekibiyle uygulamayı üstleniyor. Ondan da teklif alalım.
There's an interior designer my friend recommended. She does the design and also carries out the work with her own team. Let's get a quote from her too.
- Cihan
Mantıklı. En azından bütün işi tek bir kişiye yaptırmış oluruz. Farklı ustalarla tek tek uğraşmak çok yorucu olabiliyor.
Makes sense. At least we'd have one person handling the whole job. Dealing with different tradespeople one by one can be exhausting.
- Banu
Bir de tadilat sürerken nerede yemek yapacağız? En az üç hafta sürer.
And where will we cook while the renovation is going on? It'll take at least three weeks.
- Cihan
Annemlerde yeriz, ne olacak! Annem zaten bizi her gün çağırıyor.
We'll eat at my parents' place, no problem! My mom's always inviting us anyway.
- Banu
Tamam. Bu hafta sonu iç mimarla görüşelim ve planı netleştirelim.
Okay. Let's meet the designer this weekend and firm up the plan.
Key Vocabulary
| Turkish | English |
|---|---|
| yenilemek | to renovate, to redo |
| kullanışlı | practical, functional |
| bütçe | budget |
| masraf | expense, cost |
| fiyat teklifi | quote, estimate |
| usta | skilled tradesperson, contractor |
| iç mimar | interior designer |
| yaptırmak | to have (something) done |
| uğraşmak | to deal with, to struggle with |
| netleştirmek | to clarify, to firm up |
Grammar & Culture Notes
Grammar
Having something done: the causative
Kime yaptıracağız? = 'Who will we get to do it?' The causative yap-tır- means 'to have (something) done by someone'; the person doing the work takes the dative: ustaya yaptırmak.
Culture
Annemler
Annemler (lit. 'my mothers') means 'my mom and the family' or 'my parents' place': Annemlerde yeriz = 'we'll eat at my parents''. The plural -ler on a person means 'and the people with them'.
Culture
Usta
Usta (master) is how you address and refer to any skilled tradesperson — plumbers, electricians, builders, even cooks. Finding a güvenilir usta (reliable tradesperson) through personal recommendations is almost a national pastime in Turkey.
Check Your Understanding
1. Banu neden mutfağı yenilemek istiyor?
Why does Banu want to renovate the kitchen?
Show answer
Dolaplar çok eskidi ve kullanışlı değil.
The cabinets are old and impractical.
2. İç mimarın avantajı ne?
What is the advantage of the interior designer?
Show answer
Hem tasarımı yapıyor hem de kendi ekibiyle uygulamayı üstleniyor.
She does both the design and the building work with her own team.
3. Tadilat sırasında nerede yemek yiyecekler?
Where will they eat during the renovation?
Show answer
Cihan'ın ailesinin evinde.
At Cihan's parents' place.