Turkish Phrases: Right Now!
Posted by: nick on 
Dec 1st, 2008 | 
Filed under: turkish phrases
I learned another Turkish Phrase on the dolmuş (mini-bus) (see my previous post). It was a word I had written down, but this time I heard it in a memorable way. 
The dolmuş was packed as usual, with a number of people standing up holding the railings. A dolmuş (pronounced dole-mush) is a passenger van that drives a set route and picks up people along the way. It’s a great way to get around Turkey!
As the dolmuş drove toward an intersection the driver turned around and started urgently telling the people standing to please get down. “Hemen, hemen!” (Right now!) As we got closer to the intersection I saw what the urgency was. There was a police officer standing at the intersection who must have been stopping dolmuşlar (dolmushes) with too many people. The mini-busses probably aren’t allowed to carry people if there aren’t seats for them.
The people crouched down and we passed the officer without being stopped. The people then stood up and we drove merrily along.
I’ll probably always remember “Hemen, hemen!” in the context of this dolmuş ride!
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Tags: turkish phrases