The Türggish Mission
In the early 60’s, thousands of Turkish workers were invited to Europe after the world war 2 in order to rebuild the infrastructure and economy. What began as temporary labor has since grown into a legacy today: generations of families, hard work, and entrepreneurship. Today, many of those early Gustworker — or their children and grandchildren — own successful businesses across Europe, from cozy kebab shops to trusted barbershops, Turkish supermarkets, tailors, and more.
Yet despite their success, many of these businesses still lack one crucial thing: a proper online presence and that’s where Türgg comes in!
Türgg is the largest digital directory and community for Turkish-speaking businesses in Europe. Our mission is simple: to connect people with authentic Turkish-run shops, services, and businesses—whether you’re looking for a late-night Döner, a local Turkish market, or a trusted mechanic who understands your pain.
With Türgg, we make it easy for every small business to be found online. We provide modern, simple, and affordable online profiles—so even the smallest family-run store can be discovered in today’s digital world. We also invite non-turkish small shops to join our Community – Everyone is Welcome!
Türgg – Discover Turkish Europe.
Türgg: The Meaning
The name Türgg has deep roots in Swiss-German culture and history. It’s not a word invented for the digital age—but one with centuries of layered meanings, emotions, and contradictions. Originally used in eastern Switzerland, Türgg referred to maize or corn, derived from grano turco—literally „Turkish grain“—based on the false belief that corn came from the East. Over time, however, the word took on many forms, often shaped by the political and religious tensions between Europe and the Ottoman Empire.
In Swiss-German dialects, Türgg evolved into a nickname, an insult, a war cry, and even a dog’s name. It came to describe someone who was loud, chaotic, or stubborn—sometimes clever, sometimes crude. In the military, a Türgg became a long march, a fake maneuver, or a hard-to-finish task. People would say, “Der Türgg isch verreckt” (the Türgg has failed) when something didn’t work out.
Yet the story isn’t just negative. Back in the 17th century, the Zurich pastor Johann Jakob Redinger met Ottoman Turks during his travels and described them as “reasonable, modest, and humble.” Despite centuries of misunderstanding, his writings recognized dignity where others only saw difference.
At Türgg, we reclaim this word with pride. Today, Türgg stands for something new: strength, legacy, and the power of community. It reflects the journey of Turkish-speaking families in Europe—once labeled, often underestimated, but always resilient. From being misunderstood foreigners to becoming integral parts of European life, their businesses, stories, and culture deserve to be seen.
So we took this misunderstood word and made it our name. Not to erase its past—but to rewrite its future.
Türgg – A new name for a new chapter.
Türgg Stands For Community
Türgg is proudly made in Switzerland—a country known worldwide not just for precision and quality, but for its commitment to neutrality and peaceful dialogue. Inspired by this heritage, Türgg follows the same philosophy: we do not take political positions, nor are we aligned with any party, ideology, or agenda.
As a modern space for connection, Türgg welcomes everyone—regardless of nationality, religion, culture, or political view. Our goal is to foster communication and build stronger bridges between people who often share similar experiences: migrants, second-generation Europeans (Secondos), multicultural families, and local communities living side by side.
We believe in openness, respect, and mutual support. That’s the spirit of Türgg.
In a time when division can easily dominate the headlines, Türgg chooses unity. We are here to highlight the stories, businesses, and lives that often go unnoticed—but that are essential to the cultural and economic fabric of the World.
Türgg stands for community. Türgg is neutral. Be like Türgg.
Türgg Stands For Community
The name „Türgg“ was chosen intentionally—as a reflection of a lived reality within everyday Swiss language. In Swiss colloquial speech, which is famously informal and full of creative expressions, it’s common to hear phrases like “Ich gang gschnell zum Türgg” (“I’m quickly going to the Türgg”) or “Wo hesch es gholt? Ja, bim Türgg” (“Where did you get it? Yeah, at the Türgg”). These expressions typically refer to small shops, restaurants, or service businesses—often run by individuals with international roots. The actual origin of the owner is rarely relevant; what matters is the personal connection, trust, and local presence.
Over time, the term „Türgg“ has established itself in urban slang—not as a derogatory label, but as a casual, familiar way to refer to accessible, neighborhood-oriented businesses where people feel welcomed and served on a human level.
This is exactly what we want to build on. By embracing this term and giving it new digital meaning, „Türgg“ becomes a positive symbol—a celebration of independent entrepreneurship, cultural diversity, and everyday connection in Switzerland. Here, „Türgg“ doesn’t represent a nationality—it represents a mindset: independent, approachable, hardworking.
In an increasingly digital world, we aim to bring together the people behind these businesses into one connected network. In this way, a well-known slang term becomes a modern platform—and “I’m going to the Türgg” transforms into a single click that opens the door to a vibrant and diverse community.