1. HAYIRLI OLSUN
“Hayırlı olsun” is a Turkish phrase used to express good wishes or congratulations for a new beginning, achievement, or positive event. Here’s how you can use it in different contexts
👔 For a New Job:
Someone tells you they got a new job. You respond: “Yeni işin için hayırlı olsun!” (Congratulations on your new job!)
🏡 For a New Home:
A friend tells you they’ve moved into a new house. You say: “Yeni evin hayırlı olsun!” (Congratulations on your new home!)
💍 For a Marriage / Engagement:
You attend a wedding and want to congratulate the newlyweds. You say “Hayırlı olsun!” (Congratulations (on your marriage/engagement))
2. KOLAY GELSİN
Kolay gelsin” is a common Turkish expression used to wish someone ease in their work or tasks. It’s a polite and friendly way to greet or acknowledge someone who is working or about to start working. Here’s how to use it in Turkish
📌 As a Greeting: You can use “kolay gelsin” as a greeting when entering a place where people are working, such as an office, shop, or restaurant. For example, when you walk into a store, you can say “Merhaba, kolay gelsin” to greet the staff.
📌 When Someone is Working: If you see someone engaged in work or tasks, you can say “kolay gelsin” to wish them ease in their endeavors. For instance, if you pass by someone who is cleaning the street, you can say “Kolay gelsin” to acknowledge their effort.
📌 In Written Communication: You can also use “kolay gelsin” in written communication, such as emails or messages, to express your well-wishes to someone who is working on a task. For example, you might end an email to a colleague with “Kolay gelsin” to wish them luck with their project.
Overall, “kolay gelsin” is a versatile phrase that can be used in various contexts to convey goodwill and support for someone’s work or tasks.
3. AFİYET OLSUN
“Afiyet olsun” is a common Turkish phrase used to wish someone enjoyment or a good appetite before they eat 🍽️ It is similar to saying “Bon appétit” in French or “Enjoy your meal” in English. Here’s how to use it
In Turkish culture, Turks use this phrase before they start to eat their meal, during the meal and after the meal. When you go to a restaurant in Turkey you will hear “Afiyet olsun” from the waitress even after you are done with your meal.
4. İYİ GÜNLER
“Iyi günler” is a common greeting in Turkish that translates to “good day” or “have a good day” in English. It’s used as a polite and formal way to greet someone during the daytime. Here’s how you can use it:
As a Greeting: You can use “iyi günler” as a standalone greeting when meeting someone during the day.
For example:
Person 1: “Merhaba, iyi günler!”
Person 2: “Merhaba, iyi günler! Nasılsınız?”
📌 As a Farewell: Similarly, you can use “iyi günler” as a farewell when parting ways with someone during the day. For example:
Person 1: “Teşekkür ederim, iyi günler!”
Person 2: “Rica ederim, iyi günler!”
📌 Responding to “Iyi günler”: If someone greets you with “iyi günler,” you can respond in kind with “iyi günler” or with a similar greeting like “iyi günler dilerim” (wishing you a good day).
Overall, “iyi günler” is a versatile phrase that can be used both as a greeting and a farewell during the daytime in Turkish.
5. HOŞGELDİN
“Hoşgeldin” is a common Turkish greeting used to welcome someone 🫂 Here’s how to use it in Turkish:
✅ As a Greeting: When someone arrives or enters your home, workplace, or any other place, you can say “Hoşgeldin” to welcome them. This is similar to saying “welcome” in English when someone comes to visit.
Example:
A: -Knocks on the door-
B: Opens the door Hoşgeldin! (Welcome!)
✅ As a Response: If someone says “Hoşgeldiniz” (the formal version) or “Hoşgeldin” (the informal version) to you when you enter a place, you can respond with “Hoşbulduk” or “Hoşbuldum,” which means “I felt welcomed” or “I’m glad to be here.”
Example:
A: Hoşgeldiniz! (Welcome!)
B: Hoşbulduk, teşekkür ederim. (I felt welcomed, thank you.)
Overall, “Hoşgeldin” is a versatile and widely used greeting in Turkish, expressing warmth, hospitality, and friendliness towards others.
6. NE HABER / NABER
“Ne haber / naber” is a common Turkish expression that translates to “What’s up?” or “How are you?” in English ❓ It’s an informal way to inquire about someone’s well-being or to start a casual conversation. Here’s how to use “Ne haber?” in Turkish:
Asking about someone’s well-being: You can simply say “Ne haber / naber?” to ask someone how they’re doing. It’s often used as a greeting among friends or acquaintances.
For example:
A: Merhaba! Ne haber / naber ? (Hi / Hello, what’s up / how are you?
B: Merhaba! İyiyim, teşekkürler. Sen / Senden ne haber ( naber) ? (Hi / Hello! I am fine thanks. You?
Some other sayings:
Nasılsın : How are you
Nasıl gidiyor : How is it going
Ne var ne yok : How do you do
Her şey yolunda mı? : Is everything okay?
7. ÖZÜR DİLERİM
“Özür dilerim” is a polite and formal way to apologize or express regret in Turkish. Here’s how you can use it in different contexts:
🙏🏻 Apologizing for a mistake or offense: If you realize you’ve made a mistake or accidentally offended someone, you can say “Özür dilerim” to apologize. For example:
Özür dilerim, geç kaldım. (I’m sorry, I’m late.)
As a response “Rica ederim (you’re welcome, bir şey değil / önemli değil (no problem)” can be used
8. GÖRÜŞÜRÜZ
“Görüşürüz” is a common Turkish phrase used to say “goodbye 👋🏻” when parting from someone. It’s a casual and friendly way to bid farewell. Here’s how you can use it in Turkish:
When you’re leaving someone, you can simply say “Görüşürüz” to bid them goodbye.
For example:
A: Hoşça kal, yarın tekrar görüşürüz. (Goodbye, see you again tomorrow.)
B: Görüşürüz. (See you)
“Sonra görüşürüz” is also can be used when parting someone and it means that “see you later” 👋🏻
9. TEŞEKKÜRLER
“Teşekkürler” is a common way to say “thank you” in Turkish 🫶🏻 Here’s how you can use it in different contexts:
As a Simple Thank You: You can use “teşekkürler” to express gratitude in various situations, both formal and informal. For example:
“Yardımın için teşekkürler.” (Thank you for your help.)
“Teşekkürler, benim için bir zevkti.” (Thank you, it was a pleasure for me.)
“Teşekkür ederim, sağ ol” can be used as an alternative for “teşekkürler”. In some region of Turkey “Eyvallah” is a traditional way of thanking people.
“Rica ederim (you’re welcome), önemli değil (it’s not important)” are the response for “teşekkürler”
10. İYİ GECELER
“Iyi geceler” is a Turkish phrase that translates to “good night” in English. It can be used as a farewell greeting when parting ways in the evening or before going to bed or it can be used as a greeting when meeting your friends, family.
The main reason that I add “iyi geceler” here is because I was to show you all the other greetings that consist “iyi” in, such as ;
İyi akşamlar : good evening 🥱
İyi yolculuklar : Have a nice flight 👝
İyi dersler : Have a good lesson 📝
İyi günler : have a good day 👋🏻
İyi çalışmalar : Have a nice working day 👩🏻💼👨🏻💼
İyi sabahlar : Good morning ( it is not that common) 🌅
İyi eğlenceler : Have fun 🥳