EVERYDAY EXPRESSIONS AND PLEASANTRIES IN TURKISH
The expressions and pleasantries are grouped according to their structures so that you can have a feel for how Turkish works. If you are studying Turkish for the first time, you may ignore the structures. The suffixes are colourized.
Everyday expressions and pleasantries in:
A in the plural
İyi sabahlar (=günaydın).
Good morning.
Günaydın is more common in use.
İyi günler.
Good afternoon; Have a good day.
İyi akşamlar.
Good evening.
İyi geceler.
Good night
İyi eğlenceler.
Have a good time, enjoy yourself.
İyi tatiller.
Have a good holiday/vacation.
İyi yolculuklar.
Have a good journey/trip.
İyi dersler.
Have a good lesson/class (said by students/teachers to each other before the lesson/class).
Hayırlı işler.
Used to say goodbye to shopkeepers when you are leaving, lit have good business.
Tebrikler.
Congrats.
Teşekkürler.
Thanks.
Başarılar.
Good luck/Best of luck
B in the simple present tense
Teşekkür ederim.
Thank you.
Rica ederim./Bir şey değil.
You’re welcome./Don’t mention it.
Rica ederim is in the first person singular.
It literally means I request.
Bir şey değil literally means it is nothing.
Özür dilerim.
I’m sorry/I apologize.
Affedersiniz.
1. I beg your pardon/Excuse me.
2. Excuse me (used to get someone’s attention politely).
Sorun/Önemli değil.
No problem/That’s OK (said in response to özür dilerim, or affedersiniz #1).
Bakar mısınız?
= Affedersiniz #2.
Memnun olurum./Sevinirim.
I will be glad/pleased.
Mutluluklar/başarılar dilerim.
Wish you happiness/luck.
Tebrik ederim./Kutlarım.
Congratulations.
Yemin ederim.
I swear to God.
(Yarın/Sonra/Hafta sonu) Görüşürüz.
See you (tomorrow/later/at the weekend).
Olur mu?
OK (used to ask someone if they agree with you or will give permission for you to do something)?
Olur. X Olmaz.
Yes, all right, okay. X No, nope.
C in the simple past tense
Hoş geldin(iz).
Welcome (said to sb who has just arrived in your home, office, shop etc, lit it’s nice you came).
Hoş bulduk.
Thank you (said in response to hoş geldin(iz), lit we found it nice).
We always use it in the first person plural.
Allaha ısmarladık.
Goodbye (said by the one who is leaving,
lit I leave you to God’s care.
The one who is staying says güle güle, lit go happily).
We always use it in the first person plural.
(Tanıştığımıza) Memnun oldum.
Nice/Pleased to meet you.
D in the imperative
Güle güle kullan(ın).
Said to sb who has bought sth new such as a household item and a mobile phone/cellphone, lit use it happily.
Güle güle otur(un).
Said to sb who has bought a new flat or a house,
lit live in it happily.
Güle güle giy(in).
Said to sb who has bought a new a piece of clothing such as a dress and jeans, lit wear it happily.
Sağ ol(un).
Thank you (used in a fairly informal way, lit be healthy).
Çok yaşa(yın)!
Bless you (said when sb sneezes, lit live long)!
Sen de gör./Siz de görün.
You too (said in response to çok yaşa/yaşayın!).
Kusura bakma(yın).
Pardon me/Excuse me (used as apologies).
Hoşça kal(ın).
Goodbye (said by the one who is leaving. The one who is staying says güle güle, lit go happily).
Buyur(un).
1. We use it:
a. to invite our guest who has just arrived at our door into our house, office etc.
b. when offering our guest a seat.
c. when offering our guest a drink or food.
2. It is used to welcome customers by shopkeepers.
Geçmiş olsun.
Get well soon; I’m sorry to hear that (said to sb who is sick, or has had an accident, lit may it be over).
Afiyet olsun.
Bon appétit, enjoy your meal.
Kolay gelsin.
Said to sb who is doing, or is about to do a job,
lit may it come easy.
Yaşasın!
Hurray/Yippee!
Üstü kalsın.
Keep the change.
Doğum günün(üz) kutlu olsun.
Happy birthday.
Sevgililer günün(üz) kutlu olsun.
Happy Valentine’s day.
Anneler/Babalar günün(üz) kutlu olsun.
Happy mother’s/father’s day.
Başın(ız) sağ olsun.
Said when offering condolences,
lit may your sorrow be over.
Allah yardımcın(ız) olsun.
May God help you.
Allah bir yastıkta kocatsın.
May you have a happy life together, lit may God let you age on the same pillow. (In the past, married couples used to share a single long pillow, extending from one side of the bed to the other.)
Allah göstermesin!
God forbid!
Miscellaneous
Merhaba.
Hello, hi.
N’aber (← Ne haber)?
How are you doing (used informally, lit what news)?
Ne var, ne yok?
How are things (lit what’s there, what is not)?
Nasıl gidiyor?
How is it going?
Tamam/Oldu/Peki.
OK (used to show that you agree with something or give permission for someone to do something).