Essential Turkish Greetings for Beginners
Learning how to greet someone is the first step to mastering any language. In Turkish, greetings are simple yet powerful tools to connect with people. Whether you’re traveling to Turkey, chatting with Turkish friends, or practicing online, these essential Turkish greetings will help you start conversations like a pro. Let’s dive in!
1. Merhaba – Hello
A simple and versatile greeting, “Merhaba” can be used in almost any situation. It’s your go-to word when you meet someone for the first time or greet someone you know. Think of it as the Turkish equivalent of “hello” in English.
Example:
Merhaba, nasılsın? – Hello, how are you?
2. Günaydın – Good Morning
Use “Günaydın” when greeting someone in the morning. It’s a warm, friendly way to start the day!
Example:
Günaydın! Kahve içelim mi? – Good morning! Shall we have some coffee?
3. Tünaydın – Good Afternoon
“Tünaydın” is not as commonly used as “Günaydın,” but it’s still good to know for afternoon greetings.
Example:
Tünaydın! Nasılsınız? – Good afternoon! How are you?
4. İyi Akşamlar – Good Evening
If you’re meeting someone in the evening, “İyi akşamlar” is the perfect way to greet them. It’s polite and commonly used.
Example:
İyi akşamlar! Ne yapıyorsun? – Good evening! What are you doing?
5. İyi Geceler – Good Night
When it’s time to say goodbye at the end of the day, “İyi geceler” is the best phrase to wish someone a good night.
Example:
İyi geceler, yarın görüşürüz. – Good night, see you tomorrow.
6. Nasılsın? – How Are You? (Informal)
After greeting someone, it’s always nice to ask how they are. “Nasılsın?” is informal and used with friends, family, or people your age.
Example:
Nasılsın? Her şey yolunda mı? – How are you? Is everything okay?
7. Nasılsınız? – How Are You? (Formal)
Use “Nasılsınız?” in formal situations or when speaking to elders, teachers, or people you don’t know well.
Example:
Nasılsınız? Uzun zamandır görüşemedik. – How are you? It’s been a while.
8. Selam – Hi
For a more casual and informal greeting, “Selam” works well. It’s the equivalent of “hi” in English and is commonly used among friends.
Example:
Selam! Ne haber? – Hi! What’s up?
9. Hoş Geldiniz – Welcome (Formal)
This is how you welcome someone to a place. It can be used when someone enters your home, shop, or event. Use the informal version “Hoş geldin” for friends or younger people.
Example:
Hoş geldiniz! Buyurun, oturun. – Welcome! Please, have a seat.
10. Hoş Bulduk – Response to Welcome
When someone says “Hoş geldiniz,” the polite response is “Hoş bulduk,” meaning “We found it nice.”
Example:
A: Hoş geldiniz!
B: Hoş bulduk, teşekkürler.
A: Welcome!
B: We found it nice, thank you.*
11. Görüşürüz – See You
This phrase is used when you’re leaving and want to say “see you later.” It’s casual but friendly.
Example:
Görüşürüz, kendine iyi bak! – See you, take care!
12. Hoşça Kal – Goodbye (When You Are Leaving)
If you are the one leaving, you can say “Hoşça kal,” which literally means “Stay well.”
Example:
Hoşça kal, yine görüşelim. – Goodbye, let’s meet again.
13. Güle Güle – Goodbye (When Someone Else Is Leaving)
If someone else is leaving, you should say “Güle güle,” which means “Go with a smile” or “Go happily.”
Example:
Güle güle! Yolun açık olsun. – Goodbye! Have a safe trip.
14. İyi Günler – Have a Good Day
If you want to wish someone a nice day ahead, “İyi günler” is the perfect phrase.
Example:
İyi günler, hoşça kalın! – Have a good day, goodbye!
15. Selamün Aleyküm – Peace Be Upon You
This is a traditional Islamic greeting, used often in Turkey. The response is Aleyküm Selam – “And upon you be peace.”
Example:
Selamün Aleyküm!
Aleyküm Selam!
16. Ne Haber? – What’s Up?
A casual and friendly way to ask how someone is doing. It’s the equivalent of “What’s up?” in English.
Example:
Ne haber? Neler yapıyorsun? – What’s up? What are you doing?
17. N’aber? – How Are You? (Shortened Informal)
This is an even more informal and abbreviated version of “Ne haber?”. It’s commonly used among close friends.
Example:
N’aber? – How are you?
18. İyi Misiniz? – Are You Well? (Formal)
This is another polite way to ask someone how they are doing. It’s slightly more formal than “Nasılsınız?”
Example:
İyi misiniz? Yardım edebilir miyim? – Are you well? Can I help you?
19. Afiyet Olsun – Enjoy Your Meal
This phrase is used before or after meals, wishing someone to enjoy their food. It’s similar to “Bon appétit.”
Example:
Afiyet olsun! – Enjoy your meal!
20. Güle Güle Kullanın – Use It With Happiness
When someone buys something new, especially a personal item, this phrase is used to wish them well with their new possession.
Example:
Yeni telefon mu aldın? Güle güle kullan! – Did you buy a new phone? Use it with happiness!
21. Hayırlı Günler – Have a Blessed Day
This phrase is a polite way to wish someone a good day, often with an undertone of wishing them well.
Example:
Hayırlı günler, kolay gelsin! – Have a blessed day, take it easy!
22. Kolay Gelsin – May It Be Easy
A common phrase used to wish someone ease with their work or task, whether it’s a job or chore.
Example:
Kolay gelsin! Nasıl gidiyor işin? – May it be easy! How’s your work going?
23. İyi Eğlenceler – Have Fun
This is used to wish someone a good time when they’re about to engage in something enjoyable, like a party or outing.
Example:
İyi eğlenceler! Konserde görüşürüz. – Have fun! See you at the concert.
24. Hoş geldin(iz) tekrar – Welcome Back
A warm phrase to greet someone returning after some time away.
Example:
Hoş geldiniz tekrar, sizi özledik. – Welcome back, we missed you.
Practice Makes Perfect!
Now that you’ve learned these essential Turkish greetings, practice them with friends, family, or in your Turkish language class. The more you use them, the more natural they will become. Whether you’re saying “Merhaba” or “Hoşça kal,” these greetings will make your interactions smoother and more enjoyable.