A1 · 40 words
Hello and goodbye in Turkish
Hello and goodbye, please and thank you, and the small set phrases that come up all the time in everyday Turkish.
Practise this list
From these 40 words, as many per round as you like — up to all of them: first what is due today, then new ones. First you choose, then you fill the gap, then you write it yourself. Mistakes come back again shortly.
More about this list
Many Turkish greetings are fixed phrases that you learn whole — nobody takes hoş geldiniz apart while speaking. Two things work differently from English. When people part, it matters who leaves (hoşça kal) and who stays (güle güle). And for many situations there is a set formula where English has nothing fixed: kolay gelsinto someone at workeline sağlıkto the person who cooked English “you” is one word; Turkish has a familiar sen and a polite or plural siz, and where a phrase has a polite form, the note gives it.
The words
Noun (4)
hanımMrs, Ms (after the first name)NounA1
Comes after the first name, not the surname, and is then capitalised: Ayşe Hanım.
beyMr (after the first name)NounA1
Like hanım: after the first name, capitalised.
adname, first nameNounA1
“What is your name?” adın ne?; politely adınız ne?. Same meaning: isim.
soyadısurnameNounA1
Already carries the ending -ı; “my surname” is soyadım.
Exclamation (9)
merhabahelloExclamationA1
Fine at any time of day and with anybody.
selamhi (casual)ExclamationA1
Among friends; with strangers merhaba is safer.
günaydıngood morningExclamationA1
teşekkürlerthanksExclamationA1
buyurunhere you are; please (when offering)ExclamationA1
Also “What can I get you?” in a shop; to someone you know well buyur.
pardonexcuse me (to ask something)ExclamationA1
affedersinizexcuse me (polite)ExclamationA1
Polite, to address strangers; casual affedersin.
tebriklercongratulationsExclamationA1
efendimyes? (on the phone); pardon?ExclamationA1
Polite: answering the phone, answering when someone calls you, or when you did not catch something.
Phrase (23)
iyi günlerhave a nice day; good dayPhraseA1
iyi akşamlargood eveningPhraseA1
iyi gecelergood nightPhraseA1
hoş geldinizwelcomePhraseA1
To one person you know well: hoş geldin. The reply is hoş bulduk.
hoş buldukthank you (reply to “welcome”)PhraseA1
Literally “we have found it pleasant”; without this reply the greeting feels unfinished.
güle gülegoodbye (said by the one who stays)PhraseA1
Said by the person staying to the one leaving.
hoşça kaltake care, bye (said by the one who leaves)PhraseA1
Said by the person leaving. Politely or to several people hoşça kalın; the reply is güle güle.
görüşürüzsee youPhraseA1
With a time before it: yarın görüşürüz “see you tomorrow”.
nasılsınhow are youPhraseA1
Politely or to several people nasılsınız.
iyiyimI am finePhraseA1
iyi “good” plus the ending -yim “I am” — no separate word for “am”.
teşekkür ederimthank youPhraseA1
What for: with için or in the dative: yardımınıza teşekkür ederim.
sağ olthanks (casual)PhraseA1
Politely or to several people sağ olun.
rica ederimyou are welcomePhraseA1
The answer to a thank-you — not the “please” of a request, which is lütfen.
özür dilerimI am sorryPhraseA1
To whom: ablative, sizden özür dilerim — literally “I ask pardon from you”.
memnun oldumpleased to meet youPhraseA1
In full tanıştığımıza memnun oldum “I am glad we have met”.
ne haberwhat is new, how is it goingPhraseA1
Casual, among people who know each other.
iyi şanslargood luckPhraseA1
kolay gelsinsaid to someone at work (no English equivalent)PhraseA1
Literally “may it come easy”; also at the till or to a tradesperson.
geçmiş olsunget well soonPhraseA1
Also after an accident or trouble: “may it be over”.
afiyet olsunenjoy your mealPhraseA1
Also after the meal, as a reply to a thank-you.
eline sağlıkthank you for cookingPhraseA1
Literally “health to your hand”; politely elinize sağlık.
doğum günün kutlu olsunhappy birthdayPhraseA1
Politely doğum gününüz kutlu olsun.
kendine iyi baktake care of yourselfPhraseA1
Politely kendinize iyi bakın.
Particle (4)
lütfenplease (when asking)ParticleA1
Only when asking for something. When you offer or hand something over, it is buyurun.
evetyesParticleA1
hayırnoParticleA1
tamamOK, all rightParticleA1
This list belongs to Greetings, opinions and ideas — four lists and 194 words that can also be practised as a whole.