A2 · 34 words
Polite set phrases in Turkish
What you say when someone has something new, goes away, sneezes, is grieving or does you a favour — and what you say back.
Practise this list
From these 34 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
For many occasions Turkish has a fixed sentence where English improvises or says nothing at all: for a new car (Güle güle kullan!), a new flat (Güle güle oturun!), after a haircut (Sıhhatler olsun!). Leaving them out quickly sounds cold. Most end in olsun “may it be”, and many have a familiar and a polite form: kusura bakma and kusura bakmayın. Some have a fixed reply, which the note gives. The English glosses are only the nearest equivalent — often there is none, and the gloss says what the phrase is for.
The words
Exclamation (1)
şerefecheersExclamationA2
Literally “to honour”.
Phrase (33)
başınız sağ olsunmy condolencesPhraseA2
Literally “may your head be healthy”. Reply: Dostlar sağ olsun. Among friends: başın sağ olsun.
hayırlı olsunall the best with it, congratulationsPhraseA2
For anything new: a job, a shop, a flat, a baby. Reply: Teşekkürler.
güle güle kullanenjoy using itPhraseA2
For a new object. Polite form: güle güle kullanın.
güle güle oturunenjoy your new homePhraseA2
For a new home; for new clothes: güle güle giy.
iyi yolculuklarhave a good tripPhraseA2
iyi tatillerhave a good holidayPhraseA2
iyi eğlencelerhave funPhraseA2
iyi çalışmalarsaid to people who are working (no English equivalent)PhraseA2
When leaving people who carry on working; also as a sign-off in an email.
iyi uykularsleep wellPhraseA2
iyi bayramlarhappy holiday (for a bayram)PhraseA2
For every bayram, the holidays when family and neighbours visit each other.
kusura bakmayınsorry, please excuse mePhraseA2
For a small inconvenience; literally “do not look at the fault”. Familiar form: kusura bakma.
zahmet olmazsaif it is no troublePhraseA2
Before a request. Afterwards you thank with Zahmet ettiniz. “You went to trouble.”
ne demeknot at all, you are welcomePhraseA2
A reply to thanks; literally “what does that mean”.
bir şey değilit is nothing, no problemPhraseA2
önemli değilnever mind, it does not matterPhraseA2
sağlıcakla kalınstay well, all the bestPhraseA2
On parting, a little warmer than hoşça kalın.
yeni yılınız kutlu olsunhappy New YearPhraseA2
Familiar form: yeni yılın kutlu olsun; shorter: mutlu yıllar.
nice yıllaramany happy returnsPhraseA2
For birthdays, anniversaries and the New Year.
çok yaşabless you (after a sneeze)PhraseA2
Literally “live long”. Reply: Sen de gör.
sen de görthank you (reply to “bless you”)PhraseA2
Literally “may you see it too”; polite form: siz de görün.
eksik olmayınthank you so muchPhraseA2
A warm, rather traditional thank-you; literally “do not be missing”. Familiar: eksik olma.
müsaadenizlewith your permissionPhraseA2
How a guest begins when wanting to leave.
rica etsemmay I ask youPhraseA2
başarılargood luck, every successPhraseA2
hayırdırwhat is up?PhraseA2
Friendly and a little concerned, when something is unusual.
gözünüz aydınhow wonderful for you (at good news)PhraseA2
When a long-awaited person arrives or something hoped for happens; literally “may your eyes be bright”. Familiar: gözün aydın.
sıhhatler olsunsaid after a haircut, bath or shavePhraseA2
Reply: Teşekkürler. The barber says it too when he is done.
iyi ki doğdunso glad you were born (birthday wish)PhraseA2
canın sağ olsunnever mind, as long as you are all rightPhraseA2
Comforting when something has been broken or lost.
görüşmek üzeresee you soonPhraseA2
elinize sağlıkthank you for cooking (polite)PhraseA2
The polite form of eline sağlık; the reply is afiyet olsun.
hayırlı işlersaid to people at work, especially shopkeepersPhraseA2
güle güle giyenjoy wearing itPhraseA2
Like güle güle kullan, but for clothes.
This list belongs to Everyday life in Turkey — four lists and 163 words that can also be practised as a whole.