Easy methods to Say Hey in Turkish

Merhaba is the most typical strategy to say “hi there” in Turkish. Nevertheless it’s removed from being the one one. Relying on the context, you’ll additionally hear the extra informal selam, the welcoming hoş geldiniz, or the morning-specific günaydın.

As a local speaker, I’ve rounded up other ways to say hi there, how to answer hi there in Turkish, and different widespread greeting phrases. Right here is an summary of what we’ll cowl:

Merhaba: The Most Widespread Turkish Greeting

Merhaba is a flexible phrase you should use to say hi there, irrespective of the state of affairs. You may say merhaba at any time of the day, with anybody you meet, irrespective of for those who deal with them utilizing the formal or casual register.

You might also hear individuals say merhabalar as a substitute of merhaba. This phrase has the plural suffix lar, and actually interprets to “hellos.” It’s barely extra informal, however you should use merhaba and merhabalar interchangeably.

Why Do Turks Say Merhaba?

Merhaba comes from Arabic, and it means “welcome” or “hi there.” It entered the Turkish language from Arabic, most definitely throughout the Ottoman Empire, a interval when Arabic had a major affect on Turkish.

Selam: A Extra Informal Approach of Saying Hey in Turkish

Selam is the Turkish equal of “hello” or “hey.” It’s broadly used amongst mates, household, and youthful individuals, and is as well-liked as merhaba.

Merhaba or Selam: Which One Ought to You Use?

Whereas each merhaba and selam imply “hi there,” we are able to say that selam is the extra casual model of claiming hi there. That mentioned, you should use selam in formal contexts with out worrying if it’s too casual.
I’d say once you’re chatting with household or mates, at all times go for selam. Merhaba is okay too, nevertheless it won’t give off the pleasant vibe you may wish to give.

Selamün Aleykum, Aleyküm Selam: Non secular Methods of Saying Hey

Does the phrase selamün aleykum look acquainted? It in all probability does, as we simply lined selam. Selamün aleykum is the lengthy model of the informal Turkish greeting selam.

This Arabic-origin phrase means “Peace be upon you.” You’ll seemingly hear it in non secular contexts. Right here’s the way it goes: somebody greets the others by saying selamün aleykum. Others reply aleyküm selam, wishing peace to the one who initiated the greeting.
That mentioned, you gained’t hear it as typically as merhaba and selam.

Turkish Greetings for Each Time of Day

Merhaba and selam are nice, however they’re not time-specific. Much like English, Turkish additionally makes use of completely different greetings relying on the time of the day, resembling “good morning” and “good afternoon.”

Günaydın: “Good morning” in Turkish

If it’s earlier than midday, you possibly can greet individuals with günaydın (“good morning”). When somebody says günaydın to you, you possibly can reply günaydın as properly. If it’s too early within the morning, anticipate their want for some espresso and ask kahve ister misin? Right here is an instance dialogue:

• Günaydın! – “Good morning!”
• Günaydın! Kahve ister misin? – “Good morning! Would you want some espresso?”
• Çok iyi olur! – “That will be nice!”

İyi Akşamlar: “Good Afternoon” in Turkish

Because the day winds down, you possibly can change to iyi akşamlar (“good night”). This may be each a greeting and a parting, as you should use it as a substitute of each “hi there” and “goodbye.”

• Merhaba, iyi akşamlar. – “Hello, good afternoon.”
• İyi akşamlar, nasılsın? – “Good afternoon, how are you?”
• İyiyim, sen? – “I’m good, and also you?”

İyi Günler: “Good Afternoon” or ”Good Day” in Turkish

For that interval between the morning and the night, you should use iyi günler, which interprets to “good day” in Turkish.

Easy methods to Say Welcome in Turkish

Whenever you’re internet hosting a celebration, a dinner, or some other sort of greeting, use hoş geldiniz to say “welcome.”
Observe that hoş geldiniz is the formal or plural model of “welcome,” so that you say it to both somebody you deal with utilizing formal language or to a bunch of individuals. When you’re welcoming a buddy, you need to say hoş geldin, a extra casual strategy to say welcome.
Enjoyable reality: there’s a customary response to hoş geldiniz. When somebody welcomes you with this phrase, you possibly can reply with hoş bulduk, which accurately interprets into “we’re welcomed,* which means you recognize the invite.

How Do Turks Greet Every Different?

A handshake, a kiss on each cheeks, or kissing palms — these can all comply with a merhaba in Turkish tradition.

Handshake: The Common Greeting

Handshakes are widespread, particularly in formal or enterprise settings. They’re additionally the most secure possibility when assembly somebody for the primary time, each when greeting and parting.

Cheek Kisses: For Mates and Household

Kissing on each cheeks is a heat greeting amongst Turkish mates, as is the case in lots of Mediterranean international locations. The “kiss” is commonly only a contact of cheeks with a kissing sound.

Kissing Fingers: A Bayram (Eid) Custom

In assist, or “bayram,” it’s conventional to point out respect to the aged by kissing their palms after which touching their brow. Bayrams are non secular holidays in Turkey, with the 2 most essential being Ramazan Bayramı (“Eid al-Fitr”) and Kurban Bayramı (“Eid al-Adha”). Throughout these festive occasions, youthful individuals go to the aged and kiss their palms to want them a cheerful bayram.
This greeting is extra widespread throughout non secular holidays or in additional conventional settings moderately than each day life. As a customer, you’re not anticipated to kiss palms, however don’t be stunned for those who see it taking place, particularly in additional conservative or rural areas, or throughout Bayram.

How Do You Reply to Merhaba?

When somebody says merhaba to you, the best response is to say merhaba proper again! You may as well say selam or ask a comply with up query like nasılsınız? (“how are you?”)
Listed below are some widespread solutions to merhaba in additional element:

Nasılsınız? – “How Are You” in Turkish

Nasılsınız? (“How are you?”) is among the most typical follow-up inquiries to merhaba. Observe that nasılsınız is the formal or plural model — if you wish to ask “how are you” to a buddy, say nasılsın? as a substitute.

In additional casual contexts, you should use naber as a substitute of nasılsın. Consider naber as “what’s up” and “nasılsın* as “how are you.”

Bonus phrase in case you’re chatting with Turkish Cypriots: napan, pronounced “na-pahn,” is the way you say “what’s up” in casual contexts!

The most typical responses to nasılsınız, nasılsın, naber or napan are iyiyim sen (“I’m superb and also you?”) or iyiyim teşekkürler (“I’m superb, thanks”). Thanks in Turkish goes a great distance!

Tanıştığımıza Memnun Oldum (“Good to Meet You”)

Use this phrase once you’re being launched to somebody new. It’s a well mannered strategy to say “good to satisfy you” or “happy to satisfy you.”

Say Merhaba to Studying Turkish

“Hey” in Turkish is commonly step one to studying the language. Now  merhaba and extra — you possibly can say selam in additional casual contexts, günaydın within the morning, iyi akşamlar within the afternoon, and extra!

Try our favourite Turkish assets for e-book suggestions, dictionaries, and Turkish studying web sites — you’ll quickly transfer past merhaba!

Yaren Fadiloglulari

Freelance Content material Author & Journalist

Initially from Cyprus, Yaren is a freelance author for a lot of digital publications, journey and training manufacturers, and start-ups.

Speaks: English, Turkish, French, and Spanish

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