Everyday Spoken Turkish Daily Phrases

How are you? (casual)

Tip: Answer 'İyiyim, sen?' = I'm fine, you? Formal/plural: 'Nasılsınız?'

What's up? / How's it going?

Tip: Spoken fast as 'naber?'. Reply: 'iyilik' = all good.

Welcome!

Tip: Said to every arriving guest. The fixed reply: 'Hoş bulduk.'

reply to 'welcome'

Tip: You must answer 'hoş geldin' with this — it completes the ritual.

thank you (everyday)

Tip: Casual alternatives: 'sağ ol' (lit. 'be healthy') — warmer between friends.

thanks / bless you (warm)

Tip: Literally 'be healthy/alive'. 'Sağ olun' formal. Ubiquitous.

please / here you go / go ahead

Tip: The multitool: offering a seat, handing something over, 'come in', 'how can I help?'

excuse me / sorry

Tip: French loan, used for bumps and attention. Deeper apology: 'özür dilerim'.

OK / alright

Tip: Turkey's 'vale'. Doubled 'tamam tamam' = fine, fine, I got it.

of course

Tip: Often 'tabii ki'. Spoken as 'tabi'. 'Tabii canım' = of course, dear.

my dear / mate (warm address)

Tip: Literally 'my soul/life'. Between friends of any gender; also sarcastic: 'yok canım!'

No way! / You don't say!

Tip: Disbelief: 'Yok canım, ciddi misin?' = no way, are you serious?

Are you serious?

Tip: Or 'gerçekten mi?' = really? Question particle 'mi' floats after the word it questions.

I hope so / hopefully / God willing

Tip: For any future plan: 'Yarın görüşürüz, inşallah.' Secular Turks say it too.

wonderful! (appreciation, knock on wood)

Tip: Praise that wards off the evil eye — say it about babies, houses, success.

get well soon / take it easy

Tip: Literally 'may it be past'. For illness, exams, traffic, any ordeal. Extremely used.

may it be easy (to someone working)

Tip: Said to ANYONE working — shopkeepers, taxi drivers, colleagues. Opens and closes interactions.

enjoy your meal / to the cook's hands

Tip: Before/after eating. Compliment the cook: 'Eline sağlık' = health to your hands.

health to your hands (to the cook)

Tip: The obligatory compliment after any home-cooked meal. Reply: 'afiyet olsun'.

let's go / come on

Tip: 'Hadi gidelim' = come on, let's go. Also goodbye on the phone: 'hadi bay bay'.

I'm coming / on my way.

Tip: One word does it — Turkish verbs carry the pronoun. 'Yoldayım' = I'm on the road.

Where are you? (casual)

Tip: The eternal meetup text: 'naptın, neredesin?'

See you later!

Tip: Literally 'we'll see each other'. 'Sonra görüşürüz' = see you later.

so-so / getting by

Tip: Literally 'it manages'. Answer to 'nasılsın' when things are meh.

never mind / forget it

Tip: Literally 'give empty'. 'Boş ver, önemli değil' = forget it, doesn't matter.

unbelievable / I'm stunned

Tip: Literally 'I don't believe (it)' — the go-to shocked reaction.