Turkish Flashcards
(228 cards)
Hoş bulduk
Literal Translation: “Good we found ourselves here.”
Natural & appropriate reply to “Hoş geldin.” (polite)
Hoş geldin
Literal Translation: “Good you came.”
Used by shopkeepers (store, restaurant, someone’s home, & sometimes when you go to meet someone in public-esp. if you have traveled to a friends neighborhood).
Correct Response: “Hoş bulduk”.
Afiyet olsun
Literal Translation: “May you have an appetite.”
(similar to French: “Bon Appetit”)
Can be used for before, during & after someone has had a meal.
*You should definitely say it if you yourself have prepared food for others.
Eline sağlık
Literal Translation: “Health to your hand.”
Use this phrase to Thank the Cook if they are sitting at the table (not a worker).
It can also be used for any help someone gives you: repairing a pipe, changing your oil) but it is less common.
If someone says something really good or smart you can say ağzına sağlık which translates to “health to your mouth”.
Sıhhatler olsun
“May you be healthy”
Say this phrase if someone has just had a hair cut (although this generally applies to men) or taken a shower.
Sıhhatler olsun
Maşallah
An import from Arabic that = “Wow that’s great!”
Use it when you see something very beautiful (i.e. house, baby, or woman) & also when you hear good news.
Aferin
“Congratulations” or “Way to go”
DON’T use it on your elder. If someone older than you comes to you with good news, say maşallah (wow that’s great!).
inşallah
LT: “God Willing”
Use for: wishing someone well after you hear their future plans OR if you are not sure that something is going to happen but hope it will.
*Be careful- this can also be used for “This thing that we are talking about isn’t actually going to happen” or “I’m going to be late & blame it on traffic”
Hoşça kal
“stay well”
use when saying goodbye
kendine iyi bak
“take care of yourself”
another way to say goodbye
Tabii
“Of course”
often wrıtten as tabi
tabi tabi= mockingly disapproval, maybe you have exagerated your case
tabii ki (agreeing w/something someone has said)
Kolay gelsin
LT: “May it come to you easily.”
Use: if someone is about to start a tough job or see someone working
- It’s also a very polite way to start a conversation with a service employee (ex: over the phone or after waiting in a line).
- Also a kind thing to say when you see someone working very hard in general.
Eyvallah
You will hear this phrase a lot from thd men with mustaches that sit around drinking çay. It’s a very casual & emphatic way of saying “thank you”.
If you are grateful for something and in an informal setting, you can say this while putting your right hand over your heart.
Cok yaşa
“God Bless you” after someone sneezes. It means “live a long time”
common replies are “hep beraber” (may we all live a long time “all together”) or “sen de gör” (you also see a long life)
Geçmis olsun
used when people are sick or experiencing an unpleasant situation. it means “i hope it passes you quickly”
maalesef
“i don’t feel like helping you out”
“sadly, this is true”
“this didn’t happen”
Buyrun
often yelled by shopkeepers at a pazar
used to welcome you. the louder they shout, the more welcoming…
sıkıldım
“I’m bored”
abi
use to address an older man, is a great sign of respect
“older brother”
can also use in general for taksi driver, guy who works at your neighborhood bakkal, etc
it’s a good catchall phrase
abla
“older sister”
use this to address an older woman, shows respect
amca
“uncle”
use to address a very old man (older than abi)
teyze
“aunty”
used to address a very old lady (older than abla)
Hadi lan!
“Bullshit!”
“That’s enough from you”
“Get out of here”
accompany with a flick of the hand skyward to emphasize the addressee’s idiocy
Estağfurullah (pronounced estafrulah)
“Don’t mention it” or “Not at all”
A polite & modest way to respond to someone praising or thanking you, or when someone makes self-critical remarks
Interchangable with “Rica Ederim”- modern turkish
