If you missed our first article, you can read it here.

“Buyrun”

You’ll hear the word buyrun everywhere you go in Turkey, in shops, restaurants and markets in particular. There is no direct English equivalent. Instead, buyrun acts as an all-purpose word to prompt you. It means welcome, please come in, sit down, there you are, how can I help you or would you like anything else, depending on the context in which it is used.

“Hadi!”

You will no doubt hear hadi almost as often as buyrun in Turkey. It means Come on! or Go on!

“İnşallah”

Literally translates to God willing and can be used as a way to wish someone well after you hear someone’s future plans, or if you are not sure that something is going to happen but hope it will.

“Maşallah”

The literal meaning of Maşallah is “what God has willed”, in the sense of “what God has willed has happened.” It is used when something good has happened in the past.

“Ellerine sağlık”

Means health to your hand and is said to someone who has created something beautiful with their hands, particularly to a cook to congratulate him/her on a good meal.

“Bakar mısınınız”

Literally means will you look at me and is used to attract someone’s attention. You will often hear it being used in restaurants to call the waiter.

“Allah Allah” 

You will certainly have the occasion to say Allah Allah at some point during your stay. It means “oh boy”, “wow”, “oh my goodness”, “well, I never”, “good Lord”, and the currently fashionable, “really?” You will hear this phrase at least once a day in Turkey.

“Eyvallah”

You will hear this phrase a lot from the men that sit around drinking çay. It’s a very casual and 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.

“Nazar değmesin”

“I hope you’re not affected by nazar”

Said to someone when you don’t want them to be affected by bad energy (nazar). The saying is accompanied by biting your tongue and knocking on wood. 

“Bir Taşla Iki Kuş Vurmak” 

“To hit two birds with one stone.” 

This idiom is a variation of the popular English idiom “to kill two birds with one stone”. Use it to describe when you accomplish multiple ends through one action!

And finally…

“Hoşça kal”

There are lots of ways to say goodbye in Turkish. This one means, word for word, means stay well.

This article was first published on 31 May 2018 and updated on 17 January 2024.

The post Unique Turkish Phrases – a saying for every occasion (part two) appeared first on Fethiye Times.

What is an idiom?

It’s a phrase or an expression with a meaning of its own, that’s not immediately understandable from the words used in it

Here are a few of the ones you are likely to hear the most…

“Hoş geldiniz”

You will hear this phrase on a daily basis. It literally means “good you came” or “welcome”

“Hoş bulduk”  is the natural and appropriate reply. It literally means “good we found ourselves here” or “a welcome found”

“Afiyet Olsun”

This phrase is used before, during and after someone has had a meal. It’s literal meaning is “may you have an appetite”

“Kolay gelsin”

“May it come easy” is  used when the speaker sees someone busy with something. It can be a physical, or mental work. It indicates the speaker’s wish that whatever that person is doing at the moment, may be easy for him.

“Kendine iyi bak”

This phrase is generally used by someone who is departing and translates to “take good care of yourself.”

“Cok yaşa”

“May you live long” is said after someone sneezes. Common replies are “sen de gör” (may you see my life) or “hep beraber” (may we all have many more years to live).

“Geçmiş olsun”

Used when people are sick or experiencing an unpleasant situation, it means “I hope it passes you quickly.”

“Boşver”

The direct translation for boşver is give empty and means let it go, never mind or forget it.

“Allah nazar korusun”

This phrase means “may God protect you from the evil eye.” Nazar is the evil eye, and some people from the eastern Mediterranean believe that if you have a good thing and someone is jealous of it, you can get nazar and subsequently lose that good thing. 

“Hayırlı olsun”

When someone opens a shop or starts a new business, others say “Hayırlı olsun” or “Let it be with goodness”. The expression indicates the speaker’s wish that the new business will bring prosperity, and it will be profitable. The reply for “Hayırlı olsun” is “Teşekkür ederim” – “Thank you.”

“İyi ki doğdun”

“It’s good that you were born” – Turkish for Happy Birthday.

“Şeytan tüyü”

“The devil’s feather”

What seems like an insult is actually a compliment used to describe someone who has a mysterious, devilish charm.

If you have enjoyed these phrases and would like to learn more please click here

And finally….

A phrase that is said to departing visitors to help take the edge off sad goodbyes.

“Güle güle gidin” – “May you go laughing.”

This article was first published on 24 May 2018 and updated on 16 January 2024.

The post Unique Turkish Phrases: a saying for every occasion appeared first on Fethiye Times.