Turkish grammar · A1 · Lesson 1 of 29
Turkish Greetings and Introductions
Selamlaşma ve Tanışma
Saying hello and introducing yourself: merhaba, nasılsın?
Core social phrases for saying hello, greeting by the time of day, asking how someone is, introducing yourself, and parting politely. The starting point of every A1 conversation.
Form
By time of day
Time
Hello
Good morning
Good day
Good evening
Good night
Welcoming and parting
Who says it
Welcome
Glad to be here, the reply
Goodbye, said by the one leaving
Goodbye, said by the one staying
See you
Courtesy phrases
Situation
Thank you
Thanks, among friends
You are welcome
Sorry, excuse me
Good to know
"sen" is informal, "siz" is polite or plural
sen is used with friends, family, children, and peers. siz is the polite form with a stranger, an elder, or in a formal setting, and it is also the plural of sen with no separate form. Nasılsınız? (polite/plural "how are you") is the safer choice than Nasılsın? on a first meeting.
Watch out
"güle güle" is said by the one staying, not the one leaving
Arabic uses one phrase for both sides of a farewell; Turkish splits it in two. The person leaving says Hoşça kal (Hoşça kalın when polite or plural) and the person staying answers Güle güle. Swapping them sounds odd to a Turkish ear. Only Görüşürüz works from either side. Welcoming follows the same logic: the host says Hoş geldiniz and the arriving guest answers Hoş bulduk.
Examples
Merhaba, benim adım Ali.
Hello, my name is Ali.
First speaker:Nasılsın?
Second speaker:İyiyim, teşekkürler.
How are you? I’m fine, thanks.
Tanıştığımıza memnun oldum.
Nice to meet you.
First speaker:Adın ne?
Second speaker:Benim adım Ayşe.
What is your name? My name is Ayşe.
First speaker:Nerelisin?
Second speaker:Ben İstanbulluyum.
Where are you from? I am from Istanbul.
First speaker:Hoş geldiniz!
Second speaker:Hoş bulduk.
Welcome! Glad to be here.
First speaker:Teşekkür ederim.
Second speaker:Rica ederim.
Thank you. You are welcome.