Guide · 6 min read

Turkish greetings by time of day: from Günaydın to İyi geceler

Greetings are the first Turkish words you will use and the ones you will use most. Turkish has a greeting for every part of the day, polite and casual versions, and a set of fixed answers that every Turk knows by heart. Learning them properly takes one afternoon, and it instantly makes you sound polite and natural.

Fatih Koçoğlu · Turkish teacher

This guide goes through the day from morning to night, then covers hello and goodbye, how are you, welcome, and the answers you are expected to give.

Morning: Günaydın

Günaydın means "good morning". It is one word made of gün (day) and aydın (bright). Use it from when you wake up until about 11:00 or noon: at breakfast, when you arrive at work, at the bakery. A playful answer among friends is "Günaydın, uyuyan güzel!" (good morning, sleeping beauty!), when someone gets up late.

Günaydın!
gew·nai·duhn
Good morning!Listen

During the day: İyi günler

İyi günler literally means "good days". It is a polite greeting and also a common goodbye in the daytime. Shopkeepers and officials often say it when you leave: "İyi günler!" (have a nice day!). You can answer "Size de!" (to you too!) or "İyi günler!".

▶ Video lessons

▶Merhaba / Günaydın

▶Hoş geldiniz / Hoş bulduk

▶Hoşça kal / Güle güle

▶Ne var ne yok?

▶Kolay gelsin

YouTube: @learnturkishwithfatih →

Evening: İyi akşamlar

From late afternoon, around 17:00 or 18:00, switch to İyi akşamlar (good evening). Like İyi günler, it works both as hello and as goodbye. When you walk into a restaurant for dinner, "İyi akşamlar" is the perfect first words.

İyi akşamlar!
ee·yee ahk·shahm·lahr
Good evening!Listen

Night: İyi geceler

İyi geceler (good night) is only used when you part late or go to bed. It is never a greeting when you arrive. Parents add "Tatlı rüyalar" (sweet dreams) for children. Grandparents may say "Allah rahatlık versin" (may God give you a restful night).

İyi geceler!
ee·yee geh·jeh·lehr
Good night!Listen

Hello at any time: Merhaba and Selam

Merhaba (hello) is neutral and safe at any time of day, with anyone. Selam (hi) is shorter and more casual, used with friends and people your age. You will also hear "Selamünaleyküm" (peace be upon you), a religious greeting used mostly by men and in conservative areas. The answer is "Aleykümselam".

How are you?

After hello comes the question "How are you?". Nasılsın? is informal, Nasılsınız? is polite or plural. The usual answer is "İyiyim, teşekkürler. Sen nasılsın?" (I'm fine, thanks. And you?). "Fena değil" (not bad) is also common. Among friends, "Ne var ne yok?" or "N'aber?" means "What's up?".

Welcome and its answer

Hoş geldiniz means "welcome". It is said to anyone arriving: at a home, a hotel, a shop, or even back from a trip. The answer is always "Hoş bulduk", which roughly means "I'm glad to be here" or "I found it pleasant". This pair is one of the most important rituals in Turkish.

Goodbyes: who says what

Turkish goodbyes depend on who is leaving. The person who leaves says "Hoşça kal" (stay well), or "Hoşça kalın" to several people or politely. The person who stays says "Güle güle" (go with a smile). Mixing them up is a classic beginner mistake, and locals will gently laugh.

The casual goodbye between friends is "Görüşürüz" (see you). You can add a time: "Yarın görüşürüz" (see you tomorrow). "Kendine iyi bak" (take care) is a warm addition. On the phone, people often finish with "Görüşmek üzere" (talk soon).

Greetings for people at work and special moments

If someone is working, add "Kolay gelsin" (may it be easy) to your hello. On holidays, say "İyi bayramlar" (happy holidays). For someone who is ill, "Geçmiş olsun". On a Friday, religious people may wish each other "Hayırlı cumalar" (blessed Friday).

Formal greetings and titles

In formal situations, such as an office, a bank or a meeting, Turks use titles with first names: Ahmet Bey (Mr Ahmet) and Ayşe Hanım (Ms Ayşe). Students call their teacher "Hocam" (my teacher), and this has spread to anyone with knowledge, even a friend who explains something. In emails, you start with "Merhaba Ayşe Hanım," or the more formal "Sayın Ayşe Yılmaz,". A typical ending is "İyi çalışmalar" (have a productive day) or "Saygılarımla" (with my respects).

On the phone, people answer with "Alo?" or "Efendim?". In a shop, staff greet you with "Hoş geldiniz" or "Buyurun". A neighbour on the stairs gets a quick "Merhaba" or "Günaydın". Each situation has its words, but Merhaba is always a safe choice when you are not sure.

Body language

Between men, a handshake is standard, and close friends may kiss on both cheeks or touch temples. Between women, cheek kisses are common among friends. Between men and women, a handshake is fine in cities, but wait to see if the other person offers a hand, especially with religious people. Young people may kiss the hand of an elder and touch it to their forehead as a sign of respect.

A full day of Turkish greetings

Here is a day in greetings. Morning: "Günaydın anne!". At the bakery: "Günaydın, kolay gelsin. İki simit, lütfen." At work: "Merhaba, nasılsınız?". Leaving the office: "Hoşça kalın, iyi akşamlar!". At dinner with friends: "Selam, ne var ne yok?". Going home: "Görüşürüz, kendine iyi bak!". Before bed: "İyi geceler, tatlı rüyalar."

Practise this little script out loud and you will have used more than ten Turkish greetings in one day. If you want all greetings, polite forms and answers together with 500 everyday phrases, my main book below is the perfect next step.