What is a common mistake with “İyi akşamlar”?

✗ İyi akşam → ✓ İyi akşamlar: The wish is always plural: akşamlar.

Phrase 4 of 500

How to say “Good evening” in Turkish

Q: How is “İyi akşamlar” used in a conversation?

Garson: İyi akşamlar, hoş geldiniz. (Good evening, welcome.) Tom: İyi akşamlar, iki kişiyiz. (Good evening, we are two.)

İyi akşamlar!

ee·yee ahk·shahm·lahr

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Meaning: Good evening!
Pronunciation: ee·yee ahk·shahm·lahr

What “İyi akşamlar” really means

İyi akşamlar means "good evening". Use it from late afternoon, roughly after 17:00 or 18:00, both when you arrive and when you leave. Shop staff often say it as you go out the door, the way English speakers say "have a nice evening".

💬 Example dialogues

Garsonİyi akşamlar, hoş geldiniz.Good evening, welcome.

Tomİyi akşamlar, iki kişiyiz.Good evening, we are two.

KasiyerBuyurun, fişiniz. İyi akşamlar!Here is your receipt. Have a good evening!

ElifTeşekkürler, size de!Thanks, you too!

🚫 When NOT to use it

It is not "good night" before bed. When someone is going to sleep, say "İyi geceler". Do not use İyi akşamlar in the morning or at lunchtime.

🇹🇷 Culture note

On TV, news presenters open the evening news with "İyi akşamlar efendim". "Size de" (to you too) is the standard polite reply.

⚠️ Common mistakes

✗ İyi akşam → ✓ İyi akşamlarThe wish is always plural: akşamlar.

Culture tip

When you arrive, Turks say Hoş geldiniz! and you answer Hoş bulduk! When you leave, you say Hoşça kal, and the person staying says Güle güle.

Letters to watch in this sentence

Ş ş like sh in “shoe”
İ i like ee in “see”