Turkish Greetings Explained: Merhaba, Selam, Nasılsın and More
Learning how to say “hello” is one of the first steps in any language. However, Turkish greetings are not only about memorising words. The expression you choose can change depending on the time of day, your relationship with the other person and the situation.
Should you say merhaba or selam? What is the difference between nasılsın and nasılsınız? And why might a Turkish person say kolay gelsin instead of hello?
In this guide, you will learn the most common Turkish greetings and how Turkish people actually use them in daily life.
Quick Guide to Common Turkish Greetings
Turkish | English | When to use it |
Merhaba | Hello | Almost any situation |
Selam | Hi | Friends and informal situations |
Günaydın | Good morning | In the morning |
İyi günler | Good day | Polite or neutral situations |
İyi akşamlar | Good evening | In the evening |
Nasılsın? | How are you? | One person you know well |
Nasılsınız? | How are you? | Formal or plural |
Hoş geldin | Welcome | Informal singular |
Hoş geldiniz | Welcome | Formal or plural |
Kolay gelsin | May your work be easy | To someone who is working |
Merhaba: The Safest Way to Say Hello in Turkish
Merhaba means “hello.” It is the safest Turkish greeting because you can use it in both formal and informal situations.
You can say merhaba when:
meeting someone for the first time,
entering a shop or office,
speaking to a teacher or colleague,
greeting a neighbour,
starting a phone or online conversation.
For example:
— Merhaba, ben Anna.— Merhaba Anna, memnun oldum.
— Hello, I’m Anna.— Hello Anna, nice to meet you.
You may also hear merhabalar. Although the ending looks plural, Turkish speakers can use it when speaking to one person or a group. It often sounds warm, friendly and slightly more expressive than a simple merhaba.
Selam: A More Casual Hello
Selam also means “hello” or “hi,” but it is more informal than merhaba.
It is common among:
friends,
classmates,
close colleagues,
relatives,
people of a similar age.
For example:
— Selam! Ne haber?— İyilik, senden ne haber?
— Hi! What’s up?— I’m good. How about you?
You can also write selam when texting someone:
Selam, bugün müsait misin?
Hi, are you available today?
If you are meeting someone in a professional setting or are unsure how formal you should be, choose merhaba. It is always the safer option.
Nasılsın or Nasılsınız?
After saying hello, Turkish speakers often ask:
Nasılsın? — How are you?
Use nasılsın when speaking to one person you know well, such as a friend, family member or close colleague.
Nasılsınız? is the polite and formal version. It is also used when speaking to more than one person.
Use nasılsınız when speaking to:
someone you have just met,
an older person,
a teacher or customer,
more than one person.
How to Answer Nasılsın
The most common answer is:
— Nasılsın?— İyiyim, teşekkür ederim. Sen nasılsın?
— How are you?— I’m fine, thank you. How are you?
In a formal conversation, say:
— Nasılsınız?— İyiyim, teşekkür ederim. Siz nasılsınız?
Notice the difference:
sen — informal “you”
siz — formal or plural “you”
In casual conversations, you may also hear:
İyiyim. — I’m fine.
Fena değilim. — I’m not bad.
İdare eder. — It’s going okay.
Çok iyiyim! — I’m very well!
Biraz yorgunum. — I’m a little tired.
Turkish speakers do not always expect a long or deeply personal answer. A short answer followed by Sen nasılsın? or Siz nasılsınız? is usually enough.
Greetings for Different Times of Day
Günaydın — Good Morning
Use günaydın in the morning.
You can say it to family members, colleagues, neighbours or people working in a café or hotel.
— Günaydın!— Günaydın, hoş geldiniz.
— Good morning!— Good morning, welcome.
İyi Günler — Good Day
İyi günler literally means “good days,” but it functions like “good day” or “have a nice day.”
It can be used both when greeting someone and when leaving. It is particularly common in shops, offices and other polite everyday interactions.
— İyi günler, yardımcı olabilir misiniz?— Tabii, nasıl yardımcı olabilirim?
— Good day, could you help me?— Of course. How can I help?
İyi Akşamlar — Good Evening
Use iyi akşamlar in the evening. Like iyi günler, it can be used when arriving or leaving.
— İyi akşamlar, rezervasyonumuz vardı.— İyi akşamlar, isminizi alabilir miyim?
— Good evening, we had a reservation.— Good evening, may I have your name?
İyi Geceler — Good Night
İyi geceler is normally used when leaving late at night or before going to sleep. It is not usually the first greeting you use when arriving somewhere.
For example:
— Ben artık yatıyorum. İyi geceler.— İyi geceler, güzel rüyalar.
— I’m going to bed now. Good night.— Good night, sweet dreams.
You may come across tünaydın, meaning “good afternoon,” in vocabulary lists. The word exists, but it is uncommon in natural daily conversation. Turkish speakers usually continue using merhaba or iyi günler in the afternoon.
Hoş Geldin and Hoş Bulduk
When you enter someone’s home, workplace or event, they may say:
Hoş geldin! — Welcome!Hoş geldiniz! — Welcome! (formal or plural)
The traditional response is:
Hoş bulduk!
There is no perfect word-for-word English translation. It communicates something like “I am happy to be here” or “thank you for welcoming me.”
For example:
— Nergis, hoş geldin!— Hoş bulduk!
— Nergis, welcome!— Thank you, happy to be here!
Simply saying teşekkür ederim is understandable, but hoş bulduk sounds much more natural in Turkish.
Kolay Gelsin: A Very Turkish Greeting
One of the most useful expressions in everyday Turkish is kolay gelsin.
Its literal meaning is “may it come easily,” but Turkish people say it to someone who is working. It expresses politeness, appreciation and goodwill.
You can say kolay gelsin when:
entering a small shop,
speaking to a receptionist,
approaching someone working at a desk,
talking to a cleaner, waiter or delivery person,
leaving a workplace.
For example:
— Kolay gelsin, bir şey sorabilir miyim?— Tabii, buyurun.
— I hope your work goes smoothly. May I ask something?— Of course, go ahead.
There is no exact English equivalent. Depending on the situation, it can work as a greeting, a polite conversation opener or a friendly way to say goodbye.
Selamünaleyküm: A Traditional Greeting
You may also hear selamünaleyküm, particularly in traditional, religious or familiar social environments. It means “peace be upon you.”
The expected response is:
Aleykümselam.
You do not need to use this expression in every situation. As a beginner, recognising it and knowing how to respond is enough. Merhaba remains the most neutral greeting.
How to Say Goodbye in Turkish
Greetings and farewells often appear together, so here are the most useful ways to end a conversation:
Turkish | Meaning | Usage |
Görüşürüz | See you | Common and friendly |
Görüşmek üzere | See you later | Neutral or slightly formal |
Kendine iyi bak | Take care | Informal singular |
Kendinize iyi bakın | Take care | Formal or plural |
Hoşça kal | Goodbye | Said by the person leaving |
Güle güle | Goodbye | Said to the person leaving |
İyi günler | Have a nice day | Polite and common |
İyi akşamlar | Have a good evening | Evening farewell |
A common mistake is confusing hoşça kal and güle güle.
Imagine that you are visiting a friend:
You are leaving, so you say hoşça kal.
Your friend is staying, so your friend says güle güle.
In modern daily life, many people simply say görüşürüz, especially among friends.
Three Natural Turkish Conversations
Meeting Someone for the First Time
— Merhaba, ben Emma.— Merhaba, ben de Mert. Memnun oldum.— Ben de memnun oldum. Nasılsınız?— İyiyim, teşekkür ederim. Siz nasılsınız?
Entering a Shop
— Merhaba, kolay gelsin.— Teşekkür ederim, hoş geldiniz.— Hoş bulduk. Bu gömleğin başka rengi var mı?
Greeting a Friend
— Selam! Nasılsın?— İyiyim, biraz yorgunum. Sen?— Ben de iyiyim. Hadi bir kahve içelim.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Using Selam in Every Situation
Selam is friendly, but it may sound too casual in a formal email or professional conversation. Use merhaba when you are unsure.
Saying Nasılsın to Everyone
Use nasılsınız with older people, customers, teachers and people you have just met. It shows respect and creates appropriate social distance.
Translating Every Expression Literally
Expressions such as kolay gelsin and hoş bulduk are connected to Turkish social habits. Instead of searching for a perfect English translation, learn the situation in which each expression is used.
Using İyi Geceler as an Evening Greeting
Say iyi akşamlar when you arrive in the evening. Save iyi geceler for late-night farewells or bedtime.
Which Turkish Greeting Should You Use?
If you remember only one word, choose merhaba. It works almost everywhere.
Then add these four expressions:
Selam for friends.
Nasılsınız? for polite conversations.
Kolay gelsin for someone who is working.
Hoş bulduk when someone welcomes you.
These small choices will help your Turkish sound more natural and culturally aware.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common Turkish greeting?
Merhaba is the most versatile Turkish greeting. You can use it in formal and informal situations at almost any time of day.
What is the difference between merhaba and selam?
Both mean “hello,” but merhaba is neutral and suitable for almost everyone. Selam is more casual and is generally used with friends or people you know.
How do you say “How are you?” in Turkish?
Say nasılsın? to one person you know well. Use nasılsınız? in formal situations or when speaking to more than one person.
How do Turkish people respond to hoş geldin?
The traditional response is hoş bulduk.
Is kolay gelsin a greeting?
It can function as one. Turkish speakers say it to people who are working, both when beginning and ending an interaction.
Start Speaking Turkish Naturally
Learning vocabulary is important, but knowing when and how to use an expression is what makes a conversation feel natural.
In my Turkish lessons, we practise real-life conversations, cultural expressions and the language you will actually hear in Türkiye. You can book a 20-minute trial lesson to discover your current level, discuss your goals and create a personalised learning plan.
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