An Introduction To The Turkish Language In 9 Idioms

There are a lot of Turkish idioms that, when translated directly, seem very strange but are actually extremely common and an integral part of Turkish society. Affected by the country’s religious and superstitious beliefs, as well as the importance of family and hospitality, Culture Trip took a look at some very common idioms for an introduction to the Turkish language.

Nazar değmesin

One of Turkey’s most prevalent superstitions, nazar is the belief that an envious person can cause bad luck just through their gaze. Admonished with the eye-shaped nazar boncuğu (nazar bead), this idiom is also used when someone is lucky or very happy, and you don’t want them to be affected by someone’s bad energy. Translating to “I hope you’re not affected by nazar,” the saying is also accompanied by biting your tongue and knocking on wood, which are proven methods of preventing that horribly evil eyeball.

Hoşgeldiniz

Güle güle gidin

The opposite of welcome, this idiom literally translates into “you leave with lots of laughter” – which doesn’t make a lot of sense in English – meaning when guests leave, the hope is that they do so with a smile on their face. This idiom also expresses a wish that when Turkish people see someone off, they hope that their journey back home goes smoothly.

Hayırlı olsun

“Hayır,” or auspiciousness, is a very important concept in Turkish society, and when someone wishes for something, like a job or marriage, for example, then it should only occur if it’s auspicious. This idiom, which means “let it be auspicious,” can be used for many situations where you wish a person luck, such as when they buy a new car, get married, etc.

Ellerine sağlık

This idiom translates to “health to your hands,” which sounds pretty strange. However, it is used quite frequently in situations where someone has cooked food. Once you’re done with a meal, you say “ellerine sağlık” to express your gratitude for the person who prepared such an amazing meal for you.

Kolay gelsin

Another great idiom for appreciating someone’s hard work, kolay gelsin translates into “let it be easy,” which means that you wish the person ease with their task. This idiom can be used for strangers, such as a cab driver, or someone you know that is busy with something like cleaning the house or tackling a difficult assignment.

Sıhhatler olsun

You’ll always hear this idiom when someone comes out of the shower, and it goes back to the days when running water was scarce, and bathing could only be done sporadically and usually at a hamam. Translating to “let there be health,” this was a warm wish directed toward the person who bathed, hoping he or she didn’t catch a cold.

Çok yaşa

The Turkish version of “bless you” is much more gracious because it means “live long,” to which the appropriate reply is “sen de gör,” which means something along the lines of “I hope you see me grow old.” Sometimes strangers on buses will have this exchange, which comes to show how Turkish people are kind enough to wish long lives upon people they don’t even know.

Kafayı üşüttü

One of the most common insults for someone who is annoying you, this idiom means “he/she has a cold in his head,” or that the person has basically gone insane, which would explain their annoying behavior. You’ll hear couples asking each other if they have this particular head cold when they argue with each other.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.