The very first thing you need is a toolkit of Turkish greetings.

Turkish culture is incredibly hospitable. We love it when foreigners try to speak our language, even if it’s just a simple “hello”.

However, Turkish distinguishes between formal and informal speech. Using the wrong one can sometimes sound a bit rude (or just funny), so it’s important to know the difference.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through the most common ways to say hello, introduce yourself, and say goodbye in Turkish.

Saying hello in Turkish

The most standard, neutral way to say “hello” in Turkish is merhaba.

You can use this with anyone - friends, shopkeepers, or elders. It works in both formal and informal situations.

If you’re talking to close friends, you might hear selam. This comes from the Arabic word for “peace” and is used like “hi” or “hey” in English.

Note: You might sometimes hear people say merhabalar (plural). This is just a friendly, slightly more enthusiastic way of saying hello to a group or an individual.

Greetings based on the time of day

While merhaba works 24/7, Turkish people often prefer to greet each other based on the time of day.

Using these specific phrases shows that you have a better grasp of the culture.

Here is a quick list of time-specific greetings:

Asking “how are you?”

In Turkish, you need to pay attention to who you are talking to.

Are you talking to a close friend? Or are you talking to a boss, an elder, or a stranger?

This changes the ending of the verb. This is called the T-V distinction (tu/vous in French, or tú/usted in Spanish).

Informal: Nasılsın?

Use this with friends and family.

Formal: Nasılsınız?

Use this with strangers, people older than you, or in professional settings. The suffix -ız makes it plural/formal.

Here is a common dialogue you will hear every day in Turkey:

Slang: Ne haber?

If you want to sound like a local among friends, you can say Ne haber?

It literally means “What news?” but it is used like “What’s up?“. In rapid speech, this is almost always shortened to N’aber?

Introducing yourself

Once you have said hello, you will want to tell people who you are.

Just like asking “how are you,” asking for a name changes depending on formality.

• Informal: Adın ne? (What is your name?)
• Formal: Adınız ne? (What is your name?)

To reply, you simply say: Benim adım [Name].

Here is how an introduction looks:

Saying goodbye

This is the part that often confuses beginners because Turkish has a specific rule for goodbyes.

The phrase you use depends on whether you are the one leaving or the one staying.

1. If you are leaving

You say: Hoşça kal.

This literally means “stay pleasantly” or “stay well.” Since you are leaving, you are wishing the person who remains to stay well.

2. If you are staying

You say: Güle güle.

This translates to “go with a smile” or “laughing, laughing.” You are wishing the departing person a happy journey.

3. The universal option

If that is too confusing, you can just use Görüşürüz.

This means “See you” or “See you later.” It works for everyone, regardless of who is leaving or staying. It is very common and casual.

Cultural tips: welcome and body language

To truly master Turkish introductions, you need to know about the “Welcome” culture.

Hoş geldin vs. Hoş bulduk

When you enter a home, a shop, or meet someone, they will likely say Hoş geldin (Welcome).

In English, you usually just say “thank you.” But in Turkish, there is a specific set response: Hoş bulduk.

This literally means “we found it pleasant.” It is a lovely little exchange that happens constantly in Turkey.

• Host: Hoş geldin! (Welcome!)
• Guest: Hoş bulduk! (Happy to be here!)

Body language

• Handshakes: A firm handshake is standard for men and women in formal introductions.
• Cheek Kissing: Friends and family usually kiss each other on both cheeks. This is common between men and men, and women and women.
• Hand on Heart: If someone does not want to shake hands (perhaps for religious reasons) or simply wants to show sincerity, they might place their right hand over their heart and nod slightly.

Regional variation: Selamun aleykum

In more conservative areas, religious circles, or rural villages, instead of merhaba, you will often hear Selamun aleykum (Peace be upon you).

The required response is Aleykum selam (And peace be upon you).

Summary

Turkish greetings are not difficult, but paying attention to formality (formal vs. informal) will make a huge difference in how you are perceived.

Here’s a quick checklist for your next conversation:

1. Use Merhaba for a safe “hello”.
2. Use Nasılsınız? with strangers and Nasılsın? with friends.
3. Remember to say Hoşça kal if you leave, and Güle güle if they leave.
4. When in doubt, use Görüşürüz (See you) to say goodbye!