A greeting (selamlaşma) is an important value of Turkish culture. Once you visit Turkey, you’ll find out that there are various ways of greetings in Turkish.
The Turkish phrases used for greeting change based on the formality, occasion, and person. So there are some crucial differences that you must pay attention to when you greet someone in Turkish.
Turkish greetings are not limited to words. You can also greet someone with gestures that can be commonly seen all over the country. But again, there are things to bear in mind when performing these gestures. So that you will always look respectful and sincere.
In this post, you’ll learn Turkish greetings and gestures. After reading this article, the gestures that Turkish people do when greeting each other will make sense to you. So that you will be able to grasp the Turkish culture a little better.
To begin with, let’s learn how to say hello in Turkish!
How To Say Hello In Turkish?
The most commonly used word to say hello is ‘‘Merhaba’‘ in the Turkish language. It is a neutral phrase, so you can prefer using it in both formal and informal situations.
Also, there are some other ways to say hello in different situations.
Turkish Formal Greeting
As I mentioned before, you can just say ”Merhaba” in a formal setting, such as in a business environment. Or when talking to someone that you don’t know well, because you want to sound polite and formal.
Merhaba efendim
English meaning: Hello, sir/ma’am.
It’s the formalized way of ”merhaba” by adding ”efendim” at the end. It literally means ”hello sir.”
Turkish Informal Greetings
Nobody wants to sound serious and formal in a family or friend’s meeting. That’s why you should learn informal Turkish greetings when you sit in a pretty cafe with your friends.
So here are the informal ways of greeting someone in Turkish.
Merhabalar
English meaning: Hello.
It is the same phrase as the previous one, but the only difference is that it’s the plural form of ”merhaba.” Somehow, it sounds casual when it’s in the plural form. You can use this phrase when you meet with a group of friends outside. You will have greeted each of your Turkish friends at once by just saying ”merhabalar.”
Selam
English meaning: Hey.
”Selam” is most commonly used by young people in Turkey. It literally means peace, and it is a pretty informal phrase usually used among Turkish friends.
Selamün aleyküm
English meaning: May peace be upon you.
This phrase is derived from the universal Islamic greeting ”Es selam’ün aleyküm”, which is actually an Arabic phrase. Since the majority of the population in Turkey are Muslims, you can hear this phrase commonly in daily life.
However, since this phrase has religious connotations, some people don’t prefer to use it.
Commonly Used Gestures In Turkish Greetings
I’m 100% sure that none of the language courses will teach popular gestures in Turkish culture. You’re one of the lucky language learners reading this article!
Sometimes only gestures can mean a lot without any words. Turkish people use many gestures in daily life, so let’s find out what they do to greet each other.
Handshake
Handshaking is a universal gesture that is used for greeting in any country. You can perform it in Turkey as well. It is suitable for formal settings or the first time you meet with someone. We don’t shake hands with friends and family since it’s a formal gesture.
Take into consideration that some people, especially ladies wearing hijab, may not prefer to shake hands with the opposite gender because of their religious beliefs. On the other hand, some people are totally okay with it.
Nodding Slightly
Nodding is a way of polite greeting on formal occasions. Also, you can greet someone by slightly nodding if the person is not close to where you are, but you see them from a certain distance.
Waving Your Hand
Waving your hand is another universal gesture that can be seen anywhere in the world. You can wave your hand when you see a friend across the road, or if you are to greet someone from a certain distance.
Hugging
Another common way of greeting someone is hugging them. Kissing the other person’s cheek is also okay, especially among women, if that person is a close friend or family member.
It is an informal and intimate gesture, for sure. So you shouldn’t do that to strangers.
Kissing The Hand Of The Elder
It is a unique gesture belonging to Turkish culture. I’m sure it’s unfamiliar to western people. Elder Turkish people expect you to kiss their hand and put it on your forehand when you greet them.
We always do that when visiting grandparents. It’s also a tradition for Eid (Bayram) times. Turkish people visit their older ones during Eid to show their respect and remembrance and perform that gesture.
Touching Heads To One Another
This gesture is mostly performed by men. When two male friends see each other, they slightly shake hands and touch the edge of their heads on each other from the right and left in order.
Sometimes they even make small talk while doing this gesture.
Placing Hand On The Chest
This is a gesture with religious connotations. Religious people don’t prefer touching the opposite gender physically. So when someone intends to do a handshake or hug, they politely step back and put their hand above their heart on the left. You may have seen it in Turkish TV series because many male characters use the hand-on-the-chest gesture.
It is a sign that they accept your greeting and greet you back this way. It is a common gesture in Muslim-majority countries. So don’t get it wrong if it ever happens to you as a foreigner.
Time-Specific Turkish Greetings
Here are some basic Turkish words that you can use for greeting people in the morning, afternoon, and evening times. You’re probably familiar with them but still have a look at them just in case.
Alright, you’ve learned so many Turkish phrases only in this article on your own. And if you’ve already read our previous Turkish blog posts, tebrikler, now you’re ready to have your first Turkish conversation!
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