Turkish Proverbs:
Most Common and Daily proverbs and Turkish Expressions

Most Common and Daily Turkish proverbs

Turkish proverbs are very common among people in Turkey. Turkish people have a special expression for every situation. These proverbs serve as a bookcase in every conversation and offer a useful and automated start and end for every human interplay.

Turkish Proverbs act as social glue. You would not find a Turk who will not disappear with words even in the most unexpected situations. Many of these expressions are well-known as a proverb, exactly turned into the words of our progenitors.

• Hos geldiniz; one of the most said Turkish proverbs means welcome. Hos geldiniz is said to a person that arrives from a destination when someone comes to your home. Or a family member come from outside and the guests to make them feel at home. It is an elegant way of saying welcome in past and modern Turkish tradition. To response them back with pleasure you can say “Hosbuldum” or “Hosbulduk” to tell that you feel welcomed.

• Gule gule gidin: is one of the best wishing Turkish proverbs means “Go in peace”. Gule gule gidin expression is said to departing guests and not to make sad goodbyes with them.

• Gunaydin means good morning. If you wake up in Turkey every morning you will hear “Gunaydin”.  Because it is a kind of Turkish culture and people are very polite and friendly to each other.
• Kolay gelsin; May it be easy. Saying "Kolay gelsin" is the best way to support the employees, workers of another person with a difficult task. Even it is said to a stranger on the street. As well as it is said to the mothers cooking in the kitchen. As a General for anyone who is busy with a stressful or hard work.

• Bosver; one of the Turkish proverbs or expression means “let it go”, or “never mind”. This expression is used among Turkish people when they want to say let the little issues go.

• Gecmis olsun is one of the Turkish expression which is said in many situations and has many meanings. Such as: “get well soon”, “sorry to hear what happened”and “that's tough”. When a person is sick or passes through an accident or a bad experience this expression is said to him or her. It is a great feeling when you understand how someone recognizes your pain. This phrase also expresses the hope you will not come across this situation.

• Cok Yasa: means “ALLAH bless you”, “May you live long”.  When someone sneezes in Turkey people say the expression “ALLAH bless you,” long live. The sneezer then answers "Sende gor" means may you also see and have a long life. Or "Hep beraber" may we all have many more years to live all together.

• Hayirli cumalar: As Friday is a holiday for Muslims, they say this expression to each other every Friday which means “good Fridays”.

• Ellerine saglik: As there are many good and meaningful Turkish proverbs it is also one of them meaning “ALLAH bless your hands”, or “Health to your hand”. This expression is said when someone makes or creates something good with his or her hands. Especially after a meal to a chef or a Turkish mother after cooking a feast for his family.

• Afiyet olsun: means “enjoy your meal”, or “bon appetite”. As Turkish people have a hearty appetite, they love to have a rich and flavor meals. Like “Ellerine saglik” this is also one of Turkish proverbs said in meals. It is a sign that showing how polite the Turkish people are.

• Sihhatler olsun: means “Good health to you” and “enjoy your new haircut”.  These Turkish proverbs are said after someone is taking a bath and after the haircut. It is said for good wish for people to have a good health and enjoy from hygiene.

• Nazar degmesin: This expression is said in purpose of “May you will be away from the evil eyes”, “knock on wood”. It is said mainly after making a compliment to a baby. As Turkish people believe in the bad energy of the evil eye and use the expression of Nazar degmesin. It is also said when something beautiful and new thing is seen.

• Hayirli olsun is said when someone wants to hope good wishes for a persone who bought something new. Such as home, car, cloths or start a new job. One of the Turkish expression that has great meaning as “May it be auspicious”.

• Gule gule Kullan: it is used for cases to say “Enjoy it”. When someone purchases something new like a house, dress, or anything else that he/she will use it, this expression is used. But you cannot say this for a person who begins a new job. It does not mean the same as “Hayirli olsun”.

• Bir yastikta kocasinlar: it is one of the wishing Turkish proverbs which is for a new married couple to wish them to “Have a long-lasting marriage”. It is a kind of advice for telling the new couples not to fight and go to bed angry with each other. This is a traditional Turkish expression said for newlyweds sharing a single long pillow on a marriage bed.

• Allah anali babali buyutsun: means “May god let him/her grow up with his/her mother and father”. It is one of the most meaningful Turkish proverbs which is said for a newborn baby.

• Iyi ki dogdun: it is a Turkish expression which means “Happy birthday”.  But to translate it literally it means “It’s good that you were born”. This statement is much more expressive and has a good meaning than the English version. Some foreigners get impressed with its meaning and even use this expression on their non-Turkish friends' birthdays.

• Ilk goz agrim; means “old or first love”, “first child”, or “sweetheart”. A Turkish proverb said to the first love or first child is a way of expressing their love. Even sometimes the siblings become very jealous of each other when the father or mother says their older siblings as their first love.

• Ates almaya gelmek: means “Coming over just for a light”. When you want a guest or your friends to stay for a while longer, you can say this Turkish proverbs. It is said when someone come to you and just leave within minutes. Or just go back from the door in this situation Turkish people say "Ates almaya mi geldin".

• Armut pis agzima dus: means “Birds fly not into our mouth ready roasted”, “fall into someone's lap”. Or “May the pear be cooked on the tree and fall into my mouth”. This expression is said when someone who does not like to work and w
• ants everything to be prepared and done.

• Basiniz sagolsun; “Sorry for your loss”.  This sad expression is said to a person and a family as they lose one of their loved ones or their relatives. It is a respectful way of wishing people who have condolences.

Turkish is a magnificent and melodious language that is known to be the happiest language all around the world. There is an unlimited number of Turkish proverbs that makes it hard to learn Turkish. But at the same time, these proverbs and expressions make Turkish an interesting language.

There are also some good things, to be able to speak Turkish pleasantly. You are just supposed to memorize or learn part of the total number of Turkish proverbs and expressions. For instance, by being able to use less than a hundred words, you will know 50 percent of any textbook or sentences in Turkish. Right! To make an actual conversation with your friend from Turkey you are not supposed to know the Turkish internal and external.

The secret to learn Turkish quickly, is trying to start with the most widespread Turkish proverbs, phrases and expressions. As you learn a few sentences every day, you will feel one step nearer to learn speaking Turkish fluently. Speak with your Turkish friend and use the expressions you learned to lock the information in your conversations.

Why to Learn Turkish proverbs?

• Be Wiser Day by Day

The best way to strengthen your IQ is to learn a new and different language. Your mind will make new linkages and alliances, and you will know that learning Turkish proverbs are one of the best decisions you have ever made.

• Speak Fluent Turkish in a Short Time

Beginning with the basics of a language, easy Turkish proverbs quickly prepare a ground for you to learn a lot about complex Turkish phrases and sentences. You can slowly improve your Turkish knowledge by daily phrases and expressions to be fluent quicker than you can think of.

• Have Real Conversations with Turkish proverbs

As you begin learning some basic phrases or Turkish proverbs, you will have the ability to begin your first Turkish conversation in real-life.

• Imagine How Easy It Can be to Learn Turkish Language

Learning each language should begin with gradually experiences or expressions, from the most effortless phrases to more complex sentences. Beginning with the most simple and most usual Turkish proverbs, you will count on your ability to learn a new language. This is one of the basic principles on which learning a new language is based.