hello
"Merhaba" is the standard, universal way to greet someone in Turkish. It comes from the Arabic word "marhaban," and it carries a warm, welcoming energy, much like saying "hello" or "hi" in English. It is appropriate for almost any situation, whether you are meeting a stranger, walking into a shop, or saying hello to a friend. While "merhaba" is perfectly polite, you will often hear Turkish speakers use it as a standalone greeting. If you want to be slightly more formal or respectful—especially when greeting someone older or in a professional setting—you can add "efendim" (sir/madam) after it. It is the perfect starting point for any conversation in Turkey.
In conversation
Meeting a friend
Merhaba! Nasılsın?
Hello! How are you?
Merhaba, iyiyim teşekkürler. Sen nasılsın?
Hello, I'm fine, thanks. How are you?
This is the most common way to start a casual conversation.
Entering a shop
Merhaba, kolay gelsin.
Hello, may it be easy for you.
Merhaba, hoş geldiniz!
Hello, welcome!
Adding 'kolay gelsin' is a polite way to acknowledge someone's work when greeting them.
Examples
Merhaba, ben Ali.
Hello, I am Ali.
Herkese merhaba, bugün yeni bir konuya başlıyoruz.
Hello everyone, today we are starting a new topic.
Yolda eski bir arkadaşımı görünce hemen 'merhaba' dedim.
When I saw an old friend on the road, I immediately said 'hello'.
