Turkish Traditions and the Phrases That Go With Them
Tea, hospitality, kissing elders' hands, the evil eye and holidays: everyday Turkish traditions explained by a native speaker, with the phrases you'll hear.
Many Turkish traditions come down to a few everyday habits: looking after guests, respecting elders, drinking a lot of tea, and having the right phrase for every occasion. Here are the ones you'll meet most often, explained by a native speaker. Habits vary by region and family, of course.
Tea and coffee
Çay. Black tea in a small tulip-shaped glass is everywhere: in homes, shops and offices. If someone offers you one, they're offering conversation as well.
Türk kahvesi. Turkish coffee is served in a small cup, with the grounds left at the bottom. Friends often flip the cup and "read" the shapes in the grounds, which is called fal. It's mostly for fun. A well-known saying goes that a cup of coffee is remembered for forty years.
Guests come first
A guest is a misafir, and hosts take this seriously. You'll likely be offered food more than once, and refusing politely may not end the matter. Shoes usually come off at the door, and you may be handed slippers.
Respect for elders
During holidays or family visits, younger people may kiss an elder's hand and touch it to their forehead. It's called el öpme. Children often receive sweets or a little money for it.
The evil eye
The blue glass bead called a nazar boncuğu is said to protect against the evil eye. You'll see it in homes, on cars and on baby clothes. Many people keep one out of custom rather than real belief.
Holidays
Ramazan Bayramı marks the end of Ramadan and is also called Şeker Bayramı, or "sugar holiday", because of all the sweets. Kurban Bayramı is the Feast of Sacrifice. At both, families visit one another, and elders are visited first.
The dates of these two holidays move each year because they follow the lunar calendar.
The phrase for every moment
This is where tradition meets the language, and it's the part every learner should study. Turkish has set phrases for everyday situations, and using one will win people over instantly.
| Say it | When | Literally |
|---|---|---|
| Kolay gelsin | To someone working | May it come easy |
| Geçmiş olsun | To someone sick or after trouble | May it be past |
| Eline sağlık | To thank someone for cooking or making something | Health to your hand |
| Afiyet olsun | When someone is eating | May it bring health |
| Hoş geldiniz | To welcome someone | You came pleasantly |
| Hoş bulduk | The reply to hoş geldiniz | We found it pleasant |
| Güle güle kullan | When someone has something new | Use it smiling |
| Başın sağ olsun | When someone has died | May your head be healthy |
Keep going
See how many of these customs come together in Turkish wedding traditions, or find out how hard Turkish is to learn. You can also start with our free Turkish word lists with audio.
Our Learn Turkish app takes you from your first words through graded reading to Turkish literature. It's free to download, though some books and extra content need diamonds you earn while learning, or Premium.