Turkish · A1 (Beginner)
Greetings in Turkish: Words & Phrases
Quick answer: The most useful Turkish words for greetings are Merhaba (Hello), Hoşça kal (Goodbye (said by person leaving)) and Günaydın (Good morning). The full Turkish greetings phrase list with example sentences is below.
The essential Turkish vocabulary for greetings, with example sentences and English translations. This is A1 (Beginner) material — exactly the kind of practical language you need when you're learning Turkish to live, work, or settle abroad.
Source: Language Lab's Turkish curriculum (vocabulary & example sentences). · Join the beta →
Key greetings vocabulary
| Turkish | English |
|---|---|
| Merhaba | Hello |
| Hoşça kal | Goodbye (said by person leaving) |
| Günaydın | Good morning |
| Teşekkür ederim | Thank you |
| Lütfen | Please |
| Benim adım | My name is |
| Tanıştığıma memnun oldum | Nice to meet you |
| Affedersiniz | Excuse me / Sorry |
| Görüşürüz | See you |
| İyi akşamlar | Good evening |
Example sentences
Merhaba, nasılsınız?
Hello, how are you? (formal)
Hoşça kal, yarın görüşürüz!
Goodbye, see you tomorrow!
Günaydın, Bayan Yılmaz.
Good morning, Mrs Yılmaz.
Teşekkür ederim, çok naziksiniz.
Thank you, you are very kind.
Bir kahve, lütfen.
A coffee, please.
Benim adım Ahmet. Sizin adınız ne?
My name is Ahmet. What is your name?
How to actually learn these
Reading a vocabulary list is not the same as being able to use the words when it counts. Research on adult language acquisition consistently shows that vocabulary retained through contextual use — hearing a word, producing it under mild pressure, and being corrected when you get it wrong — transfers to real speech far more effectively than passive list review. The fastest way to make vocabulary like this stick is to practise it in the actual conversations where it comes up: not drills, but a real back-and-forth where you have to retrieve the word and say it aloud. Language Lab turns vocabulary like this into voiced, real-life scenarios with Sonia, a live AI language tutor who holds real conversations, corrects you in context, and remembers the specific words you keep getting wrong across sessions. The vocabulary stops being something you read and becomes something you say — automatically, under pressure, when you actually need it.
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