How to Say Thank You in Turkish

Thank You Is Safe with Anyone

Teşekkür ederim can be used with shop staff, a taxi driver or a stranger you stop for directions. It is polite without being formal.

How Teşekkür ederim Is Pronounced

The ş is "sh". The ü is the vowel in the German über, made by saying "ee" with rounded lips. Turkish puts the stress on the last syllable of most words, so the weight falls on -kür and on -rim. Please check the audio.

Shorter Ways to Say Thank You

Teşekkürler is a shorter version and is just as common in a shop. Sağ ol, literally "be healthy", is the casual thanks used with friends, and sağ olun is its polite form. You will also hear mersi, borrowed from French, which is common in cities.

The Usual Reply to Teşekkür ederim

The most common reply is rica ederim, which works as "you're welcome". Bir şey değil, "it's nothing", is just as ordinary.

• Teşekkürler

  teh-shek-kewr-LEHR

  Thanks. Shorter than teşekkür ederim and heard everywhere.

• Çok teşekkür ederim

  CHOK teh-shek-KEWR eh-deh-REEM

  Thank you very much, for something more than routine service.

• Sağ olun

  sah oh-LOON

  "Be healthy." Warm and slightly informal, and fine with a shopkeeper.

• Mersi

  mer-SEE

  Borrowed from French. Casual, and mostly heard in cities.