Polite expressions: lütfen, teşekkürler, özür dilerim, rica ederim
Can use basic polite expressions in social interactions
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
Bir çay, lütfen. — Buyrun. — Teşekkür ederim.
Please, here you go, thank you.
Özür dilerim, geç kaldım.
I'm sorry.
Affedersiniz, saat kaç?
Excuse me.
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
| Turkish | English |
|---|---|
| Lütfen | Please |
| Teşekkür ederim / Teşekkürler / Sağ ol | Thank you / Thanks / Cheers (informal) |
| Rica ederim / Bir şey değil | You're welcome / It's nothing |
| Özür dilerim | I'm sorry (apologising) |
| Pardon / Affedersiniz | Excuse me (to get attention or pass) |
| Kusura bakmayın | Sorry / Don't hold it against me |
| Buyurun | Here you are / Please, go ahead / Come in |
Turkish has a ready-made phrase for many everyday moments, and using them is a big part of sounding polite:
| Phrase | Said when |
|---|---|
| Afiyet olsun! | someone is eating ("enjoy your meal") |
| Elinize sağlık! | praising the cook ("health to your hands") |
| Kolay gelsin! | to someone working ("may it come easy") |
| Geçmiş olsun! | to someone ill or after a mishap ("may it be past") |
| Çok yaşa! - Sen de gör! | after a sneeze ("live long!" - "may you see it too!") |
| Hayırlı olsun! | congratulating on a new home, job or purchase ("may it be good") |
Affedersiniz and pardon are for getting attention: Affedersiniz, metro nerede? - Excuse me, where is the metro? Özür dilerim is a real apology. Kusura bakmayın is softer and very common: when you are late, when you interrupt, when the house is untidy.
English uses "please" and "thank you" constantly; Turkish uses them a little less and the situational phrases a lot more. A guest who eats a home-cooked meal and leaves without saying Elinize sağlık will be forgiven, but one who says it will be remembered.
Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises
Practice ExercisesUsed informal expression in formal context
Teşekkür ederim (formal) vs teşekkürler (casual); affedersiniz (formal) vs pardon (casual)
Bir çay, lütfen. — Buyrun. — Teşekkür ederim.
Please, here you go, thank you.
Lütfen / Buyrun / Teşekkür ederim.
Özür dilerim, geç kaldım.
I'm sorry.
Özür dilerim: formal apology.
Affedersiniz, saat kaç?
Excuse me.
Affedersiniz: formal excuse me.
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Ready-made hints are free
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises