Thanks and Please
Turkish uses teşekkür ederim or sağ ol for thanks, rica ederim for 'you're welcome', and lütfen for 'please'.
How It Works
Turkish politeness is built on specific set phrases that change based on who you are talking to.
1. Saying Thank You
- Teşekkür ederim: The most common way to say 'I thank you'. It uses the auxiliary verb etmek in the aorist tense.
- Teşekkürler: A shorter, pluralized version ('Thanks') for everyday situations.
- Sağ ol: Literally 'be healthy'. It is warmer and more casual. Use sağ olun for polite or plural situations.
- Elinize sağlık: Literally 'health to your hands'. Use this specifically to thank someone for cooking a meal or completing a piece of work.
2. Saying You're Welcome
- Rica ederim: The standard polite response, meaning 'I request/beg'.
- Ne demek: Literally 'What does it mean?', used like 'Don't mention it' or 'Of course'.
- Önemli değil: Literally 'It is not important', similar to 'No problem'.
- Bir şey değil: Literally 'It is not a thing', similar to 'It's nothing'.
3. Saying Please
- Lütfen: Used to soften a request. While common, native speakers often prefer using aorist questions to sound naturally polite rather than just adding 'lütfen' to a command.
Examples (6)
- Çok teşekkür ederim.
Thank you very much.
Word by Word: Very thanks I-do.
This is the most standard and polite way to express gratitude in any setting.
- — Teşekkürler! — Rica ederim.
— Thanks! — You're welcome.
Word by Word: — Thanks! — I request.
A typical short exchange between two people.
- — Çok sağ ol. — Ne demek!
— Thanks a lot. — Don't mention it!
Word by Word: — Very be-healthy. — What to-mean!
'Ne demek' is a very common, friendly way to say 'You're welcome' or 'It's nothing'.
- Anne, yemek için elinize sağlık.
Mom, health to your hands for the meal.
Word by Word: Mom, for meal to-your-hand health.
'Elinize sağlık' is a specific way to thank someone who has cooked a meal or done manual work.
- — Teşekkür ederim. — Önemli değil.
— Thank you. — It's not important.
Word by Word: — Thanks I-do. — Important not.
'Önemli değil' is used like 'No problem' or 'It doesn't matter'.
- Lütfen kapıyı kapatın.
Please close the door.
Word by Word: Please the-door close.
Lütfen is used here with a polite command to make the request softer.
Common Mistakes
Using 'sağ ol' with a boss or stranger.
Efendim, sağ ol.Efendim, sağ olun.Always use the plural/polite form 'sağ olun' when speaking to elders, superiors, or people you don't know well.
Writing 'sağ ol' as a single word.
Sağol!Sağ ol!According to official Turkish orthography, 'sağ' and 'ol' must be written as two separate words.
Using the wrong case for the person you are thanking.
Seni teşekkür ederim.Sana teşekkür ederim.The verb 'teşekkür etmek' requires the dative case (-a/-e), not the accusative.
How It Connects
Learn This First
This pattern introduces fixed social expressions for gratitude and requests. While these are often learned as set phrases, a basic understanding of Turkish phonology and introductory social greetings helps in using them naturally.
Related Patterns
- Noun + etmekCompound Verbs with Etmek
Teşekkür etmek is a compound verb following the same rules as yardım etmek.
Level 2 - The Plural of Respect
The plural suffix is used on 'sağ olun' to show respect to a single person.
Level 5 - -er misin?Aorist Questions and Polite Requests
Polite requests are often made using the aorist question form instead of just using 'lütfen'.
Level 3 - -(y)e (yönelme hâli)Dative Case
The dative case is used to indicate the person you are giving thanks to.
Level 1
Words in This Pattern
Practice Thanks and Please in Bubblegum
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