How to Say Hello in Turkish

Merhaba is the most reliable way to say hello in Turkish. It works in formal settings, casual chats, and first meetings. Think of it as a small key that opens many doors, even when your Turkish is still short and simple.

Quick Use Guide

Default option: Merhaba (neutral, all day).
Casual option: Selam (friends, peers).
Morning: Günaydın (until late morning).
Evening: İyi akşamlar (after late afternoon).
When someone arrives: Hoş geldiniz → reply: Hoş bulduk.

See The Greeting Table

Mini Dialogs

Pronunciation Tips

Core Ways To Say Hello

Merhaba — the standard “hello/hi.” Use it with anyone.
Selam — a more informal “hi.” Best for friends, classmates, coworkers you know well.
Günaydın — “good morning.” Natural in the morning, also common at the start of a workday.
İyi günler — “good day.” Polite for daytime greetings in shops, offices, and quick interactions.
İyi akşamlar — “good evening.” Works when it is late afternoon or evening.
İyi geceler — “good night.” Often used when leaving at night, or before sleep.
Alo — “hello” on the phone. Very common.

Most Common Turkish Greetings

This table is designed for fast choosing. Pick the phrase that matches the time of day and how formal you want to sound.

Turkish	Simple Pronounciation Hint	Best Use	Formality
Merhaba	MEHR-ha-bah	Any time, any person	Neutral
Selam	seh-LAHM	Friends, peers	Casual
Günaydın	goo-NIGH-dun	Morning greeting	Polite
İyi günler	ee-YEE goon-LEHR	Daytime, service settings	Polite
İyi akşamlar	ee-YEE ak-SHAHM-lar	Evening greeting	Polite
İyi geceler	ee-YEE geh-jeh-LEHR	Night, leaving late, bedtime	Warm
Hoş geldiniz	hosh gehl-dee-NEEZ	Welcoming a guest	Formal/Polite
Hoş bulduk	hosh bool-DOOK	Reply to “welcome”	Standard reply

Formal And Polite Options

Merhaba + Nasılsınız? (“How are you?” formal)
İyi günler (useful in stores and offices)
İyi akşamlar (polite in restaurants, hotels)

If you are unsure, choose Merhaba and add Nasılsınız?. It sounds respectful without being stiff.

Casual And Friendly Options

Selam (simple and relaxed)
Selam, nasılsın? (informal “How are you?”)
Naber? (very casual “what’s up?”)

With close friends, Selam is often the quickest option. Short. Warm. Easy.

Pronunciation That Makes “Hello” Sound Natural

Turkish spelling is usually predictable. When you learn a few letters, greetings become much easier to say out loud.

ç sounds like ch in “chat” (example: Çok).
ş sounds like sh in “shoe” (example: akşam).
ğ is soft; it usually lengthens the vowel before it (example: gün is clear, but dağ stretches the “a”).
ı is a short, neutral vowel (not “ee”). It often sounds like a soft uh.
ö and ü are rounded vowels; keep your lips rounded while speaking.

Merhaba is spoken clearly as three beats: mehr + ha + bah.

Mini Dialogs You Can Copy

These are short on purpose. Each one starts with a hello, then adds a small, useful follow-up.

Meeting Someone Formally

You: Merhaba, nasılsınız?
Them: İyiyim, teşekkür ederim. Siz nasılsınız?

İyiyim = “I’m fine.”
Teşekkür ederim = “Thank you.”

Greeting A Friend

You: Selam! Nasılsın?
Friend: İyiyim. Sen?
You: İyi ben de.

Sen is the informal “you.” Use it when the relationship is clearly friendly.

On The Phone

You: Alo?
Them: Merhaba, müsait misiniz?
You: Evet, buyurun.

Müsait misiniz? = “Are you available?” (polite)
Buyurun = “Go ahead / Please.”

Welcome Greetings That Matter

If you enter a home, a small business, or a meeting room, you may hear Hoş geldiniz. It is more than “welcome.” It also signals we are glad you came.

Host says: Hoş geldiniz
You reply: Hoş bulduk

Also Useful In Shops

You: İyi günler.
Shop staff: Hoş geldiniz.
You: Hoş bulduk.

Choosing “You” In Turkish

One quick rule helps you sound natural: Turkish has two everyday ways to say you. The greeting you choose often follows that choice.

Siz = polite “you” (use with strangers, elders, officials, customers).
Sen = informal “you” (use with friends, family, kids, close peers).

If you start with siz, keep it consistent: Nasılsınız? not Nasılsın?. Consistency makes you sound confident, even with a small vocabulary.

Extra Hello Variations You Will Hear

Tünaydın — “good afternoon.” It exists and people know it, yet it is less common than İyi günler.
Hayırdır? — not a standard hello; it is more like “Is everything okay?” Only use it when you understand the context well.
Selamün aleyküm — a greeting used in some communities. A common reply is Aleyküm selam. If you are not sure, Merhaba is always safe.

Small Etiquette Notes That Help

Greeting style is flexible. A simple smile plus a clear word is enough in most situations.

In professional settings, a handshake is common.
Among friends, people may greet with a handshake or a cheek kiss. Follow the other person’s lead.
When you enter a small place (like a shop), opening with İyi günler sounds polite and natural.

Fast Practice Plan

Practice works best when it is tiny and repeated. Use these three steps for a week.

Say Merhaba out loud 10 times, slowly.
Add one follow-up: Nasılsınız? (formal) or Nasılsın? (casual).
Pick the time-based greeting once a day: Günaydın in the morning, İyi akşamlar in the evening.

Quick FAQ

Is “Merhaba” formal or informal? It is both. It fits almost anywhere.

What is the most natural shop greeting? During the day, İyi günler is a strong choice.

What should I say back to “Merhaba”? Simply say Merhaba back.