Allah'a ısmarladık
/allaha ɯsmaɾladɯk/from spelling rules
The English phrase "allah hafiz" translates to Turkish as Allah'a ısmarladık.
Allah hafız is used as a parting phrase, similar to saying "Goodbye" or "God protect you".
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase Allah hafız is composed of Allah (God) and hafız (protector/guardian).
Which one should you use?
While Allah hafız is a common parting phrase, Allah'a ısmarladık is a more traditional and grammatically complete way to express "I leave you in God's care" when someone is departing.
How do you pronounce it?
Use [h] as in [h]ome, [s] as in [s]end, [m] as in [m]uch, [ɾ] as in AmE a[t]om and [k] as in [c]ore. The vowel /ɯ/ is somewhat like the vowel in ribb[o]n.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers may mistakenly pronounce the ı in hafız as a standard "ee" sound. Instead, use a sound similar to the "u" in "ribbon".
Did you know?
- If you use the phrase Allah'a ısmarladık while leaving a person, you are conceptually 'ordering' or 'entrusting' them to God. This comes from the verb ısmarlamak, which can also mean to order food in a restaurant.
- The word hafız also refers to a person who has completely memorized the Quran. In the phrase Allah hafız, it functions as 'protector', but in a social context, it describes a specific scholarly achievement.
- Although Allah hafız is common in Turkey, the exact same phrase is used in Urdu and Persian, reflecting the historical influence of Islamic terminology across these different language families.
Examples in context
- Hadi kapatıyorum, Allah'a ısmarladık.Alright, I'm hanging up, goodbye.
Example conversation
Emre is leaving Merve's house after a visit.
- EmreBenim gitme vaktim geldi, Allah'a ısmarladık.It is time for me to go, goodbye.
- MerveTamam Emre, kendine çok iyi bak.Okay Emre, take good care of yourself.
- EmreSen de bak, sonra görüşürüz.You too, see you later.
- MerveGörüşürüz, iyi yolculuklar.See you, have a safe trip.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry Allah'a ısmarladık, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Turkish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
