iyi misin?
The phrase "are you okay?" in Turkish is iyi misin?
You can use this phrase to check on someone's physical well-being, such as after they have fallen or to ask about their emotional state. While iyi misin? is the direct way to ask if someone is okay, the phrase Nasılsınız? (How are you?) can also be used in certain contexts to ask if someone is doing well.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of iyi (good), the interrogative particle mi (the question marker) and the second-person singular suffix -sin (you are).
Which one should you use?
İyi misin? is the version used for a single person in an informal setting. In contrast, İyi misiniz? is used when addressing more than one person or when you want to be polite.
How does it change in a sentence?
To address a group of people or to use the formal register, the phrase changes to iyi misiniz?
When do people say it?
If someone asks you İyi misin?, a common way to respond is İyiyim, teşekkürler (I am fine, thanks).
Did you know?
- If you want to ask if someone is 'okay' in a judgmental or skeptical way, such as 'Are you out of your mind?', you would use İyi misin sen? with a specific rising intonation.
- In Turkey, if someone asks İyi misin? after an accident, it is common to respond with Hamdolsun, which means 'Praise be to God'. This is used even by people who are not strictly religious.
- The word iyi shares a common ancestor with the Mongolian word эд, which means 'thing' or 'object'. This suggests that the concept of 'good' was originally linked to having 'useful goods' or 'refined things'.
Examples in context
- Yüzün çok solgun, iyi misin?Your face is very pale, are you okay?
- Düştün, iyi misin?You fell, are you okay?
- Biraz sesin kötü geliyor, iyi misin?Your voice sounds a bit bad, are you okay?
Example conversation
Merve sees Mehmet looking tired at a cafe.
- MerveMehmet, çok yorgun görünüyorsun. İyi misin?Mehmet, you look very tired. Are you okay?
- MehmetEvet, sadece biraz uykusuzum.Yes, I am just a bit sleep-deprived.
- MerveDinlenmen gerekiyor.You need to rest.
- MehmetHaklısın, biraz uyuyacağım.You're right, I will sleep a bit.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries iyi, CC BY-SA 4.0.
