afiyet olsun
/aː.fi.jet‿olˈsun/
The Turkish phrase for "bon appetit" is afiyet olsun.
Afiyet olsun is used to wish someone a good meal before or during eating. It translates to "may it be beneficial to you."
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of afiyet, meaning health, well-being or ease and olsun, meaning "may it be" or "let it be."
How does it change in a sentence?
Afiyet olsun is an optative expression, which means it functions as a wish or a prayer rather than a direct command.
How do you pronounce it?
The phrase consists of 4 syllables, with the stress on the 4th syllable. The sounds are as follows: /f/ as in [f]ood, /i/ as in cr[ee]k, /j/ as in [y]es, /s/ as in [s]end, /u/ as in c[oo]l and /n/ as in [n]ot.
When do people say it?
When someone says afiyet olsun to you, a common and polite response is Sağ olun, which means "thank you" or "be healthy."
Did you know?
- While afiyet olsun is the general wish for a meal, Turks use şifa olsun when they want the food to specifically act as a healing cure.
- In Turkish social etiquette, it is polite to say afiyet olsun to the person who prepared the food or even to the waiter, even if you are not the one eating.
- While English speakers say 'bon appetit' to those about to eat, a Turkish person might say afiyet olsun to someone who has just finished their meal.
Examples in context
- Afiyet olsun.Enjoy your meal.
- Yemeğiniz afiyet olsun.Bon appetit for your meal.
Example conversation
Emre is serving a meal to Merve at home.
- MerveEllerine sağlık, çok güzel görünüyor.Bless your hands, it looks very delicious.
- EmreTeşekkürler, afiyet olsun.Thanks, enjoy your meal.
- MerveÇok teşekkür ederim.Thank you very much.
- EmreRica ederim, tadını çıkar.You're welcome, enjoy it.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry afiyet olsun, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
