aferin
/afeɾin/from spelling rules
The Turkish way to say bravo is aferin.
aferin is used to say well done or good job.
Meaning: interjection (intj)
Which one should you use?
Use tebrikler for formal congratulations on an achievement, whereas aferin is a more casual expression of approval for a task well done.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
aferin is an informal term. It is most commonly used by adults to praise children or subordinates. Using aferin toward a social equal or a superior can sound condescending or patronizing. For formal situations, you should use tebrikler to say congratulations or harikasınız to say you are excellent when praising someone's achievement.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /afeɾin/. The sounds are similar to the [f] in food, the [t] in the American English word atom, the [ee] in creek and the [n] in not.
Did you know?
- In Turkish, aferin is frequently used sarcastically to criticize someone for a mistake, similar to saying 'Nice one!' or 'Way to go!' in English.
- Although it sounds like the Italian 'bravo', the word aferin actually has Persian roots, stemming from a word meaning 'praise' or 'blessing'.
- While aferin is a spoken word, Turkish people sometimes express the same sentiment by lightly patting a child on the head or shoulder.
Examples in context
- Aferin, sınavı geçtin!Bravo, you passed the exam!
- Çok iyi bir iş çıkardın, aferin.You did a very good job, bravo.
- Aferin sana, çok hızlı koştun.Bravo to you, you ran very fast.
Example conversation
Mehmet is praising Zeynep for winning a drawing competition.
- MehmetResim yarışmasını kazandın, aferin!You won the drawing competition, bravo!
- ZeynepTeşekkür ederim Mehmet, çok mutluyum.Thank you Mehmet, I am very happy.
- MehmetGerçekten çok yetenekli bir kızsın.You are truly a very talented girl.
- ZeynepSenin desteğin benim için çok önemli.Your support is very important to me.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry aferin, 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.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries aferin, CC BY-SA 4.0.
