Geçmiş olsun
/ɟet͡ʃmiʃ olsun/from spelling rules
To say get well in Turkish, you use Geçmiş olsun.
Geçmiş olsun is used to wish someone a recovery from illness, but it is also used to express sympathy when someone experiences any misfortune, such as a bad accident or a difficult situation.
Meaning: to recover from illness or injury (verb)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of geçmiş (past/passed) and olsun (let it be/may it be).
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase uses the optative mood (the olsun form) to express a wish or a prayer.
How do you pronounce it?
/ɟetʃmiʃ olsun/. The sounds are similar to ar[g]ue for /ɟ/, [ch]ange for /tʃ/, [m]uch for /m/, cr[ee]k for /i/, [sh]oe for /ʃ/, [s]end for /s/, c[oo]l for /u/ and [n]ot for /n/.
When do people say it?
When someone says Geçmiş olsun to you, a common way to respond is Sağ ol (Thank you/Be healthy) or Teşekkür ederim (I thank you).
Did you know?
- In many Turkish social circles, saying Geçmiş olsun is a required social etiquette when someone mentions a broken appliance or a spilled drink.
- The word geçmiş is inherited from the Ottoman Turkish word گچمش, reflecting the deep historical layers of the language's evolution.
- You might hear Geçmiş olsun used during a funeral or a period of mourning to acknowledge that the period of grief will eventually pass.
Examples in context
- Geçmiş olsun!Get well soon!Tatoeba #645645 by deyta, translation #645644 by CK
- Geçmiş olsun.Get well soon.Tatoeba #5416472 by oligophile, translation #5416405 by CK
- Geçmiş olsun. Kendine iyi bak.Get well soon. Take care.Tatoeba #13890491 by carlosalberto, translation #13890489 by carlosalberto
- Arkadaşınızın hastalığına çok üzüldüm. Geçmiş olsun.I'm sorry to hear about your friend's illness. Get well soon.
- İyi olmana çok sevindim!I'm so glad you're feeling better!
Example conversation
Selin calls Mehmet to check on him because he is sick.
- SelinMehmet, çok hasta olduğunu duydum.Mehmet, I heard that you are very sick.
- MehmetEvet, biraz halsizim.Yes, I am a bit weak.
- SelinGeçmiş olsun, lütfen dinlen.Get well soon, please rest.
- MehmetTeşekkür ederim Selin.Thank you, Selin.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Turkish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries geçmiş, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
