geçmiş olsun
/ɟet͡ʃmiʃ olsun/from spelling rules
The Turkish way to say 'get well soon' is geçmiş olsun.
geçmiş olsun is used to express hope that someone recovers soon, but its application is broader than just physical illness. It is also used to express sympathy when someone experiences any kind of misfortune, such as losing a job, failing an exam or being in an accident.
Meaning: expressing hope that someone recovers soon (phrase)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to 'let it be past', implying that the misfortune or illness should be in the past.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ɟetʃmiʃ olsun/. Comparing the sounds to English: the /ɟ/ is like the 'g' in ar[g]ue, /tʃ/ is like the 'ch' in [ch]ange, /m/ is like the 'm' in [m]uch, /i/ is like the 'ee' in cr[ee]k, /ʃ/ is like the 'sh' in [sh]oe, /s/ is like the 's' in [s]end, /u/ is like the 'oo' in c[oo]l and /n/ is like the 'n' in [n]ot.
When do people say it?
When someone says geçmiş olsun to you, a natural way to respond is to say sağ ol or teşekkür ederim to say thank you.
Did you know?
- In a hospital setting, visitors often say geçmiş olsun to the medical staff as well, acknowledging the difficulty of the procedure they just performed.
- You can say geçmiş olsun to someone who has just finished a difficult task, such as a long exam or a stressful project, to acknowledge they have survived a trial.
- The word geçmiş comes from the Ottoman Turkish word گچمش.
Examples in context
- Geçmiş olsun!Get well soon!This example shows how to use geçmiş olsun as a standalone exclamation.Tatoeba #645645 by deyta, translation #645644 by CK
- Geçmiş olsun.Get well soon.This example shows the phrase used as a polite statement.Tatoeba #5416472 by oligophile, translation #5416405 by CK
- Geçmiş olsun. Kendine iyi bak.Get well soon. Take care.This example demonstrates using geçmiş olsun alongside a friendly closing.Tatoeba #13890491 by carlosalberto, translation #13890489 by carlosalberto
- Umuyorum ki bir an önce sağlığına kavuşursunI hope you regain your health as soon as possible
- Ahmet, geçmiş olsunAhmet, get well soon
- Ayşe, çabuk iyileşAyşe, get well quickly
Example conversation
Emre calls Selin to check on her because she is sick.
- EmreSelincim, çok geçmiş olsun.Dear Selin, get well soon.
- SelinTeşekkür ederim Emre, çok sağ ol.Thank you Emre, thanks a lot.
- EmreHastalığın nasıl, daha iyi misin?How is your illness, are you feeling better?
- SelinBiraz daha iyiyim, teşekkürler.I am a bit better, thanks.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “get well soon” translations and entries geçmiş olsun, 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 geçmiş, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
