İyi tatiller
/iji tatilleɾ/from spelling rules
The Turkish phrase for "happy holiday" is İyi tatiller.
This phrase is used to wish someone an enjoyable time during a vacation or a break from work.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of iyi (good) and tatiller (holidays/vacations).
How do you pronounce it?
The /i/ sound is like the [ee] in cr[ee]k, the /j/ sound is like the [y] in [y]es and the /ɾ/ sound is like the [t] in AmE a[t]om.
When do people say it?
When someone says İyi tatiller to you, a common response is Teşekkürler, size de (Thanks, to you too). If you are referring to religious holidays, it is customary to use forms like Bayramınız kutlu olsun. or İyi bayramlar.
Did you know?
- The word tatil is derived from an Arabic root meaning 'emptying' or 'leaving vacant'. Historically, it describes the act of leaving a workplace empty to take a break.
- Turkish grammar allows İyi tatiller to be plural even when referring to a single trip. This pluralization transforms the wish into a general expression of 'good holiday vibes' rather than a count of specific days.
- If a shopkeeper or waiter says İyi tatiller to you, they are often using it as a social lubricant to acknowledge your status as a tourist or person on leisure.
Examples in context
- İyi tatiller dilerim.I wish you a happy holiday.
- Herkes tatilde, size de iyi tatiller!Everyone is on vacation, happy holidays to you too!
- İyi tatiller, görüşmek üzere.Happy holiday, see you later.
Example conversation
Emre is leaving the office for his summer vacation and says goodbye to Selin.
- EmreBen gidiyorum, Selin. İyi tatiller!I'm leaving, Selin. Happy holidays!
- SelinTeşekkürler Emre, sana da iyi tatiller.Thanks Emre, happy holidays to you too.
- EmreSağ ol, sonra görüşürüz.Thanks, see you later.
- SelinGörüşürüz, iyi yolculuklar!See you, have a good trip!
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Turkish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
