What does it mean word for word?
The word güzelim is a combination of güzel, meaning beautiful and the first-person singular possessive suffix -im, meaning my. Together, they mean "my beautiful (one)".
Which one should you use?
While merhaba güzel would mean "hello beautiful", adding the -im suffix makes the phrase much more intimate and affectionate, resulting in "hello my beautiful".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
merhaba güzelim is informal and should only be used with romantic partners, close friends or people you are flirting with.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase merhaba güzelim uses the possessive suffix to turn the adjective güzel into a term of endearment.
How do you pronounce it?
/meɾhaba ɟyzelim/. The /m/ is like [m]uch, /ɾ/ is like the [t] in AmE a[t]om, /h/ is like [h]ome, /b/ is like a[b]out, /ɟ/ is like the [g] in ar[g]ue, /z/ is like [z]one and /i/ is like the [ee] in cr[ee]k.
Did you know?
- The greeting merhaba is actually a shortened version of an Arabic phrase meaning 'you are welcome in a spacious place'.
- The word güzel is so versatile that it is used to describe not only people but also tasty food or a well-executed plan.
- While merhaba güzelim is intimate, using it with a stranger in Turkey can be seen as overly bold or aggressive rather than just a friendly compliment.
Examples in context
- Selam güzel, nasılsın?Hi beautiful, how are you?
- Merhaba güzelim, iyiyim teşekkür ederim.Hello my beautiful, I'm fine, thank you.
- Merhaba güzelim, nasılsın?Hello beautiful, how are you?
- Merhaba güzelim, seni gördüğüme sevindim.Hello beautiful, I am glad to see you.
- Merhaba güzelim, bugün çok şıksın.Hello beautiful, you look very chic today.
Example conversation
Burak meets Merve at a cafe.
- BurakMerhaba güzelim!Hello beautiful!
- MerveSelam Burak, hoş geldin.Hi Burak, welcome.
- BurakTeşekkürler, çok güzelsin.Thanks, you are very beautiful.
- MerveTeşekkür ederim, çok naziksin.Thank you, you are very kind.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Turkish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries güzelim, merhaba, CC BY-SA 4.0.
