merhaba
/ˈmæɾ.ha.baː/
Hello in Turkish is merhaba. Wiktionary also lists selam and esenlikler.
Meaning: greeting (intj)
Ways to say it
| Turkish | IPA |
|---|---|
| merhaba | /ˈmæɾ.ha.baː/ /ˈme.ɾa.ba/ |
| selam | /selam/ (from spelling rules) |
| esenlikler | /esenlicleɾ/ (from spelling rules) |
The phrase is used to provide a greeting.
Which one should you use?
merhaba is the standard, neutral way to say hello and is suitable for most social situations. selam is an informal version of hello, similar to 'hi' in English. esenlikler is a much more formal and old-fashioned way to offer greetings, often used in written or very polite contexts.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word selam can also be used as a noun meaning 'greeting' or 'peace' in other contexts.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 3 syllables, with the stress on the 1st syllable. The pronunciation is /ˈmæɾ.ha.baː/. For the sounds, use [m]uch for /m/, c[a]t for /æ/, AmE a[t]om for /ɾ/, [h]ome for /h/ and a[b]out for /b/.
Did you know?
- When greeting elders or respected figures, it is common to kiss the right hand of the older person and touch it to one's own forehead.
- In traditional Turkish culture, a greeting is often accompanied by placing the right hand over the heart to show sincerity.
- While merhaba is a standard hello, it literally translates to 'welcome' or 'you are in a spacious, comfortable place' in its original Arabic form.
Examples in context
- Selam, ne var ne yok?Hello there, what's new?This sentence is useful for seeing how to use selam in a casual question.Tatoeba #4412730 by duran, translation #2258659 by _undertoad
- O asla merhaba demez.She never says hello.This sentence is useful for seeing how to use merhaba in a negative statement.Tatoeba #5939929 by deyta, translation #5936186 by Hybrid
- Merhaba, kimse var mı?Hello, is anybody there?This sentence is useful for seeing how to use merhaba to check for someone's presence.Tatoeba #4829084 by duran, translation #1570147 by CM
- Merhaba, Hanımefendi. İsmim John. Memnun oldum.Hello, Madam. My name is John. Nice to meet you.
- Selam, abi! Naber?Hi, bro! What's up?
- Selam, kanka! Dün akşam eğlenceliydi!Hey, buddy! Last night was fun!
- 246 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Selin and Burak meet on a busy street.
- SelinMerhaba, Burak!Hello, Burak!
- BurakMerhaba, Selin. Nasılsın?Hello, Selin. How are you?
- Selinİyiyim, teşekkür ederim.I am fine, thank you.
- BurakBen de iyiyim.I am fine too.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hello” translations and entries merhaba, selam, esenlikler, 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 merhaba, selam, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
