What does it mean word for word?
The phrase Seni gördüğüme sevindim literally translates to "I am glad that I saw you".
Which one should you use?
While Seni gördüğüme sevindim is used for people you already know, the phrase Tanıştığımıza memnun oldum is used for first-time introductions, meaning "Nice to meet you".
How does it change in a sentence?
To make the phrase formal or to address more than one person, change Seni to Sizi to get Sizi gördüğüme sevindim. You can also say Seni gördüğüme de sevindim by adding the particle de after the first word group, which means "Nice to see you too".
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /seni ɟøɾdyːme sevindim/. You can approximate the sounds using these English comparisons: [s]end for /s/, [n]ot for /n/, cr[ee]k for /i/, ar[g]ue for /ɟ/, AmE a[t]om for /ɾ/, [m]uch for /m/ and [v]ase for /v/.
Did you know?
- In very casual settings, Turkish speakers often drop the entire phrase and simply say Aaa, sen! with a rising intonation to convey the same warmth and surprise as 'Nice to see you'.
- In Turkish, the word sevindim is in the past tense, meaning 'I became glad', even though the speaker is currently feeling that emotion during the meeting.
- The spelling of gördüğüme includes the letter 'ğ', a 'soft g' that is often silent or lengthens the preceding vowel rather than being pronounced as a hard consonant.
Examples in context
- Seni gördüğüme sevindim.Nice to see you.This sentence is useful for saying "Nice to see you" using the form Seni gördüğüme sevindim.Tatoeba #476284 by soliloquist, translation #32688 by CK
- Seni gördüğüme sevindim, çok uzun zaman oldu.Nice to see you, it has been a long time.
- Bugün seni gördüğüme sevindim.I am happy to see you today.
Example conversation
Can and Elif meet unexpectedly at a cafe.
- CanMerhaba Elif, seni gördüğüme sevindim!Hello Elif, nice to see you!
- ElifBen de seni gördüğüme sevindim, Can.Nice to see you too, Can.
- CanNasılsın?How are you?
- Elifİyiyim, teşekkür ederim.I am fine, thank you.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Turkish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
