Hayır, teşekkürler
/ˈhɑ.jɯɾ te.ʃec.cyɾˈleɾ/word by word
To say no, thank you in Turkish, say Hayır, teşekkürler.
Hayır, teşekkürler is the polite way to turn down an offer, such as more food, a drink or help in a shop.
What does it mean word for word?
Hayır means no and teşekkürler means thanks.
How do you pronounce it?
Hayır, teşekkürler is said /ˈhɑ.jɯɾ te.ʃec.cyɾˈleɾ/. The h is like the h in home and the y like the y in yes. The ı is somewhat like the o in ribbon, the r is a quick tap like the t in American English atom and the ş is like the sh in shoe. The k sounds like the k in skew.
When do people say it?
Turks often say no without words by raising the eyebrows and tilting the head slightly back, sometimes with a click of the tongue. Visitors can easily read this gesture as a nod.
Did you know?
- The word hayır literally translates to 'good' or 'wellbeing' in its original Arabic roots, even though it functions as a flat 'no' in Turkish.
- Turkish has two different ways to say 'no'. While hayır is a direct refusal, yok literally means 'there is not' and is frequently used to decline offers.
- In very formal settings, the phrase teşekkürler is often replaced by teşekkür ederim, which translates to 'I give thanks'.
Examples in context
- Hayır, teşekkürler, çok tokum.No, thank you, I am very full.
- Hayır, teşekkürler, istemiyorum.No, thank you, I do not want it.
- Hayır, teşekkürler, sadece su içeceğim.No, thank you, I will only drink water.
Example conversation
Emre offers Zeynep some coffee in the office.
- EmreZeynep, biraz kahve ister misin?Zeynep, would you like some coffee?
- ZeynepHayır, teşekkürler, çok yorgunum.No, thank you, I am very tired.
- EmreTamam, o zaman sana kolay gelsin.Okay, then, good luck with your work.
- ZeynepSağ ol, Emre.Thanks, Emre.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (hayır, teşekkürler) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hayır, teşekkürler, CC BY-SA 4.0.
