Ways to say it
| Turkish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| teşekkür ederim | /te.ʃec.cyɾ e.deˈɾim/ | |
| sağ olun | /ˈsa o.ɫun/ | formal |
| sağ ol | /ˈsaː oɫ/ | informal |
The phrase is used to express gratitude. You can use teşekkür ederim as the most common and standard way to say "thank you" formally. To express more gratitude, you can say Çok teşekkür ederim, which means "thank you very much".
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase sağ ol literally means "be alive" or "be healthy".
Which one should you use?
Teşekkür ederim is a formal and standard way to say "thank you", whereas sağ ol is more colloquial. Sağ ol is used for "thanks" among friends and acquaintances, while sağ olun is the plural or polite version used when addressing elders or multiple people.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Teşekkür ederim is a standard, formal way to express thanks. Sağ olun is a formal and polite way to address others. Sağ ol is informal and used among friends. Teşekkürler is another common informal way to say "thank you".
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of teşekkür ederim is /te.ʃec.cyɾ e.deˈɾim/. It has 5 syllables and the stress is on the 5th syllable. The sounds are similar to English: [sh] as in "shoe", [k] as in "skew", [t] as in the American English "atom", [ee] as in "creek" and [m] as in "much".
When do people say it?
When someone says "thank you", you can respond with bir şey değil, meaning "it's nothing" or rica ederim, which is a polite and standard way to say "you're welcome".
Did you know?
- The word sağ shares its roots with the Proto-Turkic word for 'right' and 'healthy', meaning that being 'right-handed' or 'on the right side' is conceptually tied to being 'correct' and 'healthy'.
- In some traditional Turkish settings, a person might touch their heart or place a hand over their chest while saying teşekkür ederim to show deep sincerity.
- The phrase rica ederim is used to say 'you're welcome', but it originates from the verb 'to request' or 'to ask'. It carries a subtle nuance of 'I am happy to do what you requested'.
Examples in context
- Kaldığın için sağ ol.Thank you for staying.This sentence shows how to use sağ ol to thank someone for a specific action.Tatoeba #7878953 by soliloquist, translation #5822941 by OsoHombre
- "Sağ ol." "Ne demek.""Thank you." "You're welcome."This example demonstrates a short exchange using sağ ol.Tatoeba #8558469 by soliloquist, translation #2077 by Swift
- Çok sağ ol, harikasın.Thank you for being you.This example uses sağ ol to express gratitude toward a person.Tatoeba #7207873 by soliloquist, translation #3728996 by CM
- 455 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Can is handing a book to Zeynep at a cafe.
- CanKitabını getirdim, işte burada.I brought your book, here it is.
- ZeynepÇok teşekkür ederim, Can.Thank you very much, Can.
- CanRica ederim, Zeynep.You're welcome, Zeynep.
- ZeynepGerçekten çok naziksin.You are really kind.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “thank you” translations and entries teşekkür ederim, sağ olun, sağ ol, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries sağ, sağ olun, teşekkür, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
