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 teşekkür ederim is the standard and most widely used way to say "thank you" in Turkish. If you wish to say "thank you very much," you can say çok teşekkür ederim. For a more intense expression of gratitude, you can use minnettarım, which means "I am grateful."
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase teşekkür ederim literally means "I give thanks". The phrase sağ ol literally means "be healthy" or "be alive".
Which one should you use?
While teşekkür ederim is the standard expression, you can also use the sağ ol family. Use sağ ol for a single person in an informal setting, but use sağ olun when addressing more than one person or when you want to use a formal tone with a single person.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Sağ olun is a formal version of the expression, while sağ ol is informal. Additionally, teşekkürler is an informal version of teşekkür ederim, similar to saying "thanks" instead of "thank you".
How does it change in a sentence?
The word teşekkürler functions as a shorter, more informal version of teşekkür ederim, comparable to the English "thanks".
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of teşekkür ederim is /te.ʃec.cyɾ e.deˈɾim/. It has five syllables, with the stress on the fifth syllable. The sounds are as follows: [sh] as in [sh]oe, [k] as in s[k]ew, [t] as in AmE a[t]om, [ee] as in cr[ee]k and [m] as in [m]uch.
When do people say it?
When someone thanks you, a common way to say "you're welcome" is bir şey değil, which means "it is nothing". Another common, slightly more colloquial way to respond is ne demek, which can be translated as "no problem" or "don't mention it".
Did you know?
- The response ne demek literally means 'what does it mean' but is used as a casual way to say 'no problem'.
- In Turkish, the word sağ can also mean 'right' as in the direction, which shares an ancient root with the concept of being 'healthy' or 'correct'.
- In very traditional settings, sağ ol is viewed as a blessing for the other person's longevity and health rather than just a polite phrase.
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 shows a common exchange using sağ ol to say thank you and ne demek to say you're welcome.Tatoeba #8558469 by soliloquist, translation #2077 by Swift
- Çok sağ ol, harikasın.Thank you for being you.This sentence uses sağ ol to express gratitude for a person's character.Tatoeba #7207873 by soliloquist, translation #3728996 by CM
- 455 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Emre helps Selin carry some heavy boxes into her house.
- SelinYardımın için çok teşekkür ederim.Thank you very much for your help.
- EmreRica ederim, lafı bile olmaz.You're welcome, it's nothing.
- SelinGerçekten çok naziksin.You are really very kind.
- EmreNe demek, her zaman.No problem, anytime.
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.
