bahşiş
/bah.ʃiʃ/
In Turkish, the word for a monetary tip is bahşiş.
The noun bahşiş refers specifically to a gratuity or a piece of money given to someone for a service provided. If you want to express the action of tipping someone, use the verb phrase bahşiş vermek (to give a tip).
Meaning: piece of advice (noun)
Which one should you use?
It is important to distinguish between different types of 'tips'. Use bahşiş only when referring to a monetary gratuity. If you are referring to a piece of advice or a recommendation, the correct word is tavsiye. For an informal tip or a pointer, you can use Tüyo.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
The word has two syllables and is pronounced /bah.ʃiʃ/. The sound is like the 'b' in [b]out, the 'h' in [h]ome, the 'sh' in [sh]oe and the 'ee' in cr[ee]k.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use bahşiş when you mean to give someone advice or a recommendation. In those cases, you should use tavsiye.
When do people say it?
When someone receives a tip, it is common to express gratitude by saying teşekkür ederim (thank you).
Did you know?
- The word tüyo is believed by some linguists to be a loanword from the French 'tuyau', which literally means 'pipe' but figuratively means 'a tip'.
- The word bahşiş is a linguistic traveler that arrived in Turkish via Ottoman Turkish from Middle Persian, where it originally meant 'a gift' or 'bestowal'.
- In some traditional Turkish settings, leaving a bahşiş is seen less as a service charge and more as a gesture of generosity or a 'blessing'.
Examples in context
- Bana bir bahşiş ver.Give me a tip.This sentence is useful for requesting a tip using bahşiş.Tatoeba #4634652 by duran, translation #1336869 by Eldad
- Bir bahşiş bıraktın mı?Did you leave a tip?This sentence is useful for asking if a tip was left using bahşiş.Tatoeba #1259477 by duran, translation #2423 by CK
- Ona bir bahşiş vereceğim.I'm gonna leave her a tip.This sentence is useful for stating an intention to give a tip using bahşiş.Tatoeba #5496435 by duran, translation #5487958 by sacredceltic
- Bana bir tüyo ver, hangi filmi izlemeliyim?Give me a tip, which movie should I watch?
- Bodrum hakkında bir ipucu alabilir miyim?Can I get a tip about Bodrum?
- 39 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Selin and Mehmet are leaving a restaurant.
- SelinGarsona bahşiş bıraktın mı?Did you leave a tip for the waiter?
- MehmetEvet, masanın üzerine bıraktım.Yes, I left it on the table.
- SelinNe kadar bahşiş verdin?How much tip did you give?
- MehmetYirmi lira verdim, Selin.I gave twenty lira, Selin.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry bahşiş, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bahşiş, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
