Ways to say it
| Turkish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| hoş geldiniz | /ˈhoʃ ɡeldiniz/ | formal, plural |
| hoş geldin | /hoʃ ɟelˈdin/ | singular |
The phrase is used as a greeting when someone arrives at a location or enters a specific environment.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the adjective hoş (pleasant/nice) and the verb gelmek (to come), literally meaning "come pleasantly".
Which one should you use?
The form hoş geldin is the singular version used for one person, while hoş geldiniz is the plural version. If you are addressing a group of people or a single person in a polite, formal context, use hoş geldiniz. Use hoş geldin when speaking to one person whom you know well or who is younger than you.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Hoş geldin is the informal version. Hoş geldiniz is a formal way to say welcome in Turkish.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ˈhoʃ ɡeldiniz/. The [h] is like the [h] in [h]ome, the [ʃ] is like the [sh] in [sh]oe, the [ɡ] is like the [g] in a[g]o, the [i] is like the [ee] in cr[ee]k, the [n] is like the [n] in [n]ot and the [z] is like the [z] in [z]one.
When do people say it?
When someone says hoş geldiniz or hoş geldin to you, the standard polite response is to say hoş bulduk, which means "we found it pleasant".
Did you know?
- When responding to a welcome, you use the first-person plural 'we' in hoş bulduk, even if you arrived at the location alone.
- Turkish greeting customs often pair hoş geldiniz with a physical gesture, such as a handshake or a light kiss on the cheeks depending on the relationship.
- The word hoş has Persian roots, meaning it entered the Turkish language from a different linguistic family during the Ottoman era.
Examples in context
- Eve hoş geldin Tom.Welcome home, Tom.This sentence is useful for welcoming someone to a home using hoş geldin.Tatoeba #7115067 by tulin, translation #6825888 by CK
- Siber uzaya hoş geldin!Welcome to Cyberspace!This sentence is useful for welcoming someone to a digital space using hoş geldin.Tatoeba #4756057 by deyta, translation #54158 by rul
- Bu dünyaya hoş geldiniz!Welcome to this world!This sentence is useful for welcoming people to the world using hoş geldiniz.Tatoeba #4523217 by duran, translation #58252 by Dejo
- 184 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mehmet is welcoming Elif and her guest to his office.
- MehmetHoş geldiniz.Welcome.
- ElifHoş bulduk, Mehmet Bey.Thank you, Mr. Mehmet.
- MehmetLütfen içeri geçiniz.Please, come inside.
- ElifÇok naziksiniz, teşekkürler.You are very kind, thanks.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “welcome” translations and entries hoş geldiniz, hoş geldin, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hoş, hoş geldiniz, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
