Ways to say it
| Turkish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| evet | /ˈe.vet/ /ˈeːt/ |
|
| he | /ˈhe/ | |
| ha | /ha/ (from spelling rules) | alternative form |
The primary way to express agreement or acceptance is through the particle evet. In certain contexts, evet can also be used as an expression of pleasure, joy or great excitement. When you want to confirm that you are paying attention to someone who has called your name, you should use alternative responses such as buyur, buyurun or efendim.
Which one should you use?
While evet is the standard word for 'yes', there are other ways to respond depending on the level of politeness and context. For example, efendim is a polite way to say 'yes, sir' or 'yes, ma'am' when responding to someone calling your name or to indicate you are listening. Additionally, ha is an alternative spelling of he.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
The word evet has 2 syllables, with the stress on the 1st syllable. The 'v' sound is like the [v] in the English word 'vase'.
Did you know?
- In Turkey, a common non-verbal way to say 'yes' is to slightly tilt or click the head upward, which can be confused by foreigners for a 'no'.
- The word evet might actually be rooted in the concept of speed, potentially deriving from an ancient Turkic root meaning 'to be quick'.
- While evet is the dictionary translation, Turkish speakers often use tamam, which literally means 'complete' or 'okay', to indicate agreement in daily life.
Examples in context
- O genç mi? Evet."Is she young?" "Yes."This sentence shows how to use evet to answer a question.Tatoeba #1106876 by duran, translation #866112 by SalsaVioleta
- Tom evet dedi mi?Did Tom say yes?This sentence uses evet within a question about someone saying it.Tatoeba #4289006 by duran, translation #3172299 by CK
- Oh evet, o doğru.Oh yes, that's right.This sentence shows how evet can be used to confirm a statement.Tatoeba #5260723 by deyta, translation #3237219 by al_ex_an_der
- Türk kahvesi ister misiniz?Would you like Turkish coffee?
- Evet, lütfen.Yes, please.
- 579 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Merve and Can are deciding whether to watch a movie.
- MerveCan, film izlemek ister misin?Can, do you want to watch a movie?
- CanEvet, harika bir fikir.Yes, that is a great idea.
- MerveKomedi filmi izleyelim mi?Shall we watch a comedy movie?
- CanEvet, lütfen.Yes, please.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “yes” translations and entries evet, he, ha, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Turkish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries evet, ha, he, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
