At a shared meal, notice who is eating and who prepared the food. Practise thanking the cook, offering more and refusing politely. Customs vary between homes; take your cue from your hosts.
The idea
Afiyet olsun wishes someone well with their meal, before, during or after eating; a fellow diner can say it too. To thank one cook you address as sen, use Eline sağlık or Ellerine sağlık. For polite siz or several cooks, use Elinize sağlık or Ellerinize sağlık. Learn these as whole expressions. Ask for the bread with Ekmeği uzatır mısınız, lütfen? rather than reaching across someone’s plate.
| At the table | A possible reply |
|---|---|
| Afiyet olsun. | Teşekkür ederim. |
| Ellerinize sağlık. | Afiyet olsun. |
| Biraz daha ister misiniz? | Hayır, teşekkür ederim. |
Examples
- Çorba çok güzel, eline sağlık.The soup is very good; thank you for making it.
- Herkese afiyet olsun!Enjoy your meal, everyone!
- Teşekkür ederim, ben doydum.Thank you, I have had enough to eat.
- Ellerinize sağlık, pilav çok lezzetli.Thank you for cooking; the rice pilaf is delicious.
- Biraz daha salata ister misiniz?Would you like a little more salad?
- Hayır, teşekkür ederim.No, thank you.
- Ekmeği uzatır mısınız, lütfen?Could you pass the bread, please?
- Herkes hazır mı?Is everyone ready?
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Watch out
Do not mistake the plural “hands” in Ellerine sağlık for several people: it still addresses one person informally. Ellerinize sağlık can address several people or one person politely. If you are full, Hayır, teşekkür ederim declines the offer without criticising the food.
Try it yourself
You put the food on the table. Wish the diners a good meal. Write the two-word phrase.
Show answer or example answer
Afiyet olsun
Afiyet olsun: the food is being served, so the wish is for the people about to eat. You are not thanking them for preparing it.
A close friend made the soup. Thank this friend with the phrase about their hands; use the informal singular.
Show answer or example answer
Eline sağlık / Ellerine sağlık
Eline sağlık / Ellerine sağlık: the friend made the soup, so you acknowledge their work. Both forms fit one person you address informally.
Two people prepared the meal together. Thank both with the phrase about their hands; use the plural form.
Show answer or example answer
Ellerinize sağlık / Elinize sağlık
Ellerinize sağlık / Elinize sağlık: you are speaking to both cooks. The siz forms include them both; Ellerine sağlık would address only one informally.
You do not want more salad. Choose and write the polite refusal: Hayır, teşekkür ederim or Evet, lütfen.
Show answer or example answer
Hayır, teşekkür ederim
Hayır, teşekkür ederim: hayır makes the refusal clear and the thanks acknowledge the offer. Evet, lütfen would accept more salad.
Practice round
Answer questions, then rebuild Turkish sentences and words where available. We keep your score.
You put the food on the table. Wish the diners a good meal. Write the two-word phrase.
A close friend made the soup. Thank this friend with the phrase about their hands; use the informal singular.
Eline sağlık / Ellerine sağlık
Two people prepared the meal together. Thank both with the phrase about their hands; use the plural form.
Ellerinize sağlık / Elinize sağlık
You do not want more salad. Choose and write the polite refusal: Hayır, teşekkür ederim or Evet, lütfen.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
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Act out a meal with two cooks and one guest. Include a wish for the diners, thanks to both cooks and a polite refusal of more salad. Then thank just one close friend.