An older relative admires a grandchild, hopes for a visit or wishes someone well. Learn to recognise the purpose of each expression before choosing your reply.
The idea
Treat these as whole expressions. In warm family conversation, maşallah expresses admiration, often with a wish that something good be protected; inşallah means “God willing” or “hopefully”. Geçmiş olsun offers sympathy during illness or after a mishap. The person leaving can say Allahaısmarladık; the person staying can answer Güle güle. The religious wording and its importance vary between speakers. At A2, learn the fixed forms without analysing every ending.
| Expression | Situation |
|---|---|
| Maşallah | Admiration; a wish to protect something good |
| İnşallah | Hope for a desired outcome |
| Geçmiş olsun | Illness or a mishap |
| Allahaısmarladık | Said by the person leaving |
| Güle güle | Said by the person staying |
Examples
- İnşallah yarın bize gelirsiniz.God willing, you will visit us tomorrow.
- Maşallah, ne güzel bir bahçe!What a beautiful garden!
- Teyze, çok geçmiş olsun.I hope you get well very soon, Auntie.
- İnşallah yolculuğunuz güzel geçer.God willing, your journey will go well.
- Maşallah, torununuz çok güzel resim yapıyor.Your grandchild draws so beautifully!
- Allahaısmarladık, biz artık gidiyoruz.Goodbye, we are leaving now.
- Güle güle, haftaya görüşürüz.Goodbye, see you next week.
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Watch out
Do not use maşallah as a general word for “hopefully”: it reacts to something admired here, whereas inşallah looks towards a hoped-for outcome. Nor does inşallah alone confirm a definite arrangement. Write maşallah, inşallah and allahaısmarladık as single words, but geçmiş olsun as two.
Try it yourself
Choose inşallah or maşallah: you hope your relatives will visit tomorrow.
Show answer or example answer
İnşallah
İnşallah: tomorrow’s visit is still a hope, so this word fits the future possibility; it does not promise that the visit will happen.
Choose inşallah or maşallah: you admire a drawing your grandchild has finished.
Show answer or example answer
Maşallah
Maşallah: the drawing is already in front of you and you admire it. You are responding to a good result, not hoping for a future one.
Your aunt has a cold. Write the two-word expression that wishes her well.
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Geçmiş olsun
Geçmiş olsun: your aunt is ill now. This expression offers comfort even before recovery; the word geçmiş does not mean you must wait until she is well.
Your guests say Allahaısmarladık. You stay at home. Reply with the two-word farewell taught here.
Show answer or example answer
Güle güle
Güle güle: you remain at home while the visitors leave. Their Allahaısmarladık and your reply have different roles.
Practice round
Answer questions, then rebuild Turkish sentences and words where available. We keep your score.
Choose inşallah or maşallah: you hope your relatives will visit tomorrow.
Choose inşallah or maşallah: you admire a drawing your grandchild has finished.
Your aunt has a cold. Write the two-word expression that wishes her well.
Your guests say Allahaısmarladık. You stay at home. Reply with the two-word farewell taught here.
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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Write three family messages: admire a drawing, hope for a visit and wish an ill relative well. Then add a two-line farewell and identify who leaves.