After lending a pen or helping a colleague, you need a reply that fits the moment. Here you will acknowledge thanks, reassure someone that helping was no trouble, and return their thanks when they helped you too.
The idea
After thanks, rica ederim is a dependable polite reply, with friends as well as in more formal exchanges. Keep ederim when addressing one person or a group: it refers to the speaker. Bir şey değil downplays the effort, while ne demek warmly suggests that thanks are unnecessary. Estağfurullah can modestly answer thanks or praise; here it reassures someone that helping was no trouble. Asıl ben teşekkür ederim shifts the thanks back: I am the one who should thank you. These uses overlap; tone and the previous turn matter.
| Acknowledge thanks | Downplay a small favour | Return the thanks |
|---|---|---|
| Rica ederim. | Bir şey değil. | Asıl ben teşekkür ederim. |
Examples
- Rica ederim, Deniz.You're welcome, Deniz.
- Bir şey değil, arkadaşlar.It's nothing, everyone.
- Asıl ben size teşekkür ederim.I am the one who should thank you.
- Ne demek, yine yardım ederim.Don't mention it; I'll help again.
- Estağfurullah, hiç zahmet olmadı.Not at all, it was no trouble.
- Rica ederim, her zaman bekleriz.You're welcome; you're always welcome here.
- Bir şey değil, zaten buradaydım.It was nothing; I was here anyway.
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Watch out
Hoş geldiniz welcomes someone who has arrived; it does not answer thanks. Do not translate the English word 'welcome' on its own. Also keep the three words of bir şey değil separate, even when you say them as one familiar phrase.
Try it yourself
Reply politely with the two-word expression beginning with rica.
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rica ederim
Rica ederim: the colleague has just thanked you for your help, so this acknowledges the thanks politely. You are speaking for yourself; a respectful form of address does not change the speaker ending.
Complete the reply that downplays lending a pen: it was nothing.
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şey
şey: the pen was a small favour, so the completed reply reassures the borrower that it was no trouble. This word stays separate from both bir and değil.
Complete the reply that returns the thanks: I am the one who should thank you.
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asıl
Asıl: both people have helped, and this word puts the emphasis on your own reason to be grateful. You are returning thanks, not saying that the other person thanked you incorrectly.
Reassure the speaker: choose estağfurullah or hoş geldiniz.
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estağfurullah
Estağfurullah: the person worries about the trouble you took. The following words deny that there was any trouble, so a modest reassurance fits; a greeting for a new arrival would not.
Practice round
Answer questions, then rebuild Turkish sentences and words where available. We keep your score.
Reply politely with the two-word expression beginning with rica.
Complete the reply that downplays lending a pen: it was nothing.
Complete the reply that returns the thanks: I am the one who should thank you.
Reassure the speaker: choose estağfurullah or hoş geldiniz.
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 two-line exchanges after lending a pen, helping a colleague, and exchanging favours with a neighbour. Choose a different reply each time and explain what it does in that situation.