During Ramadan, ramazan in Turkish, people who fast organise meals around dawn and sunset. These examples describe particular speakers, not everyone in Türkiye. You will recognise the daily sequence and respond to a meal invitation without assuming that your host follows your usual dinner schedule.
The idea
Sahur is the meal before imsak, the beginning of the fast at dawn; iftar ends the day’s fast at sunset. Oruç tutmak means to fast, while oruç açmak means to end the fast at mealtime. In an invitation, iftara means “for iftar”; iftardan sonra means “after iftar”. Thank the host, then accept with Memnuniyetle gelirim or decline with Bu akşam gelemem.
Examples
- Bu akşam iftara bekliyoruz.We're expecting you for iftar this evening.
- Biz sahura erken kalkıyoruz.We get up early for the predawn meal.
- İftardan sonra çay içiyoruz.We drink tea after iftar.
- Bugün oruç tutmuyorum.I'm not fasting today.
- Davetiniz için teşekkür ederim, memnuniyetle gelirim.Thank you for your invitation; I'd be delighted to come.
- Kaçta gelmemi istersiniz?What time would you like me to come?
- Güneş batınca orucumuzu açıyoruz.We break our fast when the sun sets.
- Bu akşam gelemem, başka bir gün buluşalım.I can't come this evening; let's meet another day.
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Watch out
İftara bekliyoruz invites you to the meal itself, not just a visit afterwards. Do not answer as though the invitation said iftardan sonra. Kaçta gelmemi istersiniz? asks when the host wants you to arrive; an invitation alone does not give that time.
Try it yourself
Name the meal eaten before the fast begins at dawn.
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sahur
sahur: the clue places the meal before the fast begins, so the evening meal would not fit.
Complete the invitation: we are expecting you for iftar this evening. Use iftar with its ending.
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iftara
iftara: the guest is invited to take part in the meal. The ending -a marks that destination or occasion; iftarda would only locate something at the meal.
The iftar meal is over. Complete with “after iftar”.
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İftardan sonra
İftardan sonra: the prompt says the meal has finished. Sonra places the tea later, and iftardan supplies the event used as the time reference.
Accept the invitation: complete with “I would be delighted to come”.
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memnuniyetle gelirim / seve seve gelirim
memnuniyetle gelirim / seve seve gelirim: both clearly accept the invitation. Thanking the host alone would leave them unsure whether you plan to come.
Practice round
Answer questions, then rebuild Turkish sentences and words where available. We keep your score.
Name the meal eaten before the fast begins at dawn.
Complete the invitation: we are expecting you for iftar this evening. Use iftar with its ending.
The iftar meal is over. Complete with “after iftar”.
Accept the invitation: complete with “I would be delighted to come”.
memnuniyetle gelirim / seve seve gelirim
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Keep your progress
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Write a short exchange: invite someone to iftar, thank the host and accept, then ask when to arrive. Write a second reply declining tonight and suggesting another day. Keep the arrival time separate from the meal’s name.