The Ritual of Welcome: Hoş Geldiniz and Sefalar Getirdiniz

Turkish hospitality, misafirperverlik (from misafir, “guest”), comes with its own set of phrases. Many of them work in pairs: the host says one thing and the guest has a fixed reply. Learn these pairs and you'll handle any visit, whether to a friend's flat, a family lunch or a shop, with confidence.

Hoş geldiniz / Hoş bulduk

Hoş geldiniz literally means “you came pleasantly”: hoş (pleasant, nice) + gel-di-niz (you came; plural or formal). The informal singular is Hoş geldin. The guest's expected reply is Hoş bulduk, “we found (it) pleasant”. The “we” form is used even if you arrive alone.

This pair isn't limited to homes. You'll hear hoş geldiniz when you enter a shop or restaurant, when a colleague returns from holiday, or when a friend gets back from a trip. A newborn baby may even be greeted with Hoş geldin bebek!

Sefalar getirdiniz / Sefa bulduk

Sefa means joy, pleasure or ease, and getirdiniz means “you brought”. So Sefalar getirdiniz is “you have brought joy”. The reply is Sefa bulduk, “we found joy”. It is a warmer, more traditional variant rather than a higher rank of greeting, and it is often heard from older people. It usually comes as a pair with the standard phrase:

• Hoş geldiniz, sefalar getirdiniz! — Hoş bulduk, sefa bulduk.

Buyurun: the all-purpose invitation

Buyurun (also written buyrun) comes from buyurmak, an old verb meaning “to command” or “to deign”, plus the polite imperative ending. It covers “please come in”, “go ahead”, “here you are” and “yes, how can I help?”:

• Buyurun, içeri buyurun. (Please, come in.)
• Şöyle buyurun, oturun. (This way, please have a seat.)
• Çayınız, buyurun. (Your tea, here you are.)

Inside the home

• Rahatınıza bakın. Make yourselves comfortable (literally “look after your comfort”).
• Ne içersiniz? Çay mı, kahve mi? What will you drink? Tea or coffee? A guest may answer Zahmet etmeyin (“Please don't go to any trouble”), and the host will reply Ne zahmeti! (“What trouble?”).
• Başımızın üstünde yeriniz var. Literally “you have a place above our heads”, meaning “you are most welcome and honored here”. Related: Başım üstüne, “gladly, with pleasure”, said when agreeing to a request.
• Evinizi çok beğendik. We really like your home. The host might answer Beğenmenize sevindim (“I'm glad you like it”).
• Güle güle oturun. “Live in it happily”, said by a guest visiting someone's new home. Reply: Sağ olun.

In many Turkish homes guests take off their shoes at the door, and hosts may offer slippers (terlik). If you're unsure, watch what the family does or simply ask.

Leaving

• Ayağınıza sağlık. “Health to your feet”: the host thanks you for making the effort to come.
• Biz de sizi bekleriz. “We'll expect you at ours too”, an invitation in return.
• Yine bekleriz. “Come again”, from the host.
• Hoşça kalın / Allah'a ısmarladık. Goodbye, said by the person leaving.
• Güle güle. Goodbye, said by the person staying (literally “laughing, laughing”, i.e. go happily).

Common learner mistakes

• Answering “Hoş geldiniz” with “Teşekkürler”. You'll be understood, but “Hoş bulduk” is what people expect.
• Saying “Hoş geldiniz” when you are the one arriving. That line belongs to the host.
• Turning down tea too firmly. A first refusal is often treated as politeness, and the offer may come again.

What you'll notice in dizi

Visits are a staple of Turkish series: holiday (bayram) visits to elders, neighbors dropping in, and especially kız isteme, the traditional visit in which a man's family formally asks a woman's family for her hand, often with the bride-to-be serving Turkish coffee. These scenes are full of the phrases above. Listen for the pairs (hoş geldiniz / hoş bulduk, hoşça kalın / güle güle) and you'll be able to follow the ritual line by line.