Turkish Holiday Greetings and Condolences: Bayram, Ramazan, Kandil, Birthdays and More

Looking for the right Turkish words for a holiday, a wedding, a new baby or a funeral? Turkish has a fixed formula for each occasion, and each one has an expected reply. Saying the right phrase matters more than perfect grammar.

This guide covers Ramazan, the two Bayrams, Kandil nights, New Year and national holidays, birthdays, weddings, births, illness and condolences. Most formulas use the optative mood olsun (“may it be”), and most come in two versions: sen for friends and siz for everyone else (see sen vs siz). The tables below give the polite siz form unless noted. Several formulas mention Allah (God): they’re traditional courtesy expressions used by religious and secular speakers alike, and learners of any background can use them.

Quick reference: greeting and reply

Ramazan (the fasting month)

Ramazan (rah-mah-zahn) is the Turkish spelling of Ramadan. The fast is oruç (oh-rooch), the pre-dawn meal is sahur (sah-hoor), and the meal that breaks the fast at sunset is iftar (eef-tahr).

You don’t have to be Muslim to use these greetings; friends will appreciate the gesture. If you’re invited to iftar, a dessert such as güllaç or baklava, or a fresh Ramazan pidesi (the round flatbread sold during the month), makes a welcome gift. In many neighbourhoods a drummer (davulcu) walks the streets before dawn to wake people for sahur.

Not everyone fasts, and restaurants stay open. Still, it’s considerate not to eat or drink conspicuously in front of colleagues who are fasting.

Ramazan Bayramı and Kurban Bayramı

Türkiye has two religious festivals, called bayram (bahy-rahm):

• Ramazan Bayramı, also called Şeker Bayramı (“Sugar Festival”), marks the end of Ramazan and lasts three days.
• Kurban Bayramı (“Feast of the Sacrifice”) lasts four days. Families who can afford it sacrifice an animal and share the meat with relatives, neighbours and people in need.

Both follow the Islamic lunar calendar, so they move about 11 days earlier each year. The day before a bayram is called arife (ah-ree-feh).

Bayramınız is bayram + the possessive suffix -ınız (your, polite). To a friend: Bayramın kutlu olsun. Notice also that wishes are often plural: iyi bayramlar, hayırlı cumalar, just like iyi akşamlar (good evening).

Bayram customs. On the first morning, families visit their elders. Younger people kiss the hand of older relatives and touch it to their forehead (el öpmek); the elders often give children a little pocket money (bayram harçlığı) or sweets. Guests are offered sweets, Turkish coffee and a splash of cologne (kolonya) on the hands. Exchanging holiday visits is called bayramlaşmak.

Kandil nights and Fridays

Kandil (kahn-deel) nights are five holy nights in the Islamic calendar: Mevlid Kandili, Regaip Kandili, Miraç Kandili, Berat Kandili and Kadir Gecesi. Many people send greetings by message, and bakeries sell a special sesame ring called kandil simidi.

New Year, national days and other celebrations

New Year is a secular celebration with a decorated tree (yılbaşı ağacı); Christmas isn’t a public holiday. The national holidays (23 Nisan, 19 Mayıs, 30 Ağustos, 29 Ekim) use the same pattern: … Bayramımız kutlu olsun (May our … Day be celebrated). Note -ımız (our), because these holidays belong to everyone.

Birthdays, weddings, births and other milestones

The Turkish birthday song uses the tune of “Happy Birthday” with the words İyi ki doğdun [name], iyi ki doğdun. At weddings, guests often pin gold coins or money on the couple (takı takmak).

Condolences

When someone has died, these formulas are expected. They’re said to the family at the funeral, during a condolence visit (taziye), or in a message.

Başınız sağ olsun works for anyone, religious or not. If the bereaved person is a friend, use Başın sağ olsun. If you share the loss, they may answer Sizin de başınız sağ olsun.

Neighbours often bring food to the bereaved family in the first days, and the family may hand out helva in memory of the deceased. A short visit and an offer to help mean more than a long speech.

Dialogue: a bayram visit

Leyla: İyi bayramlar Nermin Teyze! Bayramınız mübarek olsun. Leyla: Happy bayram, Auntie Nermin! Blessed holiday to you.

Nermin: Sizin de bayramınız mübarek olsun, kızım. Hoş geldiniz, buyurun! Nermin: A blessed holiday to you too, dear. Welcome, come in!

Leyla: Hoş bulduk. Elinizi öpeyim. Leyla: Thank you. Let me kiss your hand.

Nermin: Sağ ol canım. Kolonya ister misin? Baklava da var. Nermin: Thank you, dear. Would you like some cologne? There’s baklava too.

Leyla: Teşekkür ederim. Oğlunuz ameliyat olmuş, duydum. Geçmiş olsun. Leyla: Thank you. I heard your son had an operation. I hope he gets well soon.

Nermin: Sağ ol kızım, şimdi çok iyi. Allah’a şükür. Nermin: Thanks, dear, he’s much better now. Thank God.

Common mistakes

• Answering İyi ki doğdun with Sen de. The birthday person says Teşekkür ederim or Sağ ol.

• Saying Geçmiş olsun after a death. Geçmiş olsun is for illness, accidents and difficulties. For a death, say Başınız sağ olsun.

• Using sen with an older bereaved person. Say Başınız sağ olsun, not Başın sağ olsun, unless you’re close.

• Forgetting the reply. Most of these greetings expect an answer. When in doubt, Size de (to you too) or Amin works for wishes, and Sağ olun works for kind words.

Mini-quiz

1. A neighbour says İyi bayramlar. How do you reply?
2. A colleague’s father has died. What do you say?
3. How do you reply to Allah rahmet eylesin?
4. Your friend has just moved into a new flat. What do you say?
5. What is the reply to Nice mutlu yıllara?
6. Your friend has the flu. What do you say?

Answers

1. Size de iyi bayramlar (or Sana da to a friend).
2. Başınız sağ olsun (you can add Allah rahmet eylesin).
3. Amin.
4. Güle güle otur (or Hayırlı olsun).
5. Hep birlikte!
6. Geçmiş olsun.

Next steps

These formulas belong to a bigger family of Turkish courtesy phrases. Learn the everyday ones in essential Turkish expressions and what “kolay gelsin” means, then review the optative mood behind olsun, versin and eylesin.