How to Say “Good Evening” in Turkish
The usual way to say “Good evening” in Turkish is İyi akşamlar. It is neutral: safe in almost any situation. Below are 3 alternatives (formal), how to reply, an example dialogue and the grammar behind it.
In Turkish
İyi akşamlar
- Literally
- “good evenings”
- Register
- Neutralsafe in almost any situation
How İyi akşamlar is built
- iyigood
- akşamevening
- -larplural; back-vowel form of -ler
Other ways to say “Good evening”
- Hayırlı akşamlarNeutral
“blessed evenings”
Warm and slightly traditional.
- İyi akşamlar dilerimFormal
“I wish you a good evening”
Polite closing at the end of a call or broadcast.
- İyi akşamlar efendimFormal
“good evening, sir/madam”
Restaurant and hotel staff greet guests this way.
How to reply
Size de iyi akşamlar.
Good evening to you too.
İyi akşamlar!
Good evening!
Example dialogue
- A
İyi akşamlar, iki kişilik masanız var mı?
Good evening, do you have a table for two?
- B
İyi akşamlar, tabii. Buyurun.
Good evening, of course. This way.
Related phrases
All phrases →More greetings & goodbyes
Go deeper
“Good evening” in Turkish: FAQ
How do you say “Good evening” in Turkish?
The most common way is İyi akşamlar (literally “good evenings”), which is neutral: safe in almost any situation. You will also hear Hayırlı akşamlar (“blessed evenings”): warm and slightly traditional.
How do you reply to İyi akşamlar?
Typical replies are Size de iyi akşamlar. (“Good evening to you too.”) and İyi akşamlar! (“Good evening!”).
What does each part of İyi akşamlar mean?
iyi = good; akşam = evening; -lar = plural; back-vowel form of -ler. Say iyi akşamlar from about sunset, both when you arrive and when you leave.
Learn Turkish phrases in context
The TurkLogic app teaches phrases like this inside 140 structured lessons, with audio, quizzes and spaced repetition so they stick.
Free Download • In-App Purchases