How to Say “Hi” in Turkish
The usual way to say “Hi” in Turkish is Selam. It is informal: for friends, family and people your own age. Below are 4 alternatives (neutral, colloquial), how to reply, an example dialogue and the grammar behind it.
In Turkish
Selam
- Literally
- “greeting, peace (from Arabic salām)”
- Register
- Informalfor friends, family and people your own age
How Selam is built
- selamgreeting; also “regards”, as in selam söyle
Other ways to say “Hi”
- SelamlarInformal
“hi all”
Friendly plural for group chats and several friends.
- MerhabaNeutral
“hello”
Safer with strangers and older people.
- SlmColloquial
“hi”
Texting abbreviation only; never said aloud.
- Annene selam söyleInformal
“say hi to your mum”
Selam söylemek means “to give someone your regards”.
How to reply
Selam!
Hi!
Selam, naber?
Hi, what’s up?
Example dialogue
- A
Selam Can!
Hi Can!
- B
Aa, selam! Naber?
Oh, hi! What’s up?
- A
İyidir, senden?
Good, you?
Related phrases
All phrases →More greetings & goodbyes
Go deeper
“Hi” in Turkish: FAQ
How do you say “Hi” in Turkish?
The most common way is Selam (literally “greeting, peace (from Arabic salām)”), which is informal: for friends, family and people your own age. You will also hear Selamlar (“hi all”): friendly plural for group chats and several friends.
How do you reply to Selam?
Typical replies are Selam! (“Hi!”) and Selam, naber? (“Hi, what’s up?”).
When do Turks say Selam?
Selam is the everyday “hi” between friends and people of a similar age. With a much older person or an official, merhaba or iyi günler is the polite choice.
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