How to Say “Thanks for the Meal” in Turkish
The usual way to say “Thanks for the meal” in Turkish is Eline sağlık. It is informal: for friends, family and people your own age. Below are 3 alternatives (neutral, formal), how to reply, an example dialogue and the grammar behind it.
In Turkish
Eline sağlık
- Literally
- “health to your hand”
- Register
- Informalfor friends, family and people your own age
How Eline sağlık is built
- el-i-neto your hand (possessive + n + dative)
- sağlıkhealth
Other ways to say “Thanks for the meal”
- Ellerine sağlıkNeutral
“health to your hands”
Plural hands; very common.
- Elinize sağlıkFormal
“health to your hand (polite)”
To a host or an elder.
- Ellerinize sağlıkFormal
“health to your hands (polite)”
Most polite.
How to reply
Afiyet olsun.
Enjoy (it was my pleasure).
Afiyet bal şeker olsun!
Enjoy, may it be honey and sugar!
Example dialogue
- A
Yemek çok güzeldi, eline sağlık!
The meal was wonderful, thank you!
- B
Afiyet olsun, canım.
Enjoy, dear.
Related phrases
All phrases →More food & drink
Go deeper
“Thanks for the meal” in Turkish: FAQ
How do you say “Thanks for the meal” in Turkish?
The most common way is Eline sağlık (literally “health to your hand”), which is informal: for friends, family and people your own age. You will also hear Ellerine sağlık (“health to your hands”): plural hands; very common.
How do you reply to Eline sağlık?
Typical replies are Afiyet olsun. (“Enjoy (it was my pleasure).”) and Afiyet bal şeker olsun! (“Enjoy, may it be honey and sugar!”).
What does each part of Eline sağlık mean?
el-i-ne = to your hand (possessive + n + dative); sağlık = health. Eline sağlık thanks the hands that made something: a meal, a cake, a repair, even a good haircut.
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