If you enjoyed the phrases we covered in Part One here are a few more to get your tongue round.

‘Kolay gelsin’ (remember ‘ay’ is said like ‘eye’ in English) can be used daily.  It literally means ‘Let it come easy’ and you use it to people who are working.  So try it out when you are getting off the dolmuş, a ‘kolay gelsin’ to the driver will be appreciated; or to the hardworking girls at the tills in whichever supermarket you use – when she hands over your change just say ‘kolay gelsin’ and you’ll make her day.

‘Gözün aydın’ is one form of ‘Congratulations’ and is specially used when someone has been reunited with a close relative/friend not seen for a long time.  So if your neighbour’s son or daughter is away at university, when they come home for a holiday after several months’ absence you should say ‘Gözün aydın’.  A more general way to say ‘congratulations’ is ‘tebrikler’ – say that one for birthdays, exam successes, new jobs, etc.

When your Turkish friends show you their new furniture, car or stylish outfit you should say ‘Güle güle kulan’ which literally means ‘use it with joy’.

And finally the word we hear many times on a daily basis ‘Inşallah’ which does mean ‘with the will of Allah’.  However, the Turks use it where we would say ‘I hope so’ or ‘maybe’.  At Fethiye Times we don’t say ‘God willing’ in English but we do use ‘Inşallah’ frequently in Turkish, as do all Turks whether committed to Islam or not.  So if your Turkish neighbour invites you round for a barbecue on Sunday, accept and then say ‘Inşallah’ – they would certainly do so when accepting your invitations.