Addressing people in Turkish - Hitaplar
Here you can learn how to call or address people in Turkish.
The most common forms of address are presented along with explanations and examples.
Form of address | Usage | |
Efendim | It is one of the most common forms of address. It can have the following meanings: 1. Sir! Madam! (calling someone in the street) 2. I beg your pardon! (For something we haven't understood in a conversation) 3. Hello! (Answering the phone) 4. As "my Master - my Lord". Examples: Efendim! Tabii efendim! Yüzüklerin efendisi (The Lord of the rings). |
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Beyefendi | It means "sir". It's used to call or address somebody when we don't know his name.
Examples: Merhaba beyefendi. Beyefendi! |
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Hanımefendi | It means "Madam / Mrs". It's used to call or address a lady when we don't know her name.
Examples: İyi akşamlar hanımefendi. Hanımefendi! |
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Bay | It means "Mister / Mr". It is used before the name. You can see it in documents.
Examples: Bay Mehmet Öztürk. |
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Bayan | It means "Mrs / Ms". It is used before the name. You can see it in documents
Examples: Bayan Ayşe Erdoğan. |
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Bey | It means "Mister". It is used after the name. You can see it in documents or hear it in the street.
Examples: Ali bey. Orhan bey. Müdür bey (Director, Manager). Günaydın doktor bey. |
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Hanım | It means "Mrs / Ms". It is used after the name. You can see it in documents or hear it in the street.
Examples: Ebru hanım. Merhaba doktor hanım. |
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Abi | It is an abbreviation of the word ağabey, which means "big brother". It is used in the family, between friends in the street, or from a shopkeeper who is calling a (possible) client.
It shows the same respect as to the big brother of the family.
Examples: Buyurun abi. Ne haber abi? |
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Abla | It means "big sister". It is used in the family and in the street.
It shows the same respect as to the big sister of the family.
Examples: Tamam abla, buyur abla. |
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Amca | It means "uncle - father's brother". It is used to address an older man. It shows respect.
Examples: Bakar mısın amca? Günaydın amca. |
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Teyze | It means "aunt - mother's sister". It is used to address an older woman. It shows respect.
Examples: Sağol teyze, tabii teyze. |
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Baba | It means "father", but it is also used to address an older wise person.
Examples: Sağol baba, Noel Baba (Santa Claus) |
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Sayın | It means "dear / estimable". It is used to address an official guest, an officer, a priest, a hodja, an intellectual person etc.
Examples: Sayın Başbakan (Prime Minister). Sayın Patrik (Patriarch). |
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Aşkım | It means "my love / my beloved one".
Examples: Aşkım çay ister misin? |
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Canım | It means "dear / darling / my soul".
Examples: Nasılsın canım? Seni çok özledim. |
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Dostum | It means "my friend".
Examples: Ne haber dostum? Ne var ne yok dostum? |
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Hayatım | It means "my life".
Examples: Hayatım seni çok seviyorum. |
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Sevgili/Sevgilim | They are used in letters and emails. The word sevgili means "dear". It is addressed to a friend.
The word sevgilim means "my love". Examples: Sevgili müsteriler (Dear customers). Sevgilim beni affet (Forgive me my love). |
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Hocam | It means "my teacher".
Examples: Tabii hocam. |