Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Turkish grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about Neyse, tamam.
Does neyse literally translate to "never mind"?
Not quite. It is made from the word ne (what) and the conditional ending -ise (if it is). So it literally means something closer to "whatever it is" or "anyway." It is very commonly used in conversation to drop a subject, change the topic, or say "never mind."
Why is there a y in the middle of neyse?
That is a buffer letter! Because Turkish generally does not like two vowels right next to each other, the buffer letter y is added between ne and ise to make it smooth and easy to say.
Can I use tamam on its own to just mean "okay"?
Absolutely. Tamam is one of the most useful and common words in Turkish. It means "okay," "all right," "agreed," or "done." You can use it by itself as a quick response anytime you want to agree with someone.
What kind of mood does saying Neyse, tamam create in a conversation?
Using these two words together usually sounds like you are giving in, dropping a minor argument, or moving on. It gives off a conversational feeling similar to "Whatever, fine" or "Anyway, okay then" in English.