Questions & Answers about Teşekkürler! Afiyet olsun.
Why does teşekkürler end in -ler?
Teşekkür means 'gratitude' or 'thanks'. Just like how we say 'thanks' in English with an 's', Turkish adds the plural suffix -ler to make it a common, everyday way to say 'Thank you'.
What does afiyet olsun literally translate to?
Afiyet means 'health' or 'well-being', and olsun comes from the verb olmak (to be) and means 'let it be' or 'may it be'. So literally, you are saying 'May it be health' to the person consuming it.
When is the right time to say afiyet olsun?
Unlike 'Enjoy your meal' in English, which you only say before eating, you can say afiyet olsun before, during, or even after a meal in Turkey. It is also completely normal to say it when someone finishes a simple glass of water or a cup of tea!
Will I see olsun in other everyday Turkish phrases?
Yes! Because it means 'may it be', it shows up in many fixed wishes. A very common one you will learn at this level is geçmiş olsun (Get well soon), which literally means 'May it be in the past'.
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