Interesting Turkish Expressions

Turkey is home to Luf – Handmade Turkish Towels. Turkey has an interesting culture, which is also visible in the interesting everyday sayings used by the locals. If you happen to go to Turkey one day for holiday, you are no doubt going to hear some of these being used.

1. Şeytan tüyü “The devil’s feather”

This doesn’t sound very positive at the beginning but actually it is used for people who has a mysterious, devilish charm.

2. Balık etli “Fish-fleshed”

Used to describe full figured women, usually as a compliment.

3. Bir yastıkta kocamak “May they grow old on one pillow”

Usually told when you hear the good news of someone’s wedding, meant as “best wishes” for a couple happily ever after.

4. Etekleri zil çalıyor “Bells on her skirt are ringing”

Used when someone is overexcited about something and has a happy grin on their face.

5. Ciğerimin köşesi “Corner of my liver”

This anatomic description is used to describe someone who is very precious to you.

6. Pabucu dama atıldı “His shoe has been thrown up to the roof”

Used if you are no longer someone’s favourite, anyone who has been cast aside in favour of another.

7. Armut piş ağzıma düş “May the pear be cooked and fall into my mouth”

Used mostly in a playful tone when someone tries to find a cunning short cut to do something or to manipulate someone else to do their work for them.

8. Havadan sudan “About the air and water”

When you have chit-chat with a stranger about nothing in particular, if someone else asks you what you have talked about you could use this expression.

9. Taş attı da kolu mu yoruldu? “Did he throw a stone and tire his arm?”

Perfect phrase to use for those slackers, said to berate someone who’s not being very productive but still complaining about work

10. Elini sallasa ellisi “If she waves her hand, fifty would come”

When you want to comfort someone after a bad breakup, this phrase would be used to tell them that they can do much better and there are many more suitors out there.

11. Kolay gelsin “May it come to you easily”

Usually used for artisans or people who are doing manual labour. This would be used to convey best wishes on their hard work. So if you see an artisan working on a Luf Handmade Turkish towel, you would use this phrase. :)

12. Hamam'a giren terler "The one who enters hammam is bound to sweat"

This saying is used when someone faces obstacles as a result of the actions they have taken. There is no point in resisting the obstacles (sweating) as it was their choice to do that thing (going to hammam) to begin with.