Kolay Gelsin Meaning: The Turkish Phrase for Anyone Hard at Work
What kolay gelsin means word by word, who you say it to, the three moments when it fits, how to answer it and which phrases sit next to it.
Kolay gelsin is a short Turkish phrase with no exact match in English. People say it to someone who is working: a shopkeeper, a bus driver, a classmate with homework, a parent at the stove. It means "may it come easy". Here is what it means word by word, how to say it out loud, who you say it to and how to answer it.
What does kolay gelsin mean?
- Kolay means "easy".
- Gelsin means "may it come". It is from gelmek, "to come".
Together, kolay gelsin means "may it come easy" or "may your work go easily". English speakers reach for "good luck with that", "don't work too hard" or "keep up the good work", but none of them fits every time. The Turkish phrase simply notices that someone is working and wishes them an easier time of it.
How to say it out loud
Say koh-LIE GEL-sin, with a hard g as in "get". The hint is close, not exact. Turkish is written the way it sounds, so say every syllable clearly.
Who do you say it to?
Anyone who is working, or about to start:
- The baker, the cashier, the waiter, the bus driver, the person who is cleaning the stairs.
- A neighbor who is carrying shopping bags or washing the car.
- A classmate who is doing homework, or a friend with an exam tomorrow.
- A parent who is cooking, ironing or fixing a shelf.
- A colleague at the next desk, at the start of the day or at the end of a message.
It does not matter whether the work is paid or unpaid, big or small. If someone is busy with a task, the phrase fits.
Three moments for kolay gelsin
As a hello
Walk into a small shop in Türkiye and you can open with Kolay gelsin! before you ask for anything. It is a friendly way to greet a person at work.
As a goodbye
You leave, and the other person stays and carries on working. Kolay gelsin is the natural last word.
In passing
You walk past someone who is sweeping the pavement or unloading a van. You do not stop. You say Kolay gelsin, they nod, and both of you carry on.
How to reply to kolay gelsin
- Sağ ol. "Thanks", for a friend or a child. Word for word, it means "be well".
- Sağ olun. The polite form, also used for a group.
- Teşekkürler or Teşekkür ederim. "Thanks" and "thank you".
- Sana da or Size de. "To you too", when the other person is working as well. There is more about this reply in Sana Da Meaning.
What it is not
- It is not "take it easy". The phrase does not tell anyone to stop or slow down.
- It is not "good luck" in a game of chance. For that, Turkish has bol şans.
- It is not for a finished job. When the work is done, say Eline sağlık, "health to your hand", to praise the result.
- It is not for someone who is resting on the sofa.
Kolay gelsin and its neighbors
- İyi çalışmalar. "Have a good day's work." It is a little more formal, and it is common in offices and e-mails.
- Eline sağlık. People say it after the work, to thank or praise the person who did it. After a meal it becomes Ellerine sağlık; see Afiyet Olsun Meaning.
- Geçmiş olsun. "May it be in the past." People say it to someone who is ill or has had a hard time.
A story built around the phrase
Our read-aloud audio story Kolay Gelsin starts with a new house and sixty-three boxes. The grandmother of Defne and Ahmet arrives with a fig sapling and takes the children to her village, with its two fig trees, its olive mill and its coffee house. There the children meet the phrase that tells people: I see you working.
Try it today
- Say it to the next person who serves you. At the bakery, on the bus or at the till.
- Let your child say it at home. To whoever is washing the dishes tonight.
- End a message with it. A busy friend will like to read Kolay gelsin! at the end.
- Give it a job in class. For one week, the class says it to whoever is wiping the board.
The one-line version
Kolay gelsin: may it come easy. Say it to anyone who is working, as a hello, a goodbye or a kind word in passing.
Related
- Afiyet Olsun Meaning: what it means and how to answer
- Sana Da Meaning: what it means and how to use it
- 15 Turkish words every kid should hear before age 8
- What these Turkish sayings mean
- Turkish resources for schools and classrooms
- Pingucan's Sunday Surprise: a read-aloud story with six kind Turkish words
Sayings you can hold
Some Turkish sentences are too good to keep only in the air. Çay koy, geliyorum ("put the tea on, I'm coming") and Yemek yedin mi? ("have you eaten?") are both designs in our Turkish culture collection, on mugs, tea towels, cards and more.
