I’m one of those people who long for the snowy weather, dressing up in layers, and drinking hot chocolate. Speaking of which, the new year is knocking on the door, and I can’t believe how time flies!
Even some people out there may have already started planning their New Year holidays or Christmas. If it looks like you’ll enter the new year in Turkey, you are in the right place to learn Turkish!
In this blog post, you’ll learn everything you need to know, from New Year customs to phrases to wishing a happy New Year in Turkish, to experience a great New Year’s Day in Turkey.
How Do You Say ‘Happy New Year’ In Turkish?
Here are the six most common Turkish phrases to wish someone a happy New Year in Turkish.
1. Happy New Year! – Mutlu Yıllar!
Pronunciation:
Mutlu yıllar is the most common way of saying Happy New Year in Turkish. It means ”happy years” when literally translated into English. It expresses the wishes for the upcoming year to bring happiness.
2. Happy New Year! – İyi Seneler!
Pronunciation:
It is another common phrase for Happy New Year. It literally means ”good years” when directly translated to English. It expresses the hope for a better year.
3. May Your New Year Be Merry! – Yeni Yılınız Kutlu Olsun!
Pronunciation:
It is a more formal phrase than the previous ones. Yeni yılınız kutlu olsun means ”may your new year be happy” in English. You can say it to acquaintances that you are not very close to in daily life.
If you want to make it sound informal, you can say yeni yılın kutlu olsun, so just omit the ‘-ız’ honorific suffix.
4. To Many Happy Years Together! – Birlikte Nice Mutlu Yıllara!
Pronunciation:
It means ”to many more happy years together” in English. Usually, Turkish families and couples say this to each other, indicating they want to spend more beautiful years with you.
5. To Many Years With Health, Joy, And Love! – Nice Sağlık, Mutluluk, Sevgi Dolu Yıllara!
Pronunciation:
Its English translation would be ”to many more years full of health, happiness, and love”. This is my favorite phrase to wish a happy new year because it shows all the best and sincere wishes from one’s heart.
6. Merry Christmas! – Mutlu Noeller!
Pronunciation:
Mutlu Noeller means Merry Christmas in Turkish. As I mentioned before, Turkish people don’t really celebrate Christmas, but just in case, you need to say this phrase.
How Do Turkish People Celebrate The New Year?
As in most countries, Turkey enters the new year after midnight on December 31st. On the evening of December 31st, or as we say it in Turkish, 31 Aralık, most people gather with their friends and family to celebrate the new year.
Most families have a decorated pine tree in their homes for the new year, if not for Christmas. A typical Turkish family hosts a grand dinner with a delicious Turkish menu and invites relatives to strengthen the bonds between them. After dinner, they play board games such as Tombala, and watch New Year’s shows on TV.
Meanwhile, other people prefer going out with their friends, partying and drinking in a club, or attending the massive parade with thousands of people in Taksim, İstanbul, to celebrate the new year.
People turn their lights off and set off their firecrackers, counting down to ten until 12:00 AM. Once the clock strikes midnight, fireworks light up the dark sky, and people start screaming Happy New Year (Mutlu Yıllar). Then, they exchange New Year’s gifts with greeting cards.
Although most people celebrate New Year’s Day with the activities mentioned above, some Turkish people prefer not to celebrate it since they consider it a Western tradition that has nothing to do with Turkish culture.
Is Christmas Celebrated In Turkey?
Since it is a Muslim-majority country, Christmas isn’t officially celebrated in Turkey, and there is no big hype for December 25th – 25 Aralık. Moreover, it isn’t an official holiday. However, they celebrate the New Year, and the first day of January is a public holiday.
Today, Christians make up only 0.3% of the Turkish population. However, churches in different parts of Turkey host Christmas ceremonies for Christian people.
Cities have decorations and light displays, and some cafes and stores are decorated with a Christmas theme to celebrate New Year’s Eve, which is the actual celebration instead of Christmas.
As a result, you don’t really hear Turkish people say Merry Christmas in Turkish, which is Mutlu Noeller.
New Year-Related Turkish Vocabulary
Let’s take a look at some Turkish vocabulary related to the new year.
| English | Turkish | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Greeting card | Tebrik kartı | |
| December | Aralık | |
| Midnight | Gece yarısı | |
| New Year’s Eve | Yılbaşı arifesi | |
| New Year’s Day | Yılbaşı | |
| New Year’s Holiday | Yılbaşı tatili | |
| Party | Parti | |
| Gift | Hediye | |
| Fireworks | Havai fişek | |
| To toast | Kadeh kaldırmak | |
| Champagne | Şampanya | |
| To dance | Dans etmek | |
| To invite | Davet etmek | |
| Invitation | Davetiye | |
| Countdown | Geri sayım | |
| Parade | Geçit töreni | |
| Christmas | Noel | |
| Santa Clause | Noel baba |
New Year’s Resolutions In Turkish
Honestly, my favorite part of the new year is making resolutions. We have many things to do and achieve as individuals, but during the mad rush of daily life, we tend to forget about them.
The New Year is the perfect time to think deeply about what kind of person we want to become and what kind of life we want to have in the future. It’s a time to reset our bad habits and gain new, better habits.
I love to get my journal and write down my intentions for the new year, hoping I’ll finally achieve them (which I never do). So, let’s look at some of the most common New Year’s resolutions in Turkish.
| English | Turkish | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Lose weight. | Kilo ver. | |
| Quit smoking. | Sigara içmeyi bırak. | |
| Quit drinking. | Alkol içmeyi bırak. | |
| Study regularly. | Düzenli ders çalış. | |
| Do exercise regularly. | Düzenli egzersiz yap. | |
| Read more books. | Daha çok kitap oku. | |
| Spend more time with your family. | Ailenle daha çok zaman geçir. | |
| Learn a new language. | Yeni bir dil öğren. |
Tips For Memorizing New Year-Related Phrases In Turkish
New Year phrases in Turkish tend to follow familiar patterns, which makes them easier to remember once you know what to look for. Instead of trying to memorize everything at once, a few small adjustments in how you practice can go a long way.
- Learn New Year phrases as complete expressions rather than translating them word by word.
- Pay attention to common Turkish verb endings used in wishes, such as -sin and -olsun.
- Practice by writing short New Year messages, like texts or greeting cards.
- Say the phrases out loud to get used to Turkish rhythm and pronunciation.
- Group phrases by situation, for example, casual messages for friends or more formal wishes for work.
Frequently Asked Questions About Happy New Year In Turkish
How Do You Wish For A New Year In Turkish?
To wish someone a happy new year in Turkish, you say Mutlu Yıllar!, which means “Happy Years!” or Yeni Yılınız Kutlu Olsun!, which translates to “May your new year be blessed!” Both are commonly used expressions during New Year celebrations.
What Is The Turkish New Year Called?
In Turkish, the New Year is called Yılbaşı. It literally means “year head” and is used to refer to New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day celebrations.
How Do You Say ‘Best Wishes’ In Turkish?
The phrase for best wishes in Turkish is En iyi dileklerimle, which directly translates to “With my best wishes.” This can be used in various contexts to express good wishes for someone’s endeavors or life events.
Wrapping Up: Saying Happy New Year In Turkish
In this article, we explored how to wish someone a Happy New Year in Turkish, covering six common phrases, such as Mutlu Yıllar and Yeni Yılınız Kutlu Olsun, and when to use them. We also looked at New Year’s customs in Turkey, the limited role of Christmas celebrations, and useful vocabulary for New Year’s resolutions.
Even learning just a few expressions gives you a better feel for how Turkish works and how people communicate during the holidays. With a bit of practice, you’ll be ready to share your New Year wishes in Turkish in a way that feels genuine and respectful.
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