Significado
Ask someone to speak positively.
Contexto cultural
The phrase is often accompanied by a 'tsk' sound and a slight tilt of the head, or sometimes by knocking on wood three times. There is a belief that 'angels say Amen' to what we speak. If you speak of bad things, angels might say 'Amen' and make it happen. Even non-religious, highly educated people use this phrase as a social habit to maintain a positive vibe in the group. The word 'Hayır' was used in Ottoman times to denote charitable foundations (Vakıf). Speaking 'hayır' was seen as a form of verbal charity.
Use it with a smile
If you use it too sternly, it can sound like a real rebuke. A light, smiling delivery makes it a friendly 'don't jinx it'.
Mind the 'Hayır'
Remember that 'hayır' here is a noun (goodness), not the adverb 'no'. Don't translate it as 'Open your mouth to no'!
Significado
Ask someone to speak positively.
Use it with a smile
If you use it too sternly, it can sound like a real rebuke. A light, smiling delivery makes it a friendly 'don't jinx it'.
Mind the 'Hayır'
Remember that 'hayır' here is a noun (goodness), not the adverb 'no'. Don't translate it as 'Open your mouth to no'!
The 'Tsk' factor
Pairing this with a single 'tsk' sound (dental click) makes you sound 100% like a native speaker.
Ponte a prueba
Fill in the missing word with the correct case marker.
Sürekli kötü konuşma, lütfen ağzını ______ aç.
The idiom requires the dative case '-a' added to 'hayır'.
Which situation is the MOST appropriate for using 'Ağzını hayra aç!'?
A friend says...
The idiom is used to stop someone from predicting negative events.
Complete the dialogue.
Ayşe: 'Eyvah, kesin patron beni kovacak!' Mehmet: '____________________'
Mehmet should use the idiom to calm Ayşe's pessimism.
Match the response to the pessimistic statement.
Statement: 'Bu yemek kesin çok kötü olacak.'
The idiom counters the negative prediction about the food.
🎉 Puntuación: /4
Ayudas visuales
Banco de ejercicios
4 ejerciciosSürekli kötü konuşma, lütfen ağzını ______ aç.
The idiom requires the dative case '-a' added to 'hayır'.
A friend says...
The idiom is used to stop someone from predicting negative events.
Ayşe: 'Eyvah, kesin patron beni kovacak!' Mehmet: '____________________'
Mehmet should use the idiom to calm Ayşe's pessimism.
Statement: 'Bu yemek kesin çok kötü olacak.'
The idiom counters the negative prediction about the food.
🎉 Puntuación: /4
Preguntas frecuentes
10 preguntasIt has religious roots (the concept of 'hayır'), but today it is used by everyone regardless of their faith as a cultural idiom.
No, it is only used for future predictions or current worries. For past bad events, you would use 'Geçmiş olsun'.
There isn't a single direct opposite, but 'felaket tellallığı yapmak' (to spread gloom) describes the opposite behavior.
It might be a bit too informal. Better to say 'Umarım iyi olur' (I hope it will be good).
No, 'hayra' stays the same. Only 'ağzını' changes (ağzını, ağzınızı, vb.).
Because you are 'opening' your speech to a certain path or energy.
It's common in informal writing like texts or novels, but not in formal reports.
Yes, 'hayırla' (with goodness) is also used, but 'hayra' is much more common.
You can! 'Ağzımı hayra açayım' (Let me open my mouth to goodness) is a common way to catch yourself being negative.
Yes, 'Şom ağızlılık yapma' is a more aggressive/slangy way to say the same thing.
Frases relacionadas
şom ağızlı
contrastSomeone who brings bad luck by speaking of it.
ağzından yel alsın
similarMay the wind take it from your mouth (so it doesn't come true).
hayır konuşmak
synonymTo speak of good things.
felaket tellallığı yapmak
contrastTo act as a harbinger of doom.
