A1 Expression 중립

Tabii

Sure

Phrase in 30 Seconds

Tabii is the most common way to say 'of course' or 'sure' in Turkish, signaling enthusiastic agreement.

  • Means: 'Of course' or 'Naturally' in almost any context.
  • Used in: Responding to requests, confirming facts, or showing you're listening.
  • Don't confuse: With 'Tamam' (OK), which is more neutral and less enthusiastic.
Request + 🤝 = Tabii!

Explanation at your level:

At the A1 level, 'Tabii' is simply your best friend for saying 'Yes' more politely. It means 'Of course.' Use it when someone asks you a simple question like 'Can you help me?' or 'Is this the bus to Taksim?'. It makes you sound more natural than just saying 'Evet'.
At the A2 level, you start using 'Tabii ki' for emphasis. You also learn to use 'Tabii' in restaurants and shops. For example, when a waiter asks if you want water, you say 'Tabii, lütfen'. You understand that 'Tabii' shows you are a polite and helpful person in daily interactions.
At the B1 level, you use 'Tabii' to connect ideas. You understand its role in showing logical results (e.g., 'He didn't study, so of course he failed'). you also begin to distinguish between 'Tabii' and 'Elbette', choosing the right one based on whether you are talking to a friend or a boss.
At the B2 level, you master the nuances of intonation. You know that a long, drawn-out 'Tabiiii' can imply sarcasm or that something is extremely obvious. You use 'Tabii' fluently in workplace discussions to show agreement with a proposal while maintaining a professional tone. You also recognize it in Turkish media and literature.
At the C1 level, you analyze 'Tabii' as a pragmatic marker. You understand how it functions to manage 'face' in social interactions, preventing potential conflict by providing immediate affirmation. You can use it in complex debates to concede a point before pivoting to your own argument ('Tabii, bu doğru, ama...').
At the C2 level, you possess a near-native grasp of the word's sociolinguistic weight. You understand its etymological roots in Islamic philosophy and how its transition from 'natural law' to 'conversational affirmative' reflects broader shifts in Turkish cognitive linguistics. You can detect the subtle social cues when 'Tabii' is withheld in contexts where it is culturally expected.

뜻

Agreement.

🌍

문화적 배경

In Turkey, saying 'Tabii' when someone asks for a favor is a sign of 'misafirperverlik' (hospitality). It shows that you are happy to help and that the request is no trouble at all. Waiters and shopkeepers use 'Tabii efendim' constantly. The 'efendim' adds a layer of Ottoman-era politeness that is still very much alive in modern Turkish commerce. When saying 'Tabii', Turks often give a slight, single nod downward. A sharp upward nod (often with a 'tsk' sound) means 'No', so the downward nod is crucial for 'Tabii'. On Turkish social media (Twitter/X), 'Tabii' is often used sarcastically to reply to obvious lies or political statements, usually spelled as 'Tabiii' with many 'i's.

🎯

The 'Ki' Power-up

Always add 'ki' when you want to sound 100% certain. 'Tabii ki' is much stronger than just 'Tabii'.

⚠️

Watch the Tone

A flat 'Tabii' can sound bored. Use a rising-falling intonation to sound friendly.

뜻

Agreement.

🎯

The 'Ki' Power-up

Always add 'ki' when you want to sound 100% certain. 'Tabii ki' is much stronger than just 'Tabii'.

⚠️

Watch the Tone

A flat 'Tabii' can sound bored. Use a rising-falling intonation to sound friendly.

💬

Service Etiquette

If you work in service, always use 'Tabii efendim' to impress Turkish customers.

셀프 테스트

Complete the dialogue with the most appropriate form of 'Tabii'.

Ayşe: Yarınki partiye geliyor musun? Mehmet: ________, gelmez miyim hiç!

✓ 정답! ✗ 아쉬워요. 정답: Tabii ki

The phrase 'gelmez miyim hiç' (would I ever not come) implies strong enthusiasm, making 'Tabii ki' the best fit.

Match the situation to the correct use of 'Tabii'.

A waiter asks if you want more bread.

✓ 정답! ✗ 아쉬워요. 정답: Tabii, lütfen.

'Tabii, lütfen' (Of course, please) is the polite way to accept an offer in a restaurant.

Fill in the blank with the correct spelling.

Sınavı geçmek için ________ çok çalışmalısın.

✓ 정답! ✗ 아쉬워요. 정답: tabii ki

In formal writing, 'tabii' has two 'i's and 'ki' is a separate word.

Which sentence uses 'Tabii' to show a logical result?

Select the correct sentence.

✓ 정답! ✗ 아쉬워요. 정답: Hava çok soğuk, tabii ki üşüdüm.

This sentence shows that feeling cold is a natural/logical result of the weather being cold.

🎉 점수: /4

시각 학습 자료

Agreement Levels

Neutral
Evet Yes
Tamam OK
Enthusiastic
Tabii Of course
Elbette Certainly

자주 묻는 질문

10 질문

It is neutral. It can be used with friends or in a business meeting, making it very versatile.

The correct spelling is 'Tabii' (two i's). In 'Tabii ki', the 'ki' is separate.

No, 'Tabii' always implies agreement or certainty. To say 'Of course not', you say 'Tabii ki hayır'.

'Evet' is a simple 'Yes'. 'Tabii' is 'Of course', which is more enthusiastic and polite.

That is the common pronunciation in fast speech, but it is technically a spelling error in formal writing.

No, it is two words: 'Tabii' and 'ki'.

Use 'Elbette' in formal writing, speeches, or when you want to sound more sophisticated.

Yes, if you elongate the 'i' sound (Tabiiii), it often means 'Yeah, right'.

Yes, it is a universal word used from Istanbul to Van.

No, it is an adverb/interjection and does not have a plural form.

관련 표현

🔄

Elbette

synonym

Certainly / Of course

🔗

Tamam

similar

OK / Fine

🔗

Aynen

similar

Exactly

🔗

Hay hay

specialized form

With pleasure

🔗

Şüphesiz

builds on

Undoubtedly

어디서 쓸까?

🍽️

At a Restaurant

Garson: Bir bardak daha çay ister misiniz?

Müşteri: Tabii, lütfen.

neutral
🚕

In a Taxi

Yolcu: Klimayı açabilir misiniz?

Şoför: Tabii, hemen açıyorum.

neutral
💼

At the Office

Müdür: Raporu yarına kadar bitirebilir misin?

Çalışan: Tabii efendim, hallederim.

formal
☕

With Friends

Ayşe: Akşam bize geliyor musun?

Mehmet: Tabii ki geliyorum, kaçırır mıyım!

informal
🗺️

Asking for Directions

Turist: Burası İstiklal Caddesi mi?

Yerli: Tabii, tam üzerindesiniz.

neutral
🛍️

Shopping

Müşteri: Bunu deneyebilir miyim?

Tezgâhtar: Tabii, kabinler şu tarafta.

neutral

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of a 'Tabby' cat nodding its head 'Yes' to everything you say. Tabby = Tabii.

Visual Association

Imagine a giant green checkmark appearing over a Turkish tea glass. The checkmark is glowing and says 'TABİİ'.

Rhyme

Tabii, tabii, her şey iyi! (Of course, of course, everything is good!)

Story

You are at a Turkish bazaar. Every time you ask a question—'Is this silk?', 'Is this fresh?', 'Can I try this?'—the friendly shopkeeper smiles warmly and says 'Tabii!'. The word becomes the soundtrack to your successful shopping trip.

Word Web

EvetElbetteTabii kiDoğalHaklısınTamamPeki

챌린지

Try to use 'Tabii' at least five times today instead of 'Evet' when someone asks you something.

In Other Languages

Spanish high

Por supuesto

Spanish often uses 'Claro' for 'Naturally', whereas Turkish uses 'Tabii' for both.

French high

Bien sûr

French 'Bien sûr' is slightly more formal than the casual Turkish 'Tabi'.

German high

Natürlich

German 'Natürlich' can sometimes sound more clinical than the warm Turkish 'Tabii'.

Japanese high

もちろん (Mochiron)

Japanese has many levels of politeness for this word, while Turkish mostly relies on adding 'efendim'.

Arabic high

طبعاً (Tab'an)

The pronunciation differs, and Turkish has added the '-ki' suffix for extra emphasis.

Chinese high

当然 (Dāngrán)

Chinese 'Dāngrán' is often used in more formal logic than the everyday Turkish 'Tabii'.

Korean high

물론이지 (Mullon-iji)

Korean requires different endings based on the social hierarchy, which Turkish handles with 'efendim'.

Portuguese high

Com certeza

Portuguese uses 'Com certeza' more as a 'Yes, definitely' while 'Tabii' also covers 'Naturally'.

Easily Confused

Tabii 대 Tabi

Learners think it's a different word.

It's just the informal spelling/pronunciation of 'Tabii'.

Tabii 대 Peki

Both can mean 'OK'.

Use 'Tabii' for enthusiastic agreement; use 'Peki' for reluctant or neutral acceptance.

자주 묻는 질문 (10)

It is neutral. It can be used with friends or in a business meeting, making it very versatile.

The correct spelling is 'Tabii' (two i's). In 'Tabii ki', the 'ki' is separate.

No, 'Tabii' always implies agreement or certainty. To say 'Of course not', you say 'Tabii ki hayır'.

'Evet' is a simple 'Yes'. 'Tabii' is 'Of course', which is more enthusiastic and polite.

That is the common pronunciation in fast speech, but it is technically a spelling error in formal writing.

No, it is two words: 'Tabii' and 'ki'.

Use 'Elbette' in formal writing, speeches, or when you want to sound more sophisticated.

Yes, if you elongate the 'i' sound (Tabiiii), it often means 'Yeah, right'.

Yes, it is a universal word used from Istanbul to Van.

No, it is an adverb/interjection and does not have a plural form.

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