Bedeutung
Used to thank someone for visiting or walking somewhere.
Kultureller Hintergrund
A guest is seen as a blessing. Saying 'ayaklarına sağlık' is a way to humble yourself as a host, acknowledging that the guest did the hard work of traveling. Turkish culture values physical health as the ultimate wish. You will find 'sağlık' in many daily phrases, reflecting a history where health was the most precious resource. In Turkey, it is common to use these warm idioms with service workers (waiters, couriers, taxi drivers). It bridges the gap between a transaction and a human connection. In villages, when a traveler arrives, their feet are sometimes literally washed. The phrase is a linguistic remnant of this deep physical care for the traveler.
The 'Siz' Rule
When in doubt, use 'Ayağınıza sağlık'. It is never wrong to be more formal, but being too informal with an elder can be awkward.
The Response
If someone says this to you, the best response is 'Hoş bulduk' (if you just arrived) or 'Siz de sağ olun' (Thank you too).
Bedeutung
Used to thank someone for visiting or walking somewhere.
The 'Siz' Rule
When in doubt, use 'Ayağınıza sağlık'. It is never wrong to be more formal, but being too informal with an elder can be awkward.
The Response
If someone says this to you, the best response is 'Hoş bulduk' (if you just arrived) or 'Siz de sağ olun' (Thank you too).
Not for Cars
Even if they drove a car, you still say 'feet'. Don't say 'tekerleklerine sağlık' (health to your wheels) unless you are being very funny/sarcastic!
Teste dich selbst
Complete the sentence with the correct form of the phrase.
Bize kadar geldiğin için ______ sağlık.
Since the person 'came' (geldiğin), we thank their feet.
Match the situation to the correct phrase.
A delivery rider brings your pizza.
You thank the delivery person for the journey they made to your house.
Which one is the formal version used for a boss?
How do you say 'Health to your feet' formally?
The suffix '-nıza' is the formal/plural possessive.
Fill in the host's response.
Guest: 'Selam! Sonunda gelebildim.' Host: 'Hoş geldin! ______.'
The host welcomes the guest and thanks them for coming.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Formal vs Informal
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenBize kadar geldiğin için ______ sağlık.
Since the person 'came' (geldiğin), we thank their feet.
A delivery rider brings your pizza.
You thank the delivery person for the journey they made to your house.
How do you say 'Health to your feet' formally?
The suffix '-nıza' is the formal/plural possessive.
Guest: 'Selam! Sonunda gelebildim.' Host: 'Hoş geldin! ______.'
The host welcomes the guest and thanks them for coming.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenYes! It's very polite to say it when you get out of the taxi, acknowledging the driver's service.
'Ayaklarına' is plural (feet), 'Ayağına' is singular (foot). Both are used, but 'Ayaklarına' is more common as people usually walk with two feet!
Rarely. It is primarily a spoken expression. In formal letters, 'Teşrifleriniz için teşekkür ederiz' is preferred.
Yes, but use the formal 'Ayağınıza sağlık'.
Absolutely. It's not an 'old person' phrase; it's a standard part of Turkish social DNA.
It's a bit much for a small task. 'Teşekkürler' or 'Sağ ol' is better.
No, it is a secular cultural blessing, though it fits within the broader Islamic tradition of well-wishing.
You still say 'Ayaklarına sağlık'. It covers the entire journey.
No, because drones don't have feet! This phrase is specifically for humans.
It is always 'sağlık' in this idiom.
Verwandte Redewendungen
eline sağlık
similarHealth to your hands
ağzına sağlık
similarHealth to your mouth
yüreğine sağlık
similarHealth to your heart
hoş geldin
builds onWelcome
zahmet ettiniz
similarYou went to trouble
kesene bereket
contrastBlessing to your wallet
