What is a common mistake with “Şerefe”?

✗ Şerefe! (with a glass of tea) → ✓ Afiyet olsun: Şerefe is the toast for alcoholic drinks.

Phrase 416 of 500

How to say “Cheers” in Turkish

Q: How is “Şerefe” used in a conversation?

Can: Yeni işine şerefe! (To your new job, cheers!) Murat: Şerefe! (Cheers!)

Şerefe! means "Cheers!", literally "to honor".

Written by Fatih, Turkish language and literature graduate & linguist

Şerefe!

sheh·reh·feh

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Meaning: Cheers!
Pronunciation: sheh·reh·feh

What “Şerefe” really means

Şerefe! means "Cheers!", literally "to honor". Glasses clink and people look each other in the eyes. It is used with alcoholic drinks; with tea or juice people say "Afiyet olsun" or nothing.

💬 Example dialogues

CanYeni işine şerefe!To your new job, cheers!

MuratŞerefe!Cheers!

EceRakılar geldi.The rakı is here.

SelinO zaman şerefe!Then, cheers!

🚫 When NOT to use it

Many people in Türkiye do not drink for religious or personal reasons. Do not push someone to toast with alcohol; with a soft drink a smile is enough.

🇹🇷 Culture note

When glasses clink, the younger person often holds their glass a little lower as a sign of respect. Rakı is sipped slowly with meze, never downed in one go.

⚠️ Common mistakes

✗ Şerefe! (with a glass of tea) → ✓ Afiyet olsunŞerefe is the toast for alcoholic drinks.

Letters to watch in this sentence

Ş ş like sh in “shoe”