What is a common mistake with “Hoşça kal”?

✗ Güle güle (when you leave) → ✓ Hoşça kal: The one leaving says Hoşça kal.

Phrase 16 of 500

How to say “Goodbye! (said by the one leaving)” in Turkish

Q: How is “Hoşça kal” used in a conversation?

Misafir: Ben gidiyorum, hoşça kalın! (I'm leaving, goodbye!) Ev sahibi: Güle güle, yine bekleriz! (Bye, come again!)

Hoşça kal is "Goodbye", said by the person who is leaving. It means "stay well".

Written by Fatih, Turkish language and literature graduate & linguist

Hoşça kal!

hohsh·chah kahl

Listen

Meaning: Goodbye! (said by the one leaving)
Pronunciation: hohsh·chah kahl

What “Hoşça kal” really means

Hoşça kal is "Goodbye", said by the person who is leaving. It means "stay well". The polite or plural form is "Hoşça kalın". The person who stays answers "Güle güle".

💬 Example dialogues

MisafirBen gidiyorum, hoşça kalın!I'm leaving, goodbye!

Ev sahibiGüle güle, yine bekleriz!Bye, come again!

AliHoşça kal, yarın ararım.Bye, I'll call tomorrow.

DenizGüle güle!Bye!

🚫 When NOT to use it

If you are the one staying behind, do not say Hoşça kal; say "Güle güle". It also sounds a bit final, so between flatmates who meet again tonight "Görüşürüz" is more natural.

🇹🇷 Culture note

The pair Hoşça kal / Güle güle is one of the first things Turkish children learn, and getting it right makes locals smile.

⚠️ Common mistakes

✗ Güle güle (when you leave) → ✓ Hoşça kalThe one leaving says Hoşça kal.

Letters to watch in this sentence

Ç ç like ch in “chair”
Ş ş like sh in “shoe”