Merry Christmas in Turkish
Mutlu Noeller
Say it like this: moot-LOO noh-el-LER
Big letters show the part to say louder.
Quick answer
- In Turkish, Merry Christmas is Mutlu Noeller, said like moot-LOO noh-el-LER.
- Happy New Year is Mutlu Yıllar.
- People say it in Turkey, Northern Cyprus.
What Mutlu Noeller means
'Mutlu' means happy, and 'Noel' (plural 'Noeller') is Christmas, from the French word Noël.
Other ways to say it in Turkish
Happy New Year
Mutlu Yıllar
Say it like this: moot-LOO yuh-LAR
Happy years: 'mutlu' means happy and 'yıllar' means years. Yeni yılınız kutlu olsun, 'may your new year be blessed', is a more formal wish.
To write in a Christmas card
Mutlu Noeller ve Mutlu Yıllar
Say it like this: moot-LOO noh-el-LER veh moot-LOO yuh-LAR
Where people speak Turkish
TurkeyNorthern Cyprus
Turkish (Türkçe) belongs to the Turkic language family.
Hear it from Rally on Christmas Eve
On Christmas Eve, Rally the corgi rides the Christmas Train around the world. He reaches Istanbul at about 12:38 AM local time, and kids learn to say Mutlu Noeller as he lands.
Watch Rally arrive in Istanbul →Christmas traditions where people speak Turkish
- New Year's Eve (Yılbaşı): New Year's Eve is far bigger than Christmas in Turkey. Families share a festive meal, often with turkey, watch special TV shows and play games such as bingo before midnight.[2]
- The national lottery: The New Year draw of the National Lottery is the most popular tradition. Many people buy tickets for the top prize, and some ask friends in other cities to buy for them.[3]
- Good-luck customs: For luck in the new year, some families sprinkle salt on the doorstep, turn on the taps, or throw a pomegranate on the ground. Some also wear red underwear.[2]
🎄 Quick game: Merry Christmas in Turkish
Three quick questions for kids. Tap an answer to play.
Say Merry Christmas in more languages
- Hebrewחג מולד שמח
- Persian (Farsi)کریسمس مبارک
- Arabicعيد ميلاد مجيد
- AzerbaijaniMilad bayramınız mübarək
- Haitian CreoleJwaye Nwèl
- SamoanManuia le Kerisimasi
- HungarianBoldog karácsonyt
- Tamilகிறிஸ்துமஸ் வாழ்த்துக்கள்
Questions parents ask
How do you say Merry Christmas in Turkish?
Say 'Mutlu Noeller'. It is used with Christians, expats, visitors and international friends. Turkey is a mostly Muslim country, and only about 0.2 percent of people are Christian, so the greeting is less common than in many places, but it is well understood and always received kindly.[1][2][4]
How do you pronounce Mutlu Noeller?
Say 'moot-LOO noh-el-LER'. The Turkish 'u' sounds like 'oo' in moon, and the final 'e' in 'Noeller' is an open 'eh'. Stress falls on the last syllable of each word. Both words use the clear vowels typical of Turkish. Say them slowly and evenly at first.[4]
What does Mutlu Noeller mean?
'Mutlu' means happy or joyful and 'Noel' means Christmas, borrowed from the French word Noël, with '-ler' making it plural. So 'Mutlu Noeller' wishes someone happy Christmases. Turkish often uses plurals in greetings, as in 'Mutlu yıllar', meaning happy years.[1][4]
How do you write and spell it in Turkish?
Turkish uses a Latin alphabet, spelled as it sounds: Mutlu Noeller. This phrase has no special letters, but 'Mutlu Yıllar' for the New Year uses the Turkish dotless ı, which sounds like the 'uh' in 'support'. Capitalize both words on a card.[1]
How do you say Happy New Year in Turkish?
Say 'Mutlu Yıllar', pronounced 'moot-LOO yuh-LAR', meaning 'happy years'. A more formal wish is 'Yeni yılınız kutlu olsun', 'may your new year be blessed'. In Turkey, New Year's Eve, called Yılbaşı, is celebrated far more widely than Christmas.[1][3]
Is there a formal and a casual way to say it?
'Mutlu Noeller' works for everyone. For the New Year, 'Mutlu yıllar' is friendly and casual, while 'Yeni yılınız kutlu olsun' is the polite, formal wish for elders, teachers and colleagues. People also say 'İyi seneler', meaning good years, as a general New Year wish.[3][4]
When do people say Mutlu Noeller in Turkey?
Around December 24 and 25, but mostly in Christian communities, expat circles and tourist areas of Istanbul, Izmir and Antalya. December 25 is not a public holiday in Turkey and is a normal day for most people. Greetings are far more common around New Year's Eve.[2][4]
Is the main celebration Christmas Eve or Christmas Day?
For most people in Turkey the big night is New Year's Eve, not Christmas. Turkish Christians attend services at their churches on Christmas. Shops and hotels in cities display decorations and Santa figures, but those are usually tied to a 'Happy New Year' banner, since Noel Baba is linked to New Year gifts.[2]
Where does Santa Claus come from?
Santa is based on Saint Nicholas, a fourth-century bishop born in Myra, which is now Demre in Antalya Province, Turkey. Turks call him Noel Baba. A church honors him in Demre, with a service on December 6, the anniversary of his death. A bronze statue of him stands there.[2][3]
How can I teach Mutlu Noeller to kids?
Say 'Mutlu' and 'Noeller' separately, then join them. Tell the story that Santa started as Saint Nicholas in Turkey, which makes the greeting memorable. Children can draw a pomegranate or a lottery ticket for Yılbaşı and practice 'Mutlu yıllar' for New Year.[2][4]
A bedtime story after seeing SantaRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi’s first train ride, hand-painted in real watercolor by Leslie Dunn. $16.99 on Amazon, ages 0 to 8.
Buy on AmazonSources
We check every greeting against dictionaries, language institutes and cultural sources.
- How to Say Merry Christmas in Turkish, TurkishClass101
- Christmas in Türkiye / Turkey, WhyChristmas.com
- Ask Mehmet: Do Turks celebrate Christmas and New Year?, Incirlik Air Base (U.S. Air Force)
- Christmas in Turkey: How to Say Merry Christmas in Turkish, Lingopie
