Turkish filler words, known as dolgu kelimeleri, are small words that native speakers use to keep conversations flowing. Without them, even perfect grammar sounds robotic and unnatural. In this article, you will learn the most common Turkish filler words and their meanings. You will also discover when to use each one and how to match them to the right formality level. Haydi başlayalım!
Table of Contents
What Are Turkish Filler Words?
Filler words are short expressions that speakers use to pause, connect thoughts, or soften a statement. In English, words like “um,” “well,” “you know,” and “actually” serve this purpose. Similarly, Turkish has its own set of fillers that appear in nearly every conversation, or what Turks call havadan sudan konuşmak.
Research on spoken Turkish (Gürbüz, 2008) shows that casual speech contains roughly one discourse marker for every seven words. In other words, fillers are not a sign of poor language skills. On the contrary, they are essential tools for natural communication. Using them correctly signals fluency to native Turkish speakers.
Here is a quick overview of the filler words covered in this article:
| Turkish | English Equivalent | Formality |
|---|---|---|
| Yani | I mean, so, well | Neutral |
| Şey | Um, thing | Informal |
| Hani | You know, remember | Informal |
| İşte | Well, that is | Neutral |
| Ya | Oh, well, hey | Informal |
| Aslında | Actually, in fact | Neutral |
| Efendim | Pardon, yes? | Formal |
| Falan / Filan | And so on, stuff | Informal |
| Şimdi | Now, well | Neutral |
| Böyle | Like this, so | Neutral |
| Mesela | For example, like | Neutral |
| Ondan sonra | After that, then | Neutral |
| Anladın mı / Anlarsın ya | You know what I mean | Informal |
Yani: I Mean, So
Yani is the single most common filler word in spoken Turkish. It works like “I mean,” “so,” or “well” in English. Specifically, speakers reach for yani when they want to clarify or rephrase something they just said.
Besides clarification, yani also expresses uncertainty or hedges a statement. You will hear it at the start of a sentence, in the middle, or at the very end. In fact, this flexibility is what makes it so widespread in daily Turkish.
- İT’deyim, yani… programcıyım. (I’m in IT, I mean… I’m a programmer.)
- O iyileşti mi? Yani, sanırım. (Did he recover? Well, I think so.)
- Biz liseden arkadaşız. Yani, çok eskiden beri. (We are friends from high school. I mean, for a very long time.)
One common mistake is using yani as a pure hesitation sound. However, it carries a real meaning of clarification or hedging. Keep this distinction in mind when you use it.
Şey: The Turkish Um
Şey (pronounced “shey”) literally means “thing” in Turkish. As a filler, it works like “um” or “uh” in English. Speakers use it when they need time to think or cannot remember a specific word.
This filler is especially useful for learners. If you forget a word mid-sentence, saying şey buys you time. Moreover, native speakers will often complete your thought when they hear it. As a result, it doubles as a natural conversation tool beyond simple hesitation.
- Şey, sana bir şey sormak istiyordum. (Um, I wanted to ask you something.)
- Bugün kaç soru çözdün? Şey, galiba 30. (How many questions did you solve today? Well, I think 30.)
- O şey… neydi adı… Ali mi? (That thing… what was his name… Ali?)
Note that şey can both stand alone as a filler and replace a forgotten noun in a sentence. For example, şu şeyi verir misin? means “can you pass me the thing?”
Hani: You Know, Remember
Hani is one of the hardest Turkish fillers for learners to master. It has no single English equivalent. Instead, its meaning shifts based on context and tone of voice.
The most frequent use of hani is to recall shared knowledge. You say it to remind someone of something you both know. In addition, it often carries a sense of reproach or unmet expectations. Essentially, hani implies “but you said…” or “what happened to…?”
- Hani bana söz vermiştin? (What about the promise you gave me?)
- Hani dün konuştuğumuz konu var ya… (You know, the topic we discussed yesterday…)
- Hani uykun vardı! (But you said you were sleepy!)
Intonation matters greatly with this word. A rising tone signals a genuine question or recall. Meanwhile, a falling tone sounds more like an accusation or reproach. Pay close attention to how native speakers deliver it in different settings.
İşte: Well, That Is
İşte is a versatile filler that can mean “here,” “that’s it,” “well,” or “so.” As a result, you will hear it in many different types of sentences. It ranks among the top five discourse markers in spoken Turkish.
Speakers typically use işte to emphasize, conclude, or present something as self-evident. Think of it as the Turkish way of saying “there you have it.” In particular, it often signals that the speaker considers the topic clear and wants to wrap things up.
- İşte bu! (This is it!)
- İşte böyle. (That’s how it is.)
- Evi temizledim, alışverişe gittim, ders çalıştım, falan filan işte. (I cleaned the house, went shopping, studied, and so on.)
Be careful not to confuse işte (the filler) with iş (work). Similarly, işteyim means “I am at work” and has nothing to do with this filler word.
Ya: The Versatile Particle
Ya is a short particle packed with meaning. Its function depends almost entirely on tone and placement in the sentence. In fact, the same word with different intonation carries a completely different message.
As a sentence opener, ya works like “well” or “oh.” At the end of a sentence, it adds emphasis or seeks agreement. Furthermore, an extended yaaa expresses surprise or affection, especially among younger speakers. You will also hear hadi ya as a way to say “really?”
- Ya, çünkü fakir görünüyordu. (Well, because he looked poor.)
- Bu gürültüde çalışılır mı ya? (Who can work in this noise?)
- Ya sen? (What about you?)
Using ya correctly signals near-native fluency. However, avoid it when addressing someone formally in Turkish. It belongs strictly to casual conversation between friends and peers.
Aslında: Actually, In Fact
Aslında comes from asıl (origin, root) and literally means “in its essence.” It works exactly like “actually” or “in fact” in English. For this reason, it is one of the easiest fillers for English speakers to pick up.
You can use aslında to introduce a contrast, a correction, or surprising information. It also serves as a politeness tool when you disagree with someone. By starting with aslında, you soften the impact of your opposing view.
- Aslında ben de öyle düşünüyorum. (Actually, I think so too.)
- Aslında bu tam doğru değil. (Actually, this is not quite right.)
- Evet, açım aslında. (Yes, I am actually hungry.)
Unlike most fillers on this list, aslında works in both casual and formal settings. You can use it in meetings, interviews, and daily conversations alike.
Efendim: The Polite Response
Efendim literally means “my master” (from efendi + the possessive -m). Despite this origin, it functions today as the standard polite response when someone calls your name or when you did not hear something, similar to “Pardon?” in English.
Turkish parents teach children to say efendim instead of ne? (what?) from a young age. In fact, answering with ne? when called is considered rude. Besides its role as a polite reply, efendim also serves as the standard way to answer the phone in Turkish.
- Anne: Ayşe! Ayşe: Efendim? (Mom: Ayşe! Ayşe: Yes, mom?)
- Efendim, anlamadım. Tekrar söyler misiniz? (Pardon, I did not understand. Could you repeat that?)
This is the most formal filler on the list. You can safely use it with anyone. Among very close friends, however, it may sound overly stiff. In casual settings, friends often use ha? or ne? instead.
Falan / Filan: And So On
Falan means “or something” or “about.” When paired with filan, the expression falan filan translates to “and so on,” “etc.” Speakers reach for it when they do not want to list every detail or want to end a list casually.
On its own, falan can also express approximate quantities. For example, iki saat falan means “about two hours.” This flexibility makes it useful in many everyday situations.
- Arkadaşlarla buluşuyoruz, yemek yiyoruz falan. (We are meeting friends, eating and stuff.)
- İki yıldır falan çalışıyorum. (I have been working for about two years or so.)
- Evi temizledim, alışverişe gittim, falan filan. (I cleaned, went shopping, and so on.)
Avoid falan filan in formal or professional contexts. In those settings, use ve benzerleri (and similar) or ve bunun gibi (and the like) instead.
Şimdi: Now, Well
Şimdi literally means “now” in Turkish. As a filler, it works like “well” or “let me think” in English. Speakers use it to buy time before an explanation or to signal they are about to make a point.
You will hear şimdi at the start of a sentence when someone needs a moment to organize their thoughts. It does not always refer to the present time. Instead, it often serves as a verbal pause before a longer explanation or a story.
- Şimdi, sana bir şey anlatayım. (Well, let me tell you something.)
- Şimdi, mesele şu ki… (Now, the thing is…)
- Bu biraz karmaşık. Şimdi, nasıl açıklasam… (This is a bit complex. Well, how should I explain…)
This filler works in both casual and semi-formal speech. However, overusing it at the start of every answer can make you sound like you are stalling…
Böyle: Like This, So
Böyle literally means “like this” or “in this way.” As a filler, it works like “so” or “like” in English. A corpus study (Gürbüz, 2008 ; linked higher in the article) ranks it among the top ten discourse markers in spoken Turkish.
Speakers use böyle to fill a pause, to gesture vaguely at what they mean, or to wrap up a thought. It often appears mid-sentence when the speaker is searching for the right words. In addition, it can signal that the speaker considers the details self-evident.
- Bir sürü iş vardı, böyle koşturup durdum. (There was a lot to do, so I kept running around.)
- Hayat böyle işte. (Life is like that, you know.)
- Hava çok güzeldi, böyle hafif bir rüzgar vardı. (The weather was beautiful, like there was a light breeze.)
Note that böyle as a filler is less precise than its literal meaning. It adds a vague, conversational tone rather than pointing at something specific.
Mesela: For Example, Like
Mesela comes from Arabic and means “for example.” As a filler, however, it does not always introduce a real example. Speakers also use it to start a thought, propose an idea, or soften a suggestion.
This word appears frequently when someone is thinking out loud or exploring options. In that sense, it functions much like the English “like” or “say.” It makes speech sound more tentative and open to discussion.
- Mesela bu akşam sinemaya gidebiliriz. (Like, tonight, we could go to the cinema.)
- Ne yapsak? Mesela bir yürüyüşe çıkalım. (What should we do? Say, let’s go for a walk.)
- Mesela ben olsam kabul etmezdim. (For example, if it were me, I would not accept.)
In formal writing or presentations, use mesela only when you are giving an actual example. In casual speech, however, its looser filler function is perfectly natural.
Ondan Sonra: After That, Then
Ondan sonra literally means “after that.” As a filler, it works like “and then” or “so then” in English. Speakers use it to connect events in a story, even when the events are not strictly sequential.
You will hear ondan sonra constantly in spoken narratives. It serves as a rhythmic filler that keeps the story moving forward. In fact, some speakers repeat it several times in a single story without realizing it.
- Eve gittim, ondan sonra yemek yaptım. (I went home, and then I cooked.)
- Baktım kimse yok, ondan sonra geri döndüm. (I saw nobody was there, so then I came back.)
- Sabah kalktım, ondan sonra kahvaltı ettim, ondan sonra işe gittim. (I woke up, then had breakfast, then went to work.)
This filler is neutral in formality and safe to use in most settings. Just be careful not to chain too many ondan sonra in a row, or your story may sound repetitive!
Anladın mı / Anlarsın ya: You Know What I Mean
Anladın mı (did you understand?) and anlarsın ya (you know what I mean) are fillers that speakers use to check that the listener is following or to avoid finishing a thought explicitly.
Anladın mı is more direct and often appears at the end of a sentence. Meanwhile, anlarsın ya is softer and implies the listener can fill in the blanks. In particular, anlarsın ya is useful when the speaker wants to hint at something without saying it outright.
- İkisi sürekli beraber. Anlarsın ya. (The two are always together. You know what I mean.)
- Toplantı çok uzun sürdü, anladın mı, herkes sıkıldı. (The meeting lasted very long, you know, everyone got bored.)
- O biraz zor biri, anlarsın ya. (He is a difficult person, if you know what I mean.)
These fillers belong to informal speech. Avoid them in professional or formal contexts, as they can sound too casual or even evasive.
Even More Fillers Worth Knowing
Beyond the main thirteen, a few other fillers appear regularly in Turkish speech. Here is a brief look at three more worth adding to your vocabulary.
Eee works exactly like “um” or “ehm” in English. It is a pure hesitation sound with no meaning of its own. You will hear it when speakers pause to recall a name, a number, or their next thought.
Neyse translates to “anyway” or “never mind.” Speakers use it to change the topic or cut short a long explanation. As a result, it works as a clear signal that the conversation is shifting direction.
Valla (or vallahi) comes from Arabic and means “I swear” or “really.” In modern Turkish, it serves as an emphatic filler to stress that something is true. For instance: Valla çok yorucu ama iyi. (Really, it is very tiring but good.)
You might also recognize tabii and tabii ki as common fillers meaning “of course.” They appear in nearly every Turkish conversation.
Conclusion
Turkish filler words turn stiff textbook sentences into natural, flowing speech. Learn them and try to use them as much as you can, you will instantly sound way more advanced in Turkish!
To continue learning, check tabii and tabii ki as common fillers meaning “of course.” They appear in nearly every Turkish conversation.
