Last year, I visited a dear friend, who happens to be Turkish, in Aachen, Germany. He shared what I thought was an interesting observation. The Turkish phrase Kolay gelsin!, which can be roughly translated as May it come easy! did not have a German equivalent. He’d spent hours on the Internet, looking for one; to no avail.
Kolay gelsin! is a greeting as common as Turkish tea and, in Turkey, you will hear it all the time. Let me use an example to explain. If you go to the bakery to buy your morning simit (a Turkish bagel, usually topped with sesame seeds), you can greet the staff with Kolay gelsin! My interpretation of this expression (and I may be over- or under-interpreting here) is: You are working and I am not; I feel for you. May your work not be too hard.
Kolay gelsin! is nothing short of brilliant. It shows that you have some local knowledge and aren’t just another ignorant foreigner. It’s a great way to win moody government officials over. (If you live in Turkey, you will need to visit a government office fairly soon after arrival in order to register your address.) These two simple words immediately express your solidarity with the working person; they let them know that you have spared a thought for them.
What would you say to someone who has just purchased a new car? A Turk would wish you, literally, a good usage – Güle güle kullan. This shows they are happy for you and wish you no trouble with your new vehile. This expression can also be used for items of clothing and it seems the meaning is along the lines of May it bring you joy! or Wear it with a smile.
Purple Travel Path 