IN GREEK
χαΐρι
chairi
benefit, good outcome; mostly in negatives, δεν είδε χαΐρι
IN TURKISH
hayır
hayır
good, benefit; charity; also the word for no
WEAR THE WORD
χαΐρι in blue ink and hayır in red, on a T shirt, a tote or a mug.
THE RECORD
- LENT BY, BORROWED BY
- Turkish to Greek
- STARTED IN
- Arabic
- CATEGORY
- Other
- HOW THE MEANING DRIFTED
- Turkish also uses hayır as no and for charitable works; Greek kept only benefit, mostly in negative phrases.
COMMENTS
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SOURCES
- Nişanyan Sözlük (checked online)
Etymologies are checked against the dictionaries and studies listed. An entry is stamped settled only when both the Greek and the Turkish side have been checked. Research for this ledger was compiled with AI assistance and reviewed by the editors.
HOW TO CITE THIS ENTRY
Gold, K. (ed.) (2026) ‘χαΐρι / hayır’, entry 428, Defter ή Tefteri: a ledger of shared Greek and Turkish words. https://defteritefteri.com/en/w/428-chairi/. Accessed [day month year].