3 Common Ways to Say Thank You in Arabic

Thank you is among the most used words in any language. Whether someone hands over to you or does you a little favor, there are plenty of occasions when we want to thank someone. In fact, not saying thank you when someone does something for you can be perceived as rude. That applies to many cultures, and the Arab culture and language is no exception to that.

Thank you in Arabic is one of the first words that you should learn in Arabic, and it will probably be one of the words you’ll use the most. In this article, I’m going to show you three common translations for thank you in Arabic. You’ll also learn how to reply to thank you. Last but not least, I’ve put together some daily life examples for you to practice.

How to Say Thank You in Arabic?

If you speak some Arabic, you might know that Arabic is a very rich language. Often there are plenty of ways to say something, where in English (any many other languages) there’s just one word that people use. There are at least ten different expressions that you could use to say thank you in Arabic. Naturally, not all of them are used much.

Below are three ways to say thank you in Arabic in everyday life, which are used and understood across most Arabic dialects.

1. Shukran

The simplest and most common word for thank you in Arabic is shukran (شكراً). Shukran is the most literal translation and equivalent to thanks or thank you in English. The word shukran comes from the verb “shakara” (شكر), which means to thank in Arabic.

Shukran is used and understood across all Arab countries and dialects of Arabic, from Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco to the UAE.

Shukran can be used in formal and informal situations. Be it among friends, family, business conversations as well as to strangers. You can say shukran when a colleague opens the door for you, a friendly barista hands over your coffee, or when the cashier gives you your change. Shukran is gender neutral, regardless of your gender and the gender of the person you’re talking to. It can be used for individuals as well as for groups.

Besides, shukran can be said to people belonging to any religion, whether you’re speaking to a Muslim or a Christian.

Feeling very grateful? If you feel you have to express bigger thanks and appreciation to the person you’re talking to, you can say shukran kteer (شكراً كتير). This expression is used in spoken Arabic and translates as thank you very much or thanks a lot.

Please note that shukran jazeelan (شكرا جزيلا) is MSA, the literal form of Arabic. While it’s widely understood, it’s not commonly used in the spoken language in most Middle Eastern countries. You can read more about the difference between MSA and the dialects in my article on Arabic dialects.

2. Barak Allah Feek

If you’re looking for some variations to shukran, you’ll find numerous alternatives in the Arabic language! In fact, there are many expressions to thank someone in Arabic which aren’t really used in other languages.

Many Arabic expressions are based on Islam, the predominant religion in the Middle East.

One commonly example which also makes a alternative to shukran is barak allah feek (بارك الله فيك). It translates to “may god bless you”. Though it’s stronger than a simple shukran, it can be used to express gratitude in daily life situations without coming over as exaggerated.

Barak allah feek is a very respectful way to say thank you to a Muslim.

Note that the grammar of the expression changes slightly depending on who say it to. Barak allah feek is used when addressing a man. When talking to a woman, you’ll use barak allah feeki (بارك الله فيكي ). When speaking to a group of people, you’ll say barak allah feeku (بارك الله فيكو). The plural form is used for any group of people, regardless of gender or age.

3. Yikhlif Alek

A third way to say thank you in Arabic is yikhlif alek (يخلف عليك). This expression literally translates to “may god compensate you” (repay you for what you have done for me).

This expression is a great way of thanking someone for doing you a favor for which you are grateful. It can be used among family, friends or even colleagues. Again, it’s a great way to say thank you to a Muslim but it can be said to people from other religions too.

Yikhlif alek is used when addressing a man. You’d say yikhlif aleki (يخلف عليكي) when talking to a woman, and yikhlif aleku (يخلف عليكو) when talking to a group of people. Again, the gender and age of the people in the group is irrelevant.

Response to Thank You in Arabic

Just like in other languages, in most situations we’d like to reply when someone thanks us.

1. Afwaan

The most common response to shukran is afwaan (عفواً). Afwaan is the Arabic equivalent of the English “you’re welcome”. It can be used in any situation, regardless of the gender or age of a person. It’s a suitable way of saying you’re welcome in both informal and formal situations, for small and big favors.

2. Ta’al Kull Youm

Another beautiful and meaningful response to thank you is ta’al kull youm (تعال كل يوم). This expression is used in daily life situations, for example among family, friends or colleagues. It literally translates to “come every day”, and would be the closest equivalent to the English “whenever you want” or “anything for you”. When talking to a female, you’ll use ta’ali kull youm (تعالي كل يوم).

3. La Shukr ‘Ala Wajeb

Another (very formal) way of saying you’re welcome is la shukr ‘ala wajeb (لا شكر على واجب ). It literally translates “no thanks for the duty”. The closest English equivalent is “there’s no need to thank me”. Note that this is a very formal way of saying you’re welcome. It can be used when speaking to both genders.

Expressions at a Glance

Below is a summary of the expressions used in this article and their English equivalent. The Latin script can help you with the correct pronunciation if you can’t read Arabic. Learning the Arabic alphabet will greatly help you with the pronunciation of Arabic words.

Arabic Expressions with Thank You (Examples)

There are many ways to incorporate thank you in your everyday conversations. Let’s have a look at some examples and the answers to the most frequently asked questions to summarize this article.

How to say thank you in Arabic?

The most common way to say thank you in Arabic is shukran (شكراً). Alternatives are barak allah feek (بارك الله فيك) and yikhlif alek (يخلف عليك).

Thank you in Arabic writing

Shukran (meaning thank you in Arabic) is written شكراً in Arabic writing.

How do you say thank God in Arabic?

Thanking god is very common in the Arabic language, especially among Muslims. Thank god translates to alhamdulillah (الحمد لله) in Arabic.

Thank you my friend in Arabic

In Arabic thank you my friend translates as shukran sadiqi (شكرا صديقي).

Thank you my brother in Arabic

Thank you my brother means shukran akhi (شكرا أخي) in Arabic. Note that Arabs often refer to good friends as brothers. Hence, you can use this expression for your brothers and friends.

No thank you in Arabic

If you’d like to reject an offer (or anything else) from somebody, it’s polite to say no thank you (instead of just no). The same applies for Arabic, where no thank you means la shukran (لا شكرا).

How to reply to thank you in Arabic?

The most common Arabic equivalent of the English “you’re welcome” is afwaan (عفواً).

Learn Arabic with me!

Looking for more expressions in Arabic, or are you interested in Arab culture? You’ve come to the right place! This blog is about all things Middle Eastern. You’ll find plenty of useful articles here to immerse yourself in the Arabic language, culture and cuisine.

Be sure to check out my guide on what Arabic dialect to learn, my handy Arabic alphabet chart or just browse my Arabic language learning resources.

Any questions or feedback? Leave me a comment in the comment section down the page. I’d love to hear from you!