Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| عَفْوًا | ʕafwan |
| الْعَفْو | al-ʕafw |
| لَا شُكْرَ عَلَى وَظِيفَةٍ | lā šukra ʕalā waẓīfatin |
| عَلَى الرُّحْبِ وَٱلسَّعَة | ʕalā r-ruḥbi wa-s-saʕa |
The most standard and common way to say "you're welcome" in response to "thank you" is عَفْوًا. While this word can also be used to say "excuse me" to get someone's attention, it is the go-to polite response for gratitude. Other options include the formal الْعَفْو or the phrase لَا شُكْرَ عَلَى وَظِيفَةٍ, which translates to "no thanks needed" and serves as a polite way to accept gratitude.
What does it mean word for word?
The word عَفْوًا is derived from the root meaning "forgiveness" or "pardon", making the literal sense "pardon me" or "forgive me".
Which one should you use?
Use عَفْوًا for a quick, polite and standard "you're welcome", whereas عَلَى الرُّحْبِ وَٱلسَّعَة is much more expansive and warm, used to mean "with pleasure" or "you are most welcome".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For a standard response, use عَفْوًا. If you want to be more formal, you can use الْعَفْو or لَا شُكْرَ عَلَى وَظِيفَةٍ. The phrase عَلَى الرُّحْبِ وَٱلسَّعَة is a highly formal and eloquent way to express that you are very happy to help. For a laid-back and friendly tone, the informal لا مشكلة conveys a sense of "no problem".
How do you pronounce it?
ʕafwan
Did you know?
- In some Arabic dialects, people may respond to 'thank you' by saying تِسْلَم, which means 'may you remain safe'. This shifts the response from acknowledging the thanks to offering a prayer for the other person.
- In very traditional settings, a person might respond to gratitude by mentioning God, using phrases like الْحَمْدُ لِلَّه. This attributes the ability to help to a higher power rather than their own effort.
- The phrase عَلَى الرُّحْبِ وَٱلسَّعَة literally describes a place that is both 'wide' and 'spacious'. It evokes the image of opening one's home and heart to a guest.
Examples in context
- على الرحب والسعةYou're welcome
- عَفْوًا، لَا تُشْكِرْنِي.afwan, la tushkirni.You're welcome, don't thank me.
- عَفْوًا، هَذَا وَاجِبِي.afwan, hadha wajibi.You're welcome, it is my duty.
Example conversation
Omar helps Layla carry her bags.
- عمر Omarتَفَضَّلِي يَا لَيْلَى، هَذِهِ حَقَائِبُكِ.Tafaddali ya Layla, hadhihi haqa'ibuki.Here you go, Layla, these are your bags.
- ليلى Laylaشُكْرًا جَزِيلًا يَا عُمَر!Shukran jazilan ya Omar!Thank you very much, Omar!
- عمر Omarعَفْوًا، لَا شُكْرَ عَلَى وَظِيفَةٍ.Afwan, la shukra ala wadhifa.You're welcome, no thanks are needed for a favor.
- ليلى Laylaأَنْتَ لَطِيفٌ جِدًّا.Anta latif jiddan.You are very kind.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “you're welcome” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
