Ways to say it
| Iraqi Arabic | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| شكراً | shukran | |
| متشكر | mitshakkir | I am grateful |
| الله يخليك | Allah ykhallik | blessing |
Iraqis also say متشكر (mitshakkir), 'I am grateful', especially after a favour, and add الله يخليك (Allah ykhallik), 'may God keep you', as a warmer blessing to close a request or a thank you.
What does it mean word for word?
متشكر is built on the same root as شكراً but shaped as a participle, 'one who is thankful'. يخليك comes from the verb 'to keep' or 'to leave', so the phrase wishes you kept safe.
Which one should you use?
شكراً fits any situation, from a shop to a government office. متشكر sounds a little more personal. الله يخليك is warm and is also used to mean 'please' when asking for something.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
All three are polite. شكراً works everywhere, while الله يخليك feels closer and more familiar.
Is it said differently in some regions?
These phrases are shared with other Mesopotamian and Gulf dialects, though Iraqis use الله يخليك especially often in daily requests, not only as thanks.
How does it change in a sentence?
متشكر becomes متشكرة (mitshakkira) when a woman is speaking. يخليك ends in ك for a man and چ for a woman: الله يخليچ.
How do you pronounce it?
The خ in يخليك is a rough sound made at the back of the throat, similar to clearing it gently.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Using الله يخليك only as thanks and missing that it also means 'please' can cause confusion, since Iraqis use the same phrase both ways depending on context.
When do people say it?
Iraqi hospitality runs deep, so a guest who thanks a host with متشكر will often be waved off with عالعين, 'on my eye', a dialect phrase meaning the favour was gladly given.
Did you know?
- عالعين, literally 'on my eye', is an Iraqi way of saying a favour was done gladly, treating the eye as a symbol of something precious offered without hesitation.
- الله يخليك does double duty in Iraqi speech, meaning both 'please' when asking and 'thank you' when closing a request, depending on where it is placed.
Examples in context
- شكراً على كل شي.shukran ala kil shay.Thank you for everything.
- متشكر كتير على المساعدة.mitshakkir kteer ala il-musa'ada.I am very grateful for the help.
- الله يخليك، ما قصرت.Allah ykhallik, ma gassart.Thank you, you didn't fall short.
Example conversation
Zainab thanks her neighbour Karrar for carrying her groceries upstairs.
- Zainabمتشكرة كتير يا كرار.mitshakkira kteer ya Karrar.Thank you very much, Karrar.
- Karrarعالعين، ما عليها شي.al-ain, ma alaiha shay.Gladly, it was nothing.
- Zainabالله يخليك، دايماً تساعد.Allah ykhallik, dayman tsa'id.Thank you, you always help.
- Karrarهاي من واجبي.hay min wajibi.This is my duty.
