مشكور
mashkūrGulf, to a man
In Kuwait people often say مشكور (mashkūr) to a man and مشكورة (mashkūra) to a woman. For someone who has helped or worked for you, يعطيك العافية (yaʿṭīk al-ʿāfya) is the warm Gulf choice. It is also called شكرا (shukran).
Meaning: expressing thanks (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| مشكور | mashkūr | Gulf, to a man |
| شكرا | shukran | neutral |
| يعطيك العافية | yaʿṭīk al-ʿāfya | Gulf, for work or effort |
يعطيك العافية (yaʿṭīk al-ʿāfya) means "may God give you health" and is said to a waiter, a driver or a colleague. A woman is addressed with يعطيچ العافية (yaʿṭīch al-ʿāfya) in Kuwaiti speech.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
شكرا (shukran) is safe in any setting. Among friends مشكور (mashkūr) is the more natural everyday answer.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Kuwaiti Arabic the feminine ending ك (-ik) is usually pronounced چ (-ich), which is why a woman hears يعطيچ (yaʿṭīch).
Did you know?
- Replying الله يعافيك (Allāh yaʿāfīk) to يعطيك العافية (yaʿṭīk al-ʿāfya) is the standard Gulf answer that returns the blessing.
Examples in context
- مشكور على الخدمةmashkūr ʿalā al-khidmaThanks for the service.
- يعطيك العافية يا بو أحمدyaʿṭīk al-ʿāfya yā Abū AḥmadThank you, Abu Ahmad.
- شكرا، الله يعافيكshukran, Allāh yaʿāfīkThanks, may God keep you well.
Example conversation
Faisal pays a taxi driver after a ride across Kuwait City.
- Driverوصلنا يا بعد عمريwaṣalnā yā baʿd ʿumrīWe have arrived, my friend.
- Faisalيعطيك العافيةyaʿṭīk al-ʿāfyaThank you.
- Driverالله يعافيكAllāh yaʿāfīkAnd you too.
