Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| شُكْرًا | šukran | |
| تِسْلَم | tislam | Hijazi Arabic |
| يِعْطيك العافية | yiʕṭīk al-ʕāfya | Hijazi Arabic |
| بارك الله فيك | bārak ellāh fīk | Moroccan Arabic |
| الله يبارك فيك | ellāh ybārik fīk | Moroccan Arabic |
The primary way to express gratitude is شُكْرًا, which is the most common and versatile way to say thank you in Saudi Arabia. You can expand this by saying شكراً جزيلاً for 'thank you very much', أشكرك to say 'I thank you' or even شكراً يا جميل to say 'thank you, my handsome/beautiful friend'. The term مشكور can also be used to mean 'thanks' or 'thankful'. For a more religious expression of gratitude, you can say جزاك الله خيرًا, which means 'May Allah reward you with goodness'.
What does it mean word for word?
The word شُكْرًا (šukran) is the accusative form of the noun šukr (thanks), used as an adverbial expression meaning 'with thanks' or 'thankfully'. The phrase بارك الله فيك (bārak ellāh fīk) literally translates to 'May God bless in you'.
Which one should you use?
While شُكْرًا is a universal expression, other regional forms exist. In the Hijazi dialect, you might use تِسْلَم or يِعْطيك العافية. In Moroccan Arabic, common phrases include بارك الله فيك and الله يبارك فيك.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
شُكْرًا is a standard and formal way to express thanks that is understood across all Arabic dialects and formal settings.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Hijaz region, تِسْلَم and يِعْطيك العافية are used to express thanks. In the Hijaz, the expression الله يعطيك العافية means 'May Allah give you well-being'. In Morocco, speakers use بارك الله فيك and الله يبارك فيك.
How does it change in a sentence?
When using the Hijazi form تِسْلَم, use the masculine singular version تِسْلَم when addressing a man and the feminine singular version تِسْلَمي when addressing a woman.
How do you pronounce it?
šukran
When do people say it?
When someone says شُكْرًا, the standard response is عَفْوًا (ʕafwan). While this word can also mean 'excuse me' or 'pardon', it is used here to mean 'you're welcome'. In the Hijaz region, the phrase يِعْطيك العافية (yiʕṭīk al-ʕāfya) is commonly used to thank someone specifically for their work or service, meaning 'may God give you health/vigor'.
Did you know?
- The word بارك used in the phrase بارك الله فيك shares an ancient root with the Biblical Hebrew word בֵּרֵךְ and the Ge'ez word ባረከ.
Examples in context
- Shukran jazeelan! لقد ساعدتني كثيرًاThank you very much! You have helped me a lot.
- Shukran ya Jameel! أنت أعز صديق عنديThank you, my handsome/beautiful friend! You are my dearest friend.
- شُكْرًا جَزِيلًا عَلَى المُسَاعَدَةِ.shukran jazilan 'ala al-musa'adah.Thank you very much for the help.
- شُكْرًا لَكَ عَلَى الهَدِيَّةِ.shukran laka 'ala al-hadiyyah.Thank you for the gift.
- شُكْرًا لَكِ عَلَى الطَّعَامِ اللَّذِيذِ.shukran laki 'ala al-ta'am al-ladhidh.Thank you for the delicious food.
Example conversation
Omar hands Sarah a glass of water.
- سارة Saraشُكْرًا يا عُمَر.Shukran ya Omar.Thank you, Omar.
- عمر Omarعَفْوًا يا سارة.'Afwan ya Sarah.You're welcome, Sarah.
- سارة Saraهذا لَطيف جِدًا مِنْكَ.Hadha latif jiddan minka.That is very kind of you.
- عمر Omarلا شُكْرَ على واجِب.La shukra 'ala wajib.No need to thank me for a duty.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “thank you” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries الله, بارك, CC BY-SA 4.0.
