Ways to say it
| Swahili |
|---|
| asante |
| shukrani |
You use these terms to express gratitude. To intensify your thanks, you can add the word sana, which means 'very', to the phrase to say 'thank you very much' (asante sana).
Which one should you use?
asante is the most common way to say 'thank you' in everyday conversation. In contrast, shukrani is more formal and is often used as a noun meaning 'thanks' or 'gratitude' or to express deep gratitude.
How does it change in a sentence?
To specify the reason for your gratitude, use the construction asante kwa… followed by the reason. If you are addressing a group of people rather than an individual, you use the plural form asanteni.
When do people say it?
When someone says asante, the standard response is karibu, which means 'you are welcome'. If you are responding to more than one person, use the plural form karibuni to say 'you are all welcome'.
Did you know?
- The word asante actually traces its roots back to the Arabic expression for 'well done' or 'you have done well'.
- In Swahili culture, responding to thanks with karibu literally translates to 'be close' or 'be near'.
- In many East African cultures, saying asante is often accompanied by a slight nod of the head or a gentle tilt to show respect.
Examples in context
- Asante kwa hisani yako.I thank you for your courtesy.This sentence shows how to use asante to thank someone for their courtesy.Tatoeba #10874859 by ecorralest101, translation #5083512 by jhomel
- Asante kwa mwongozo wako.Thank you for your guidance.This sentence shows how to use asante to thank someone for their guidance.Tatoeba #10865893 by ecorralest101, translation #3732739 by CK
- Asante kwa kulainisha mambo.Thank you for setting the record straight.This sentence shows how to use asante to thank someone for setting the record straight.Tatoeba #10815823 by ecorralest101, translation #240263 by CK
- Asante kwa kuwasilisha ripoti mapema.Thank you for submitting the report early.
- Asante sana, nitahakikisha kuwa naendelea kufanya kazi kwa bidii.Thank you very much, I will make sure to continue working hard.
- Asante sana! Hongera!Thank you very much! Congratulations!
- 12 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Bakari gives Neema a cup of tea.
- NeemaAsante, Bakari, kwa chai hii.Thank you, Bakari, for this tea.
- BakariKaribu, Neema.You're welcome, Neema.
- NeemaNi tamu sana.It is very delicious.
- BakariNafurahi kusikia hivyo.I am happy to hear that.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “thank you” translations and entries asante, shukrani, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries asante, shukrani, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
