tenk yu
tenk yu is the Jamaican way to say thanks.
tenk yu is used to express appreciation or gratitude in the same contexts as the English phrase "thank you".
Meaning: used to express appreciation or gratitude (intj)
What does it mean word for word?
tenk yu is a phonetic spelling of the English "thank you".
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Kingston and other urban areas, the word Respect is commonly used to show gratitude and respect.
Did you know?
- The use of Respect to mean 'thanks' is deeply tied to the Rastafarian culture of acknowledging the divine spark within every person.
- In very informal settings, a person might respond to a 'thank you' with No problem or Walk good, the latter being a wish for safe travels.
- The pronunciation of tenk yu reflects a wider pattern in Jamaican Patois where the 'th' sound is replaced by 't' or 'd'.
Examples in context
- Tenk yu fi di food.Thanks for the food.
- Mi jus want seh tenk yu.I just want to say thanks.
- Tenk yu fi di help yesterday.Thanks for the help yesterday.
Example conversation
Ricardo gives Shanti a ride home.
- RicardoWe deh ya, you can get out now.We are here, you can get out now.
- ShantiTenk yu for di ride, Ricardo.Thank you for the ride, Ricardo.
- RicardoNo problem, man.No problem.
- ShantiWalk good, see you tomorrow.Take care, see you tomorrow.
