How to say "thank you" in Levantine Arabic
شُكْراً
shukran
- Without tashkeel
- شكرا
- Franco / chat alphabet
- shokran
- Literally
- thanks. Not idiomatic.
When to use it
Shukran is the standard, universally understood word for thank you across the Levant, suitable for both formal and casual situations. In everyday interactions, Levantine speakers frequently use yeslamo (literally may your hands be safe) when receiving something physical, or ya3teek el 3afye (may God give you health) to acknowledge someone's effort.
Other ways to say it
to a man
شُكْراً إِلَك
shukran elak
thank you
Adds a personal pronoun to make the thanks more direct to a male listener.
to a woman
شُكْراً إِلِك
shukran elik
thank you
Adds a personal pronoun to make the thanks more direct to a female listener.
when handed something
يِسْلَموا
yeslamo
thanks
Extremely common in the Levant when someone physically hands you an object, like food or a cup of coffee.
for someone's effort
يَعْطيك العافْيَة
ya3teek el 3afye
may God give you health
Used to thank service workers, colleagues, or anyone who has performed a task for you.
How people reply
عَفْواً
3afwan
you're welcome
أَهْلاً وَسَهْلاً
ahlan wa sahlan
you're welcome (literally: welcome)
وِإيديك
w eedeek
and your hands (standard response to yeslamo, when speaking to a man)
In a sentence
شُكْراً كْتير عَلى مُساعَدْتَك.
shukran kteer 3ala musa3adtak.
Thank you very much for your help.
يِسْلَموا إيديك عَلى هَالْقَهْوَة.
yeslamo eedeek 3ala hal qahwe.
Thank you for this coffee.
شُكْراً، غَلَّبْناك مَعْنا.
shukran, ghallabnak ma3na.
Thank you, we troubled you with us.