How should you respond to “Shukran”?
Well, first of all, it’s important to note that Arabs will be expecting a reply to this phrase.
This is one of those unwritten rules in Arabic-speaking countries, you must always reply to someone’s thanks.
In fact, it’s more than just a courtesy, it’s more like a reflex response. Whilst in English a simple “you’re welcome” or “no problem” will suffice, there’s a little more to it in Arabic.
When you reply, you could be saying anything from best wishes to claiming that you didn’t do anything that even warrants thanking you for.
Oftentimes, this will then lead to a never-ending loop of praise, warmth, and kindness, so get ready!
In this article, we are going to look at 7 ways to say you’re welcome in Arabic.
On the surface, it may seem a little complicated, but this article is here to help you! So, let’s get started.
A Quick Look at How to Say You’re Welcome in Arabic
| Arabic | English |
| ‘Afwan عفواً | You’re welcome |
| Al-‘afw العفو | You’re welcome |
| Aala ar-raHb wa as-si’aa على الرحب و السعة | You’re welcome |
| Laa shokr ‘aala waajib لا شكر على واجب | You shouldn’t thank me. It’s my duty |
| Enta Too’mor انت تؤمر | I will do whatever you wish |
| Wa Jazakom Mithlaho و جزاكم مثله | I hope God brings you all the good in the world |
| Aala Eih? على ايه؟ | For what? (It’s nothing!) |
‘Afwan عفواً / Al-‘afw العفو
Throughout all Arabic-speaking countries, the phrase “’afwan عفواً” or al-‘afw العفو” is the most commonly used phrase to say “you’re welcome”.
Both of these phrases translate into “pardon”, so as well as being used in response to thank you, it can also be used to excuse yourself in addition to saying a brief apology.
When used as a response to thank you, it translates as “no need”.
Aala ar-raHb wa as-si’aa على الرحب و السعة
Our next phrase, “aala ar-raHb wa as-si’aa على الرحب و السعة”, is recognized as part of MSA (Modern Standard Arabic), meaning it’s a phrase that is less commonly used but will still be understood in all Arabic dialects. T
he translation of this phrase is “You’re welcome, there’s plenty of that where it came from”.
Laa shokr ‘aala waajib لا شكر على واجب
Here we have another MSA phrase. It means “You shouldn’t thank me. It’s my duty”.
This is one of the humblest ways to say you’re welcome when speaking in Arabic.
You’re essentially brushing off their thanks as if what you have done is really nothing, not a big deal at all.
However, be warned! Remember at the beginning of this article I said you might get yourself into an endless loop of warmth and kind words?
Well, this is one of those phrases that might prompt the other person to get into this loop, continually thanking you, so if you say this one you should prepare yourself to receive a whole lot of praise!
Enta Too’mor انت تؤمر
The phrase, “enta Too’mor انت تؤمر”, is used in Egyptian Arabic to say you’re welcome.
You should know though, that it’s on the cheeky side, and in fact, you may want to be careful with whom you use it, as it can be somewhat flirtatious!
The translation of this phrase is “I will do whatever you wish”. When speaking to a female, you should use “enty too’mory انتِ تؤمري”.
Wa Jazakom Mithlaho و جزاكم مثله
Whereas “shukran” is the most common way to say “thank you”, the phrase “jazakoma allah khayran جزاكم الله خيراً” is a phrase that you may hear used by Muslim Arabic speakers to express their thanks.
It translates into “I hope God brings you all the good in the world”.
The response to this phrase is usually “wa jazakom mithlaho و جزاكم مثله”, which means “I hope God will bring the same goodness in your life.”
Aala Eih? على ايه؟
Our last phrase, “aala Eih? على ايه؟”, translates as “For what?”.
Whilst it might sound a little interrogative to an English speaker, rest assured that it doesn’t come across this way to Arabic speakers.
It is actually another very common phrase to say you’re welcome and the idea behind it is to make the other person feel that it was no biggie, similar to saying “it was nothing!” in English.
Though this phrase is considered to be an Egyptian dialect, it’s used and is fairly popular in many places in the Arab world.
In other areas of the Middle East, you may hear variations of this phrase. For example, in dialects from Lebanon and Syria, you may hear the phrase “aala Shoo? علىشو؟”.
How to Say You’re Welcome in Arabic – Video Guide
You’re Welcome in Arabic – Final Thoughts
Well, there we are. We have seen various options for how to reply to “Shukran” in Arabic.
As you will hopefully have noticed, there are different options to use, based on the situation and what is happening around you.
Each of these options is said with a unique tone and helps us to understand more of this complex but beautiful language.
Now that you are equipped with these phrases, you’ll be ready when the next person thanks you!
Want an easier way to practice and learn Arabic? Check out our comprehensive guide on the best app to learn Arabic.
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