The waiter puts your tea down. You say , he nods, you're done. That one word gets you through a week in Cairo. But listen to the people around you and you'll also hear a second thank you, and this one has a man's form and a woman's form. Then there's the reply, which you'll need the first time someone thanks you. And there's the dining table, where no thanks doesn't mean what you think.
shukran: one word, everyone
(شُكْرًا) is thanks. It doesn't change for who you're talking to. Karim gets it, Nour gets it, same word both times.
- That pen's mine. Thanks, Karim!
- Thanks, Nour.
It also turns a refusal polite. Put la' (no) in front, or tack shukran onto the end of a no:
- A political film? No, thanks!
- I don't want cheese, thanks.
mutshakker and mutshakkira
The other everyday thank you is (مُتْشَكِّر). It's a description of yourself, roughly "I'm thankful". That means it takes your gender, whoever you're speaking to. A man says mutshakker. A woman says (مُتْشَكِّرَة).
It works the same way as kwayyis and kwayyisa when someone asks how you are. It's about you, so it matches you. Compare that with 'ezzayyak and 'ezzayyik, where the ending follows the person you're asking. If you've read our greetings guide, it's the same two rules.
To make it bigger, add , very:
- Thank you so much! (said by a woman)
- mutshakker 'awi is the man's version.
Which one to pick? Both are normal and polite. If you're unsure which ending is yours in the moment, shukran can't go wrong.
What to say back
When someone thanks you, you've got two easy answers.
- (اِلْعَفْو) is you're welcome. Short, polite, works anywhere.
- (أَيّ خِدْمَة) means something like any service, glad to help. It's what you say when you've done someone a favour and want them to know it was no bother.
Here's how it plays out. Someone hands Karim a book, Karim says shukran, and the answer comes back:
- Here you are, this is the book.
- Happy to help, Karim.
That is worth knowing too. It's here you are, go ahead, come in. To a woman it's . You'll hear it every time someone hands you something, and it often comes just before the thank you.
At an Egyptian table
Being a guest in an Egyptian home is where all this gets a workout. The host opens with an offer, and offers in Egyptian drop the bi- on the verb:
- What would you like to drink? Tea or coffee?
- Coffee without sugar, thanks.
Then the food arrives, and it keeps arriving. Egyptian hosts don't take a first no at face value. Saying no once is good manners, and so is the host offering again. If you're full, say it again. If you'd like more, the second offer is your cue to accept.
Here's how it sounds:
- Have a piece of cake.
- Just a small piece, thanks.
- A bit more? No, thank you.
- That's enough, thank you so much.
, enough, is the word that ends the round, and with mutshakkira 'awi after it, it still sounds warm.
Thanking the cook is easy. Say the food's good. is nice, sweet or pretty, and it covers food as well:
- This cake is delicious!
Thanks that call on God
Some thanks in Egyptian come wrapped in a blessing. When someone says , congratulations, you don't answer with shukran. You answer allah yebaarek feek, God bless you, and it does the work of thank you. Here Hany congratulates Dina on her new flat:
- Congratulations on the flat, Dina!
- Thank you. Come on up!
And thanks often runs straight into goodbye. When you leave, shukran and ma3a s-salaama go together, and the other person answers with allah yisallemak:
- Great. Thanks, goodbye.
- Thanks. Goodbye.
Common questions
How do you say thank you in Egyptian Arabic? shukran works with anyone and never changes. mutshakker (said by a man) and mutshakkira (said by a woman) are the other everyday thank you. Add 'awi for thank you so much.
Why are there two forms of mutshakker? It describes you, the person giving thanks. A man says mutshakker and a woman says mutshakkira, whoever they're talking to.
What do you say when someone thanks you in Egyptian Arabic? el-3afwo is you're welcome. 'ayy khedma is a friendly glad to help. Both work after shukran or mutshakker.
How do you politely say no to more food in Egypt? la', mutshakker (or mutshakkira) is a polite no thanks. kifaaya means that's enough. Expect the host to offer again, and repeat yourself if you mean it.