Thank you in Armenian: shnorhakalutyun and 8 other ways

Thank you is Շնորհակալություն (shnorhakalutyun). It looks intimidating, but it breaks down easily: shnorh (grace, gift), akal (receiving) and utyun (a noun ending). Literally: “gratitude”.

Ways to say thank you

• Շնորհակալություն Shnorhakalutyun Thank youThe most common form, polite in every situation.Western : Շնորհակալութիւն (Shnorhagalutiun)
• Շնորհակալ եմ Shnorhakal em I thank you (“I am grateful”)Western : Շնորհակալ եմ (Shnorhagal em)
• Շատ շնորհակալ եմ Shat shnorhakal em Thank you very much
• Շնորհակալ եմ քեզ Shnorhakal em kez Thank you (to a friend)
• Մերսի mersi Thanks (casual)Borrowed from French “merci” and widely used in Yerevan and the diaspora.
• Ապրես Apres Thanks, well done (“may you live”)Warm and heartfelt: to thank someone for a favor or praise a child.Western : Ապրիս (abris)
• Շատ ապրես Shat apres Thanks a million, you’re great

How to reply to thank you

• Խնդրեմ Khndrem You’re welcome, my pleasureThe same word also means “please”.Western : Խնդրեմ (khntrem)
• Ոչինչ Vochinch It’s nothing
• Չարժե Charzhe Don’t mention it (“it’s not worth it”)
• Խնդիր չկա Khndir chka No problem

Pronunciation tips

• The opening “sh” sounds like in “shop”.
• The “r” in shnorh is lightly rolled, followed by a breath (“h”).
• Stress: like almost every Armenian word, the stress falls on the last syllable: shnorhakaluTYUN.

Play the audio above two or three times, then say the word out loud. In the app, the pronunciation exercise lets you repeat it and Ani tells you whether she understood you.

The root “shnorh” in other phrases

The same root gives շնորհավոր (shnorhavor), “congratulations”, which you’ll find in birthday and holiday wishes. Discover them in our guide to happy birthday in Armenian.

Frequently asked questions