How To Say ‘Thank You’ in French: 18+ Formal and Casual Choices

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After studying methods to say “whats up” in French, one of many subsequent greatest phrases to be taught in French is “thanks.” You in all probability already know merci (thanks), however there are different methods to increase due to mates, professionals, and acquaintances. There are anticipated and well mannered formulation to specific gratitude in varied conditions in French. Should you be taught when to make use of every and methods to reply, you’ll present your good manners.

With the number of conditions wherein to specific your thanks, we’ve put collectively this information that can assist you communicate French with confidence. 

18 frequent methods to say ‘thanks’ in French

Merci and its variants are among the most important French phrases a newbie ought to be taught. As you look at this chart, you’ll be able to see that there are informal and formal methods to say “thanks” in French, methods to thank a gaggle versus a person, and expressions that take advantage of sense in writing. 

The way to use completely different types of ‘thanks’ in French

There are many methods to say ‘thanks’ in French. A brief and candy merci could be applicable if somebody has held a door for you, however je souhaite vous remercier pour m’ouvrir la porte (I want to thanks for opening the door for me) could be overkill. Merci à tous et à toutes (due to everybody) is a good way to open up a speech in entrance of a gaggle, and avec tous mes remerciements (with all my thanks) is an effective method to shut a proper letter. Select the expression that most accurately fits your scenario. 

Merci (thanks)

Because it’s the best method to say thanks in French, you’ll hear merci usually for easy exchanges. You should use it with mates, strangers, and in eating places and outlets. In exchanges resembling buying one thing from a cashier, each events could use merci or one thing like merci, bonne journée (thanks, have a pleasant day) as an finish to the transaction and dialog. 

For a extra profound sense of appreciation, particularly in writing, you’ll need to use one thing a bit extra formal and intensive. Writing a letter to simply accept an award or scholarship requires a bit greater than merci alone, which may fall flat and appear a bit chilly. 

To pronounce merci, be mindful the French “r” sound is a delicate sound from the again of the throat, and the “i” is pronounced “ee.” The letter “c” in French appears like “s” in entrance of “i,” making the phrase sound like “mair-see.” 

Merci beaucoup (thanks very a lot) 

Merci beaucoup is “thanks very a lot” in French. It’s a well mannered method to specific a deeper sense of thanks in nearly any scenario. The phrase beaucoup means “lots.” 

Remember to pronounce the primary syllable like “boh” and the second syllable like “coo.” You shouldn’t hear the ultimate “p” sound in any respect, because it’s silent. 

Merci bien (thanks lots)

The phrase bien (properly/good) is normally very constructive, and if used with a clearly constructive tone, the phrase merci bien may imply “thanks lots.” Add a touch of sarcasm and also you’ll get an ironic twist that expresses a dissatisfied or sarcastic “thanks lots.”

Merci mille fois (thanks one million)

If you wish to go even additional than “thanks very a lot” in French, including on mille (a thousand) and fois (occasions) is equal to the English phrase “thanks one million.” Don’t fear, there’s no alternate charge challenge, though million is technically “one million” in French, merci mille fois will get the identical level throughout without having to translate actually. 

This expression is greatest used for a extra profound sense of gratitude for an necessary service, resembling if somebody reschedules an appointment or covers your shift at work. 

Je vous remercie pour/Je te remercie pour (I thanks for …)

This can be a formal expression that may assist you be very particular about what you’re grateful for. The verb remercier means “to thank.” 

The distinction between these two expressions is the scenario. Je vous remercie is for formal conditions with folks you don’t know properly or in formal contexts, whereas je te remercie is for mates and nearer acquaintances. Vous and te in these phrases perform as direct object pronouns in French.

To complete the phrase, use pour (for) and what you’re grateful for, resembling l’aide (the assistance), le cadeau (the reward), l’invitation (the invitation), or votre/ton consideration (your consideration). 

Avec tous mes remerciements (with all my thanks)

A pleasant thanks be aware is appreciated in French cultures, because it conveys gratitude and courtesy. In written paperwork, resembling enterprise emails or letters of request, the closing avec tous mes remerciements is an ideal method to log off. 

C’est vraiment gentil de votre half (that’s very nice of you)

This expression actually breaks down as “It’s very nice in your half,” however it might be the equal of the English “that’s very nice of you,” or “that’s so variety.” It sounds quite formal and can be utilized in writing or conversations. To make use of it a bit extra casually, swap to c’est très gentil de ta half, which has the identical which means however makes use of the casual ta for “your.” 

Merci, monsieur/merci, madame (thanks Sir/Madam) 

Courtesy and manners are necessary in French tradition. Utilizing monsieur (Sir) and madame (Madam) exhibits respect in formal conditions or with strangers. 

Some learners are curious to know whether or not mademoiselle (Miss), previously used for single girls and younger women, is suitable immediately. As of 2012, mademoiselle is not utilized in authorized paperwork so an grownup lady doesn’t have to reveal her marital standing. 

Some French audio system say that the time period remains to be problematic even in spoken French, and have switched to saying jeune femme (younger lady) even when referring to a younger woman. However, you should still hear the time period when somebody is addressing a younger-looking lady or younger woman, from those that take into account it “conventional,” or if a lady has particularly chosen to maintain this title. 

Merci à vous/merci à toi (thank you)

Typically you obtain a merci from somebody and need to flip it proper again round to thank them as properly. In English, we will do that by emphasizing our voices, and in French, we use the oblique object pronouns vous (you; formal) and toi (you; casual).

• Merci ! = Thanks!
• Merci à toi ! = No, thank you!  

Merci d’avance/merci par avance (thanks prematurely)

In written correspondence, resembling an electronic mail or enterprise letter, you’ll be able to politely emphasize your request with the phrase merci d’avance (thanks prematurely). The phrase merci par avance is equally right. Simply don’t translate actually, because the preposition en (in) wouldn’t sound correct in French. En avance means “early” or “forward of schedule” and is extra suited to a practice or airplane departing earlier than meant.

Merci infiniment (thanks one million)

Don’t overdo this one. In case your server brings you a espresso, a well mannered merci will likely be sufficient of a thanks in French. Merci infiniment means extra like “thanks one million,” as infiniment means “infinitely.” You might use it to thank a marriage visitor for the significant and beneficiant reward of their presence, or for some kindness for which you may be eternally grateful.

Merci pour tout (thanks for every thing)

Should you’ve loved an extended stick with a bunch or skilled a multi-day tour with a information, you’ve in all probability already stated your share of merci expressions. Upon departure, you can use merci pour tout (thanks for every thing) to sum up your gratitude over the size of the expertise. This expression has a nuance of finality to it, so use it as a conclusion, not a number of occasions.

The way to say ‘no thanks’ politely in French.

Should you’ve been supplied one thing and want to politely refuse, you’ll be able to merely use non, merci or merci, non (no thanks). Together with the non makes it clear that you simply’re declining the supply. 

In some elements of France, saying merci means “no thanks” within the context of one thing like being supplied one other espresso. Should you’re the host, that could be complicated, since English audio system would possibly say “thanks” after they imply “sure, please.” If the merci is accompanied by a hand gesture of refusal, it means non. Should you assume you’ve accepted a suggestion that by no means arrives, maybe you’ve by chance refused. 

In case your host insists on serving you a second serving to of dessert anyway, you may be clear that you simply’re not simply being well mannered by saying non merci, sans façon. (No, actually, thanks.) This may be useful as a result of in some cultural backgrounds, refusing as soon as is seen as a smooth refusal, simply to be well mannered, and the opposite particular person is predicted to insist or supply once more.

The way to thank a gaggle of individuals in French

Should you’re saying “thanks” in French to a gaggle of individuals, a number of expressions you’ve already discovered will come in useful. Vous types are used each in formal conditions and any time you’re addressing a couple of particular person. If merci beaucoup doesn’t appear to be sufficient, use je vous remercie pour … or c’est vraiment gentil de votre half. 

Should you’re talking to a crowd, you would possibly thank all of them as a gaggle for attending an occasion or working towards a trigger. The well mannered system for that is

• Merci à tous et à toutes. = Thanks (to) everybody.

Whereas tous (all) may be the default method to consult with a gaggle of individuals of each genders and will stand for “everybody” alone, it’s extra inclusive so as to add et à toutes to particularly embrace girls and women. Efforts to make use of this and different inclusive formulation are more and more frequent in French. 

Should you’re giving a speech, you may need a person, a corporation, or a listing of individuals to thank. For this, use un grand merci à …(an enormous thanks to …) adopted by the title or names.

Different methods to say ‘thanks’ in French

Translations of the phrase “thank” or “thanks” from English really rely on the context. Listed here are a couple of different occasions you might even see merci or completely different translations of “thank” in French. 

Grâce à/À trigger de (due to …)

In case your sentence is “due to (somebody/one thing) for …” you received’t use merci in any respect. Use grâce à (due to/owing to) as a substitute to acknowledge one thing constructive. 

• Grâce à ton effort, tu as réussi ! = Due to your effort, you might have succeeded!

If the scenario is unfavorable, go for the phrase à trigger de (due to) as a substitute. 

• À trigger de l’inondation, la rue est fermée. = Due to the flood, the street is closed. 

Dieu Merci (thank God)

The phrase Dieu Merci is only a completely different phrase order from its English translation, “thank God.” The same phrase Que Dieu soit loué (reward God) has a extra non secular tone. You might additionally use the development heureusement que adopted by the subjunctive if you wish to specific an extended thought. 

This phrase offers us the jovial rhyme Dieu Merci, C’est Vendredi ! (Thank God it’s Friday!) and its abbreviation DMCV (TGIF). 

Merci de (faire quelque selected) 

Should you see or hear the phrase merci de adopted by an motion or verb, this can be a well mannered request so that you can do (or not do) one thing. The demand is softened a bit by thanking you prematurely to your compliance and is frequent in shared workspaces or locations open to the general public. 

• Merci de fermer la porte. = Thanks for closing the door.
• Merci de faire consideration. = Thanks for paying consideration. 
• Merci de faire votre vaisselle. = Thanks for doing (your personal) dishes.   
• Merci de ne pas déranger. = Thanks for not disturbing. 
• Merci de ne pas toucher. = Thanks for not touching. 
• Merci de ne pas fumer. = Thanks for not smoking. 
• Merci de ne pas prendre photographs/vidéos. = Thanks for not taking footage/video. 

Cimer (thanks)

Spend a lot time round adolescents or those that use numerous slang, and also you’ll hear some verlan, a kind of slang fashioned by switching the order of syllables in frequent French phrases. Cimer is the reversal of the syllables of merci. Whereas not normal or frequent in critical contexts, verlan French slang phrases can add an informal and enjoyable really feel to a dialog amongst mates.

De Rien and different methods to say ‘you’re welcome’ in French

Now that you understand how to say “thanks” in French, discover ways to reply when somebody says merci. The textbook translation of “you’re welcome” could be de rien, which is certainly frequent. However in the true world, French audio system use a greater variety of responses to say “you’re welcome” in French. 

De Rien (it’s nothing)

This expression actually means “it’s nothing.” You’ll hear this pretty usually amongst mates or in informal dialog as a formulaic response to merci. Don’t be stunned if the response you get in some circumstances, resembling in a restaurant, is not any response in any respect. It might not all the time be obligatory to reply. 

Merci (thanks)

Wait, what? Doesn’t merci imply thanks? Sure, and it nonetheless does when used as a response, however it’s pretty normal to finish a fast alternate, resembling at a financial institution or money register, with each events saying merci. 

Je vous en prie/Je t’en prie (don’t point out it)

A extra formal possibility for a formulaic alternate wherein you’re displaying off your manners could be je vous en prie when you’d vouvoyer (use vous with) the particular person, and je t’en prie when you’d tutoyer (use tu with the particular person). These idiomatic expressions don’t actually translate phrase for phrase, however are much like “that’s fairly alright,” or “don’t point out it.” 

Pas de quoi/Il n’y a pas de quoi (it’s nothing)

That is simply one other method to say “it’s nothing,” to reply politely to an expression of thanks. Drop the il n’y a (the primary a part of “there isn’t any …”) for a faster response. 

Bienvenue and different regional expressions

In Canadian French, you’ll hear bienvenue (welcome) as a response to merci. That is the literal translation of the phrase “welcome” from English and has grow to be a calque, or translation expression that originates from one other language. 

The phrase pas de souci would possibly fall into this class, as a calque of “no worries.” Typically, French audio system will use t’inquiète, brief for ne t’inquiète pas (don’t fear) on this means as properly. 

In French-speaking Switzerland, you might hear Service ! as a shortened type of à votre service (at your service) as a method that Swiss French has its personal taste.  

Present your good manners in French utilizing the right ‘thanks’

Should you’re touring, doing enterprise, or making mates in a French-speaking nation, you’ll need to present your courtesy and respectful manners. You’ll additionally in all probability want numerous assist, so saying “thanks” the suitable means is a good way to specific your appreciation. 

Studying simply merci alone is a superb begin to studying methods to say “thanks” in French, however now you’ve found expressions that rise to a sure degree of ritual, are frequent in on a regular basis life, and may help you slot in along with your environment. 

Saying “thanks” and responding appropriately is simply one of many ways in which studying French may help you get to know extra folks and communicate French with confidence. Should you’re all for practising these abilities, Rosetta Stone’s Dynamic Immersion methodology relies on participating classes that may provide the enhance you want.