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The best Ways how to say Thank You in French

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You know what they say: “French is the language of romance.” And what I do know is that the French are very romantic and expressive people, so it should come as no surprise that there are many ways to say thank you in French—and not all of them involve kissing (although some do!).

Thanking someone in French is easy. There are many ways to express gratitude and appreciation.

You can thank someone for a present, or something they did for you, or something you did for yourself. You can also thank someone who helped you out of a difficult situation or problem.

Whatever the reason for your thanks, here are some ways how to say thank you in French.

Table of Contents

Merci – the basic form of thanks in French

Depending on the situation, there are several ways to say “merci” in French. Merci is a simple and universal way to express thanks and has many uses in French. It works perfectly for many types of situations and suits every circumstance. In the context of a business meeting, it sounds more generic than warm. In formal settings, it can be a little cold and formal, but it is still perfectly acceptable.

And just as in English you can say, “thanks,” “thanks a lot,” “thanks a bunch,” and so on, there is “merci bien,” “merci beaucoup,” “merci mille fois,” and more. So let’s look at all these variations and which is best suited for which circumstance.

1. Merci – how to say thank you in French

Merci is the simplest way to show your gratitude in French. It’s also a common way to say thank you in other languages, including Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese.

In addition to being useful when the time comes to express thanks for something or someone in France or elsewhere in Europe (or any other language community), merci is also a handy word if you need a polite way of saying “no” without seeming rude.

Whether you’re saying “merci” to a stranger, a boss, or a friend, saying thank you in French shows cultural intelligence, humility, and politeness. To learn French will also help you to understand the French culture and appreciate other cultures.

2. Merci bien

Even though thank you in French is often expressed with a simple “merci,” it can also be a bit trite and impersonal. If you’d like to express a more sincere thank you, use the phrase “merci bien” instead. This literal translation of “well” implies a positive meaning and is the proper choice for a small gesture. It can also be used in a sarcastic way, to make the recipient feel guilty for not acknowledging your gratitude.

3. Merci beaucoup

“Merci beaucoup” is another phrase you can use for saying thank you in French. It literally means “thank you very much” and is used when someone has done something for you, like given you a gift or helped with your homework.

You could also use “merci beaucoup” when someone does something for you that they don’t have to do, like cover for another teacher at school or help their neighbor mow the lawn—it’s an expression of gratitude from one person to another.

flowers as thank you
Image by Urszula from Pixabay

4. Merci mille fois

A more formal way to say thank you is to use “merci mille fois,” meaning “thank you a thousand times.” This expression is often used in formally written messages. But you can also use the phrase “merci mille fois” in casual conversations. It is an appropriate way to say “thank you” when you are very grateful for something. 

5. Merci d’avance

Merci d’avance in French means “thank you in advance”. It can be used to thank someone for a meal or service in advance. There are two variations of this phrase: “merci a l’avance” and “merci en avance.”

6. Merci pour [something]

When you want to express your gratitude for something, you can say “merci pour” and add the object or act you received. “Thank you for your help, ” would become “Merci pour votre aide.”

7. Merci a toute

When speaking to a crowd like your colleagues or fellow students, you could say “thank you to everyone” by using the phrase “merci a toute.”

8. Merci de tout coeur

“Merci de tout coeur” is a more intimate expression used for exceptional gratitude. It translates as “thank you with all my heart.”

9. Merci du fond du coeur

Similar to the phrase before, “merci du fond du coeur,” means “thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

10. Grand Merci

You will have guessed it, this is the “big thanks” to someone for outstanding support.

how to say thank you in french - merci bien
Merci is suitable for any situation, from a thank-you note to a casual conversation. — Image by 1317379 from Pixabay

11. Mille Mercis

The “thousand thanks” is the French equivalent of “thanks a lot.”

12. Merci infiniment

When a thousand is too small a number for your gratitude, how about infinity? “Merci infiniment,” meaning “thank you infinitely,” is used to show gratitude for something big, like an incredible gift or a really thoughtful act. If someone does something for you that goes above and beyond their responsibilities, this is the perfect way to say thanks in French.

Other Expressions than Merci for thanking someone in French

Apart from the ubiquitous “merci,” there are also other ways how to say thank you in French translation. 

13. Je vous remercie

Literally “I thank you,” this is the perfect phrase to use when thanking someone for something small. The French don’t tend to be as effusive about their thanks as Americans, so this will be more than enough for most situations. 

14. Avec tous mes remerciements

The expression “Avec tous mes remerciements” is often used to sign off a letter in French. It literally translates as “with all my gratitude,” and means as much as “with many thanks.”

thank you note
Image by June Laves from Pixabay

15. Je vous en suis reconnaissant(e)

This phrase is a bit more formal and translates as “I am grateful to you.” It is used when you want to thank someone who has done something for you, but not necessarily with any special emotion attached. Think of it as the French equivalent of “thanks for doing that.” It’ll work in most situations, especially at work or in more professional settings.

16. C’est très aimable à vous.

This is a formal way of saying “thank you,” and it’s perfect to use on those occasions when someone has done something big for you, like helping out with an important project or giving up their seat on the bus. It’s also useful if you want to show your appreciation for a small favor as well—for example, if you have a friend who always lends you books when yours are in the wash!

17. Si je pouvais, je vous baiserais les pieds !

If you’re looking for ways of expressing your gratitude in an unusual way, this French phrase will do the trick. It translates as “If I could, I would kiss your feet!”

18. C’est trop gentil de votre part

This one means, “You’re too kind!” Used in formal situations, it’s the equivalent of saying, “Thank you very much.” In informal situations, you’d say just “Merci” instead.

19. J’apprécie sincèrement

If someone has helped you, given you a gift, or done something for you, then this is the phrase for you. For example:

  • J’apprécie sincèrement le cadeau que je viens de recevoir de votre part! (I sincerely appreciate the gift I just received from yours!)
thanks in french is merci
Image by Wokandapix from Pixabay

20. Vous avez été adorable, je vous remercie

A more informal form of thank you, meaning “You have been lovely, thank you.”

21. Je n’oublierai jamais votre aide, merci encore.

Another way of thanking someone who has gone beyond the usual to support you. It means “I will never forget your help, thank you again.”

22. Un grand merci pour tout ce que vous avez fait pour moi. Je ne sais pas comment vous remercier.

A phrase to express you sincere gratitude, meaning “Thank you very much for everything you have done for me. I don’t know how to thank you.”

How to reply to Thank you in French

The usual informal replies are “de rien,” which translates as “it’s nothing.” It’s the equivalent of “you’re welcome” in French.

Another expression you can hear a lot is “il n’y a pas de quoi,” which means “there’s no need to.”

More formal phrases are “je t’en prie” and “je vous en prie,” meaning as much as “I beg you.” Both expressions are downplaying the effort you went to. 

Conclusion

Today we have shown you many ways how to say thank you in French. I hope this article has helped you learn some new phrases for those times when there’s something to be thankful for!