je vous remercie
The English phrase 'I appreciate it' can be expressed in French as je vous remercie.
je vous remercie is a polished and courteous way to express thanks, meaning 'I thank you'. It is used in professional or formal settings.
Which one should you use?
je vous remercie is more formal and polite than the common 'merci' and is used to express a higher level of gratitude or to show respect to a stranger or superior.
How does it change in a sentence?
If you are speaking to a friend, family member or someone you know well, you should use je te remercie instead of je vous remercie. In French, tu is the informal form of "you".
Did you know?
- Because je vous remercie is so formal, using it with a close friend might actually sound cold or ironically distant. It is a tool of social distance as much as it is a tool of politeness.
- The French language has a strong cultural distinction between the formal vous and informal tu, and switching from one to the other without permission is called tutoiement and can be seen as a social faux pas.
- While je vous remercie means 'I thank you', French speakers often avoid using the verb 'appreciate' (apprécier) in the same way English speakers do for a simple 'thank you'.
Examples in context
- Je te suis reconnaissant(e) pour ton aide précieuseI am grateful to you for your valuable help
- Merci beaucoup d'avoir pris le temps de m'écouter.Thank you very much for taking the time to listen to me.
- Je vous remercie pour votre aide.I appreciate it, thank you for your help.
Example conversation
Nathan holds the door open for Chloé.
- ChloéOh, c'est gentil, je vous remercie.Oh, that's kind, I appreciate it.
- NathanJe vous en prie, Chloé.You're welcome, Chloé.
- ChloéC'était vraiment utile.It was really helpful.
- NathanAvec plaisir.My pleasure.
