merci
/mɛʁ.si/
merci is the French way to say thank you.
The word merci means "thank you" in English and is used to express gratitude toward someone.
Which one should you use?
While merci is a polite way to say thank you, it can also be used dismissively to mean "no thank you" depending on the context and your tone, such as when saying Non, merci.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the region of Brittany, some people may use trugarez instead of merci.
How does it change in a sentence?
You can intensify your gratitude by adding beaucoup after the word to say "thank you very much" (merci beaucoup).
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /mɛʁ.si/ and it consists of 2 syllables.
When do people say it?
When someone says merci, the most common informal response is de rien (it's nothing / you're welcome). In formal situations, the standard response is je vous en prie (you are welcome).
Did you know?
- The English word 'mercy' is a direct relative of merci. Both words come from the Latin word mercēdem, which meant 'wages' or 'price'.
- Because of its roots in 'mercy' and 'pity', the word merci was historically used to ask for leniency or a pardon from a judge or ruler.
- While merci is the standard for gratitude, using it as a way to say 'no' can be surprisingly abrupt. In a shop or restaurant, a short merci with a hand gesture often signals that you are finished and want the server to leave.
Examples in context
- Merci beaucoup pour votre aide.Thank you very much for your help.
- Je vous remercie de votre hospitalité.I thank you for your hospitality.
- Merci beaucoup, tu es vraiment gentil.Thank you very much, you're really kind.
- Je te remercie d'être venu.I thank you for coming.
- Un grand merci pour ce cadeau.A big thank you for this gift.
- Merci, c'est très gentil de votre part.Thank you, that is very kind of you.
Example conversation
Léa hands Nathan a coffee in the office.
- NathanMerci pour le café, Léa.Thank you for the coffee, Léa.
- LéaDe rien, Nathan.You're welcome, Nathan.
- NathanIl est très chaud, merci.It is very hot, thank you.
- LéaJe t'en prie.You are welcome.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry merci, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries merci, CC BY-SA 4.0.
