How to Say “Thank You” in Russian

Ways to say it

What does it mean word for word?

The standard word спаси́бо is a contraction of the phrase спаси Бог, which means "God save [you]". The more formal word благодарю́ is composed of благо (blessing/good) and дарю (I give/bestow), literally meaning "I give thanks" or "I bestow blessing".

Which one should you use?

спаси́бо is the standard, neutral way to say thank you in almost any situation. In contrast, благодарю́ is a more formal and elegant way to express gratitude. For a diminutive tone, you can use спасибки.

Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?

благодарю́ is a formal and sophisticated option. For example, the phrase благодарю вас translates to "I thank you" and is a more formal way to express gratitude. мерси́ is a borrowed French word used colloquially and often playfully. спасибки is an informal, diminutive version.

How do you pronounce it?

spasíbo

When do people say it?

When someone says спаси́бо, the most common response is пожа́луйста, which also means "please". You may also hear the slightly more casual response не за что, which literally means "there is nothing [to thank me] for" and translates to "it's nothing" or "don't mention it".