agradecer
/aɡɾadeθeɾ/from spelling rules
The English phrase "thank" is translated to Spanish as agradecer.
The verb agradecer means to express gratitude to someone for something they have done. It is often used in more formal contexts, such as in official speeches or formal letters. In everyday spoken Spanish, the idiomatic phrase dar las gracias is much more common than using the single verb agradecer.
Which one should you use?
While agradecer is a single verb meaning "to thank", the idiomatic phrase dar las gracias is much more common in everyday spoken Spanish.
How do you pronounce it?
/aɡɾadeθeɾ/
When do people say it?
Adding muchas before gracias amplifies the level of gratitude.
Did you know?
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, it is common to reply to gracias with no hay de qué, which literally translates to 'there is nothing of which'.
- The word gracias is derived from the Latin 'gratia', which refers to grace or favor. This is why the phrase dar las gracias literally means 'to give the thanks' or 'to give the graces'.
- The verb agradecer is formed from the prefix 'a-', the word grado meaning 'will' or 'liking', and the suffix '-ecer'.
Examples in context
- Gracias por su ayudaThank you for your help
- Le agradezco su amabilidadI appreciate your kindness
- Te agradezco muchoI am very grateful to you
- Quiero agradecer su ayuda.I want to thank you for your help.
- Les quiero agradecer por todo.I want to thank you all for everything.
Example conversation
Daniel is thanking Lucía for helping him with a project.
- DanielLucía, quiero agradecerte por tu tiempo.Lucía, I want to thank you for your time.
- LucíaNo hay de qué, Daniel.Don't mention it, Daniel.
- DanielDe verdad, agradecería mucho tu apoyo.Truly, I would appreciate your support very much.
- LucíaSiempre que me necesites, aquí estoy.Whenever you need me, I am here.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries agradecer, CC BY-SA 4.0.
