Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| merci | /mɛʁ.si/ (Belgium, France) /maɛ̯ʁ.si/ (Canada) |
|
| je vous remercie | ||
| merci bien | /mɛʁ.si bjɛ̃/ | formal |
The standard and widely-used word for 'thank you' in French is merci.
Which one should you use?
While merci is the standard form, je vous remercie translates to 'I thank you' and is used as a more polite and complete sentence in professional or respectful settings. merci bien can mean 'thank you very much' in formal contexts, but it can also carry a sarcastic tone similar to 'thanks a lot' in English.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
merci is the standard form used in most situations. For a more polite and formal way to express gratitude, use the complete sentence je vous remercie. merci bien is also categorized as a formal expression.
How does it change in a sentence?
To say 'thank you for' something, you can use different prepositions depending on the object. Use merci de followed by a noun or an infinitive verb, such as merci de votre aide (thank you for your help). This is often used for abstract things or verbs. Alternatively, merci pour is commonly used for concrete objects, such as merci pour les fleurs (thank you for the flowers).
How do you pronounce it?
/mɛʁ.si/
When do people say it?
When someone says merci, you can respond with de rien in an informal way, which means 'it's nothing' or 'you're welcome'. In formal situations, the polite way to respond is je vous en prie, which means 'you are welcome' or 'my pleasure'.
Did you know?
- The word merci shares its roots with the concept of a 'mercenary', as both stems from the Latin word for 'wages' or 'price'.
Examples in context
- Merci ma chère !Thank you, my dear.This example shows the use of merci in an affectionate context.Tatoeba #1924315 by sacredceltic, translation #1923455 by Spamster
- Merci à vous deux.Thank you both.This example shows the use of merci when addressing two people.Tatoeba #2991730 by Ppjet6, translation #9800436 by Adelpa
- Merci mille fois !Thank you very much!This example shows the use of merci to express great gratitude.Tatoeba #6780343 by Micsmithel, translation #1564 by adjusting
- Merci beaucoup pour le merveilleux cadeauThank you very much for the wonderful gift
- Merci beaucoup d'avoir pris le temps de me rencontrer aujourd'hui.Thank you very much for taking the time to meet with me today.
- Je vous remercie pour votre aimable soutien.I thank you for your kind support.
- Merci beaucoup d'être venu à ma fête samedi soir.Thank you very much for coming to my party on Saturday night.
- Un grand merci pour ton aide précieuse.A big thank you for your valuable help.
- 539 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Nathan brings Léa a coffee at her desk.
- LéaNathan, tu m'apportes un café ?Nathan, are you bringing me a coffee?
- NathanOui, tiens, c'est pour toi.Yes, here, it is for you.
- LéaMerci, c'est très gentil de ta part.Thank you, that is very kind of you.
- NathanDe rien, Léa.You're welcome, Léa.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “thank you” translations and entries merci, merci bien, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bien, je, merci, vous, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
