grazie tesoro
/ˈɡrat.t͡sje teˈzɔ.ro/word by word
To say thank you darling in Italian, use grazie tesoro.
grazie tesoro is an affectionate thank you for a partner, a child or a very close friend.
What does it mean word for word?
grazie means thank you and tesoro literally means treasure.
Which one should you use?
grazie amore mio (thank you my love) is more romantic. Grazie mille, caro/cara (thanks a lot, dear) is a casual option with friends and family.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Naples and the south you may hear the short form tesò.
How does it change in a sentence?
To thank more than one person, use the plural grazie tesori.
How do you pronounce it?
The stress falls on the first syllable of grazie and the middle syllable of tesoro.
Did you know?
- The word tesoro shares the same linguistic roots as the English word 'thesaurus', as both derive from the Greek word for a 'storehouse' or 'treasure'.
- In Italian, the word tesoro is used as a term of endearment for children regardless of their gender, whereas words like caro must change to cara for girls.
- In some Italian regions, calling a stranger tesoro can be perceived as overly familiar or slightly condescending, unlike its use with a partner or child.
Examples in context
- Grazie tesoro, sei molto gentile.Thank you darling, you are very kind.
- Grazie tesoro per il regalo.Thank you darling for the gift.
- Grazie tesoro, mi hai aiutato tanto.Thank you darling, you helped me so much.
Example conversation
Alessandro brings a cup of tea to Giulia in the living room.
- GiuliaÈ molto caldo, grazie.It is very hot, thank you.
- AlessandroPrego, amore mio.You're welcome, my love.
- GiuliaGrazie tesoro, sei un tesoro.Thank you darling, you are a treasure.
- AlessandroDi nulla, Giulia.No problem, Giulia.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (grazie, tesoro) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries grazie, tesoro, CC BY-SA 4.0.
