merci d'avoir demandé
In French, 'thank you for asking' is expressed as merci d'avoir demandé.
This phrase is most commonly used in response to someone inquiring about your health, your family or how a specific situation is progressing.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase merci d'avoir demandé literally translates to 'thanks for having asked'.
Did you know?
- The word merci is a distant relative of the English word 'mercenary'. Both trace back to the Latin word 'mercēdem', which originally referred to a 'reward' or 'wages'.
- If you say merci d'avoir demandé in a sarcastic tone, it can be used to mock someone who is being nosy or asking questions that are none of their business.
- While merci d'avoir demandé is grammatically perfect, if you are responding to a simple 'How are you?', a French speaker is more likely to say C'est gentil de demander (It is kind of you to ask) to sound more natural.
Examples in context
- Je vais bien, merci d'avoir demandé.I am doing well, thank you for asking.
- C'est gentil, merci d'avoir demandé.That is kind, thank you for asking.
- Tout se passe bien, merci d'avoir demandé.Everything is going well, thank you for asking.
Example conversation
Emma asks Hugo how his new job is going.
- HugoLe travail se passe très bien.Work is going very well.
- EmmaJe suis ravie pour toi, Hugo !I am delighted for you, Hugo!
- HugoMerci d'avoir demandé, Emma.Thank you for asking, Emma.
- EmmaDe rien, c'est normal.You're welcome, it's only natural.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries merci, CC BY-SA 4.0.
