merci pour tout
In French, 'thank you for everything' is said as merci pour tout.
merci pour tout is used to express gratitude for all the help or kindness someone has provided.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of merci (thanks), pour (for) and tout (all/everything).
When do people say it?
When someone says merci pour tout, you can respond based on the level of formality. An informal and common response is De rien, meaning 'It's nothing' or 'You're welcome'. In a polite or formal situation, use Je vous en prie to say 'You are welcome'.
Did you know?
- Because merci originates from the Latin word mercēdem, meaning 'wages' or 'price', the act of saying 'thank you' is etymologically connected to the concept of a financial transaction.
- In old French legal contexts, merci was not about gratitude but about 'mercy' or 'pity', often used when a defeated person was at the mercy of a conqueror.
- The phrase merci pour tout can carry a weightier emotional tone than a simple 'thanks', as it suggests a complete and final acknowledgement of a debt of kindness.
Examples in context
- « Merci pour tout. » « Pas de quoi. »"Thank you for everything." "You're welcome."This example shows a basic exchange of thanks and a response.Tatoeba #11255618 by Micsmithel, translation #2783888 by CK
- Merci pour tout ce que vous avez fait.Thank you for everything you've done.This sentence shows how to thank someone for everything they have done.Tatoeba #6375988 by lbdx, translation #5448690 by CK
- Merci pour tout ce que tu as fait pour moi.Thank you for everything you've done for me.Tatoeba #7095754 by Micsmithel, translation #4308695 by CK
- Merci pour tout ce que tu as fait pour moi pendant ma convalescence.Thank you for everything you did for me during my recovery.
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Emma is saying goodbye to Lucas after he helped her move house.
- EmmaMerci pour tout, Lucas, tu m'as beaucoup aidée.Thank you for everything, Lucas, you helped me a lot.
- LucasDe rien, Emma, c'est normal.You're welcome, Emma, it's normal.
- EmmaJe te revaudrai ça.I will return the favor.
- LucasNe t'inquiète pas pour ça.Don't worry about that.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries merci, pour, tout, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
