Merci d'avoir pris contact
The English phrase "thank you for reaching out" is translated into French as Merci d'avoir pris contact.
This phrase is a polite expression used to thank someone for initiating contact or sending a message. It is commonly used in situations where someone has started a conversation, such as in professional networking or customer service contexts.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is literally composed of merci (thank you), d'avoir (for having) and pris contact (taken contact).
Which one should you use?
Merci d'avoir pris contact is slightly more abstract. In contrast, Merci de m'avoir contacté is a more direct way to say "thank you for contacting me" and is more common in standard professional settings.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Merci d'avoir pris contact is a formal phrase suitable for professional correspondence like business emails. For an informal setting, you can use Je te remercie de m'avoir contacté(e).
How does it change in a sentence?
If you want to specify that the person contacted you specifically, you can use the more direct form Merci de m'avoir contacté.
Did you know?
- The etymological root of merci, the Latin mercēdem, originally referred to a 'wage' or a 'fee'. This suggests that a thank you was historically viewed as a form of payment for a service rendered.
- If you are writing a professional email and want to avoid sounding like a robotic customer service agent, you should avoid Merci d'avoir pris contact. Using the more direct Merci de m'avoir contacté makes the interaction feel more personal and human.
- In early French, simply saying merci was often considered insufficient for deep gratitude. People would instead use the phrase grand merci to ensure their thanks carried enough weight.
Examples in context
- Cher Monsieur Dupont, je vous remercie d'avoir pris contact avec moi.Dear Mr. Dupont, thank you for contacting me.
- Merci infiniment pour ton message ! Ça m'a vraiment fait plaisir de te lire.Thank you so much for your message! It really made me happy to read you.
- Encore une fois, merci beaucoup de m'avoir contacté(e). Cordialement, [Your Name]Once again, thank you very much for contacting me. Sincerely, [Your Name]
- Merci d'avoir pris contact avec notre équipe.Thank you for reaching out to our team.
Example conversation
Gabriel responds to a professional inquiry from Manon.
- GabrielBonjour Manon, merci d'avoir pris contact.Hello Manon, thank you for reaching out.
- ManonJe voudrais en savoir plus sur vos services.I would like to know more about your services.
- GabrielC'est avec plaisir, je peux vous aider.It is my pleasure, I can help you.
- ManonC'est parfait, merci beaucoup Gabriel.That's perfect, thank you very much Gabriel.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries contact, merci, pris, CC BY-SA 4.0.
