merci pour le cadeau
The English phrase 'thank you for the gift' is translated into French as merci pour le cadeau.
This phrase is used to express gratitude to someone who has given you a present.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of merci (thanks), pour (for), le (the) and cadeau (gift).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
While merci pour le cadeau is standard, you can make the expression of gratitude stronger and more polite by adding beaucoup to say merci beaucoup pour le cadeau (thank you very much for the gift).
Did you know?
- The word cadeau shares a distant ancestor with the English word 'chapel', as both stem from the Latin 'capitellum' meaning a little head or ornament.
- French has a specific distinction between a cadeau (a gift) and a présent (a formal offering), though the latter is much rarer in daily speech.
- In its earliest forms, the word merci did not just mean 'thanks', but also referred to 'mercy' or 'pity' in a legal or judicial context.
Examples in context
- Merci pour le cadeau.Thank you for the gift.This sentence is useful for practicing the phrase merci pour le cadeau.Tatoeba #751004 by Cocorico, translation #1103041 by jamessilver
- Merci pour le cadeau, c'est très gentil.Thank you for the gift, it's very kind.
Example conversation
Gabriel gives Emma a present for her birthday.
- EmmaOh, merci pour le cadeau, Gabriel !Oh, thank you for the gift, Gabriel!
- GabrielDe rien, j'espère qu'il te plaît.You're welcome, I hope you like it.
- EmmaIl est magnifique, merci encore.It is magnificent, thank you again.
- GabrielC'est avec plaisir.It is my pleasure.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cadeau, le, merci, pour, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
