Merci pour votre confiance
In French, "thank you for your business" is expressed as Merci pour votre confiance.
This is the standard professional way to thank a client in French, as a literal translation of 'business' would sound unnatural in this context.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to Thank you for your trust.
Which one should you use?
You might also see Nous vous remercions de votre confiance, which means "We thank you for your trust". Using Merci pour ta confiance would change the phrase to an informal register, which is generally inappropriate for professional business correspondence.
Did you know?
- The word merci shares a root with the English word 'mercy', as both derive from the Latin word mercēdem meaning 'wages' or 'price'.
- In French professional culture, the emphasis is placed on the emotional bond of 'trust' rather than the commercial transaction. While an English speaker focuses on the 'business' being done, a French speaker focuses on the 'confiance' established between the parties.
- In very formal French business letters, the phrase is often expanded into long, ritualized formulas that express gratitude and respect in a way that would seem overly wordy in English.
Examples in context
- Nous vous remercions de votre confiance et de votre fidélitéWe thank you for your trust and loyalty
- Merci pour votre confiance, Monsieur.Thank you for your business, sir.
Example conversation
Chloé finishes a consulting project for Nathan.
- ChloéVoici le rapport final, Nathan.Here is the final report, Nathan.
- NathanC'est parfait, je suis très satisfait.It is perfect, I am very satisfied.
- ChloéMerci pour votre confiance.Thank you for your business.
- NathanMerci à vous, Chloé.Thank you, Chloé.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries confiance, merci, pour, votre, CC BY-SA 4.0.
