Gracias por su comprensión
/ɡɾaθjas poɾ su kompɾensjon/from spelling rules
Gracias por su comprensión is the Spanish way to say thank you for your understanding.
This phrase is a polite way to thank someone for being patient or for accepting a difficult situation. It is commonly used in formal written notices, such as signs or emails, particularly when apologizing for an inconvenience or a change in service.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is built from gracias (thanks), por (for), su (your) and comprensión (understanding/comprehension).
Which one should you use?
To be informal, you can use Gracias por tu comprensión. Use tu instead of su if you are speaking to someone you know well or are on a first-name basis with.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, the formal phrase Le agradezco su comprensión may be shortened to Agradezco su comprensión without any loss of politeness.
How do you pronounce it?
/ɡɾaθjas poɾ su kompɾensjon/
Did you know?
- If you are writing a formal notice in a Spanish-speaking country, using Gracias por su comprensión can sometimes sound slightly condescending if the 'inconvenience' was actually a major error by the company.
- The word gracias shares a root with the English word 'grace', as both derive from the Latin grātia, which referred to favor and gratitude.
- In extremely formal correspondence, you might replace su comprensión with su benevolencia. This elevates the tone by specifically highlighting the recipient's kindness and generosity in overlooking a fault.
Examples in context
- Muchas gracias por su comprensión durante estos tiempos difíciles. Su paciencia y apoyo han sido invaluables para nosotros.Thank you very much for your understanding during these challenging times. Your patience and support have been invaluable to us.
- Gracias por su comprensión ante el retraso.Thank you for your understanding regarding the delay.
- Gracias por su comprensión durante la reunión.Thank you for your understanding during the meeting.
Example conversation
Mateo explains a delay to Lucía at an office.
- MateoEl informe estará listo mañana.The report will be ready tomorrow.
- LucíaNo hay problema, espero al mañana.No problem, I will wait until tomorrow.
- MateoGracias por su comprensión, Lucía.Thank you for your understanding, Lucía.
- LucíaDe nada, Mateo.You're welcome, Mateo.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries comprensión, gracias, por, su, CC BY-SA 4.0.
