je vous remercie
The English phrase "thank you formally" is expressed in French as je vous remercie.
This phrase is a polite way to express gratitude in a professional or official setting. If you wish to say "thank you very much", you can use Merci beaucoup. For expressing deeper gratitude, you might say Je vous suis reconnaissant(e) (I am grateful to you) or Je tiens à vous remercier (I would like to thank you).
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of je (I), vous (you) and remercie (thank), literally meaning "I thank you".
Which one should you use?
The use of vous makes je vous remercie formal and respectful, making it suitable for professional or distant social settings. In contrast, je te remercie is the informal version used with friends or family.
How does it change in a sentence?
When specifying what you are thankful for, you must follow the phrase with the preposition de (for example, je vous remercie de votre aide to say "I thank you for your help").
Did you know?
- The verb remercier comes from the word merci, which originally meant 'pity' or 'mercy' in Old French, meaning to thank someone was once like asking for mercy.
- While je vous remercie is highly professional, adding the word bien to make it je vous remercie bien can sometimes sound sarcastic or patronising depending on the tone.
- When using je vous remercie in a business email, it is common to follow it with a very specific formulaic closing like Je vous prie d'agréer, Monsieur, l'expression de mes salutations distinguées.
Examples in context
- Je vous remercie de votre aide.I thank you for your help.
- Je vous remercie pour ce cadeau.I thank you for this gift.
- Je vous remercie de votre attention.I thank you for your attention.
Example conversation
A professional meeting in a bright office.
- NathanJe vous remercie de votre temps, Léa.I thank you for your time, Léa.
- LéaC'est un plaisir, Nathan.It is a pleasure, Nathan.
- NathanJe vous remercie encore pour vos conseils.I thank you again for your advice.
- LéaJe vous en prie.You are welcome.
