gracias
/ˈɡɾaθjas/ [ˈɡɾa.θjas]
In Spanish, thank you is said as gracias. Wiktionary also lists muchas gracias.
Meaning: an expression of gratitude (intj)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| gracias | /ˈɡɾaθjas/ [ˈɡɾa.θjas] /ˈɡɾasjas/ [ˈɡɾa.sjas] (Latin America, Philippines) |
| muchas gracias | /ˌmut͡ʃas ˈɡɾaθjas/ /ˌmut͡ʃas ˈɡɾasjas/ |
The phrase is an expression of gratitude.
Which one should you use?
gracias is the standard way to say thank you, while muchas gracias is a stronger, more emphatic way to express your gratitude. You may also encounter the idiomatic expression mil gracias, which translates to 'a thousand thanks' and is used to say 'thanks a million' or 'many thanks'.
How does it change in a sentence?
When you want to say 'thank you for [something]', use the preposition por instead of para.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 3 syllables, with the stress on the 1st syllable. The IPA is /ˈɡɾaθjas/ [ˈɡɾa.θjas].
When do people say it?
The most common response to gracias is de nada, which means 'you're welcome'.
Did you know?
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, it is common to say gracias when you are actually apologizing for a minor inconvenience you caused. This frames the apology as gratitude for the other person's patience.
- The word gracia has a double meaning in Spanish and can refer to both 'gratitude' and 'wit' or 'humor'. If someone says a joke has gracia, they mean it is funny.
- The word gracias shares a common ancestor with the English word 'grace', referring to both elegance and divine favor.
Examples in context
- No gracias, ya comí.No, thank you. I already ate.This sentence shows how to use gracias to politely decline an offer.Tatoeba #5058128 by don_ramon, translation #5057521 by AlanF_US
- Bien, gracias. ¿Y tú?Fine, thank you. And you?This sentence shows how to use gracias when responding to a question about your well-being.Tatoeba #532246 by cueyayotl, translation #239430 by sundown
- Gracias por la ayuda.Thank you for the help.This sentence demonstrates how to use gracias followed by por to specify what you are thankful for.Tatoeba #1901472 by marcelostockle, translation #2646007 by CK
- Muchas gracias por su arduo trabajo.Thank you very much for your hard work.
- Le agradezco su excelente servicio de limpieza.I appreciate your excellent cleaning service.
- ¡Muchas gracias por tu arduo trabajo!Thank you very much for your hard work!
- Te agradezco mucho por tu excelente servicio de limpieza.I appreciate you a lot for your excellent cleaning service.
- 328 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mateo gives Elena a cup of coffee in the office.
- MateoElena, aquí tienes tu café.Elena, here is your coffee.
- ElenaMuchas gracias, Mateo.Many thanks, Mateo.
- MateoDe nada, es un placer.You're welcome, it's a pleasure.
- ElenaEres muy amable.You are very kind.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “thank you” translations and entries gracias, muchas gracias, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries gracias, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
