Merci
neutral
In Canadian French you say Merci for "thank you" and Merci beaucoup for "thank you very much". In Quebec the usual reply is Bienvenue, meaning "you're welcome".
Meaning: expression of thanks (phrase)
Ways to say it
| French | Note |
|---|---|
| Merci | neutral |
| merci beaucoup | emphatic |
| bienvenue | reply, Quebec |
Merci works with everyone. You can add bien or beaucoup to sound warmer.
Which one should you use?
In France bienvenue is mainly a welcome to a place, while in Quebec it is also a normal way to answer merci. In France people would answer de rien or je vous en prie.
How do you pronounce it?
Merci sounds like "mehr-SEE".
Did you know?
- Using bienvenue to mean "you're welcome" is one of the best known Quebec habits, and it probably comes from the English phrase.
Examples in context
- Merci beaucoup pour ton aide.Thank you very much for your help.
- Merci! Bienvenue!Thank you! You're welcome!
- Merci bien, madame.Thank you, madam.
Example conversation
Julie gets her groceries from the cashier Ahmed at a store in Quebec City.
- AhmedVoilà, bonne journée!Here you go, have a good day!
- JulieMerci, vous aussi.Thank you, you too.
- AhmedBienvenue!You're welcome!
