Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| merci | /mɛʁ.si/ (Belgium, France) /maɛ̯ʁ.si/ (Canada) |
|
| je vous remercie | ||
| merci bien | /mɛʁ.si bjɛ̃/ | formal |
Which one should you use?
While merci is the standard way to express thanks, je vous remercie is a more complete sentence that translates to "I thank you," and merci bien can be used as a more emphatic version of "thank you very much." Note that depending on your tone, merci bien may sometimes sound slightly dismissive or sarcastic.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
je vous remercie is used for a more formal and complete expression of gratitude in professional or respectful settings. merci bien is a more formal or emphatic way to say thank you.
How does it change in a sentence?
To say "thank you for [something]" followed by a noun or a verb, you should use merci de or merci pour.
How do you pronounce it?
/mɛʁ.si/
When do people say it?
The most common informal response to someone saying merci is de rien. In formal situations, the polite way to respond to someone who has thanked you is je vous en prie.
Did you know?
Examples in context
- Merci ma chère !Thank you, my dear.This sentence shows the use of merci.Tatoeba #1924315 by sacredceltic, translation #1923455 by Spamster
- Merci à vous deux.Thank you both.Tatoeba #2991730 by Ppjet6, translation #9800436 by Adelpa
- Merci mille fois !Thank you very much!Tatoeba #6780343 by Micsmithel, translation #1564 by adjusting
- 539 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Nathan gives Chloé a cup of coffee in the office.
- ChloéMerci, Nathan.Thank you, Nathan.
- NathanDe rien, Chloé.You're welcome, Chloé.
- ChloéC'est très gentil de ta part.That is very kind of you.
- NathanAvec plaisir !With pleasure!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “thank you” translations and entries merci, merci bien, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bien, je, merci, vous, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
