Ways to say it
| Hindi | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| धन्यवाद | dhanyavād | /d̪ʱən.jə.ʋɑːd̪/ (Hindi, Standard) | |
| शुक्रिया | śukriyā | /ʃʊk.ɾɪ.jɑː/ (Hindi, Standard) | |
| थैंक्यू | tha͠ikyū | colloquial |
The phrase is used to express gratitude. While धन्यवाद is a formal term that carries a deeper sense of gratitude, you can also use शुक्रिया or the transliterated English loanword थैंक्यू.
Which one should you use?
धन्यवाद is a formal, Sanskrit-derived word used in official or polite settings. शुक्रिया is a common, slightly more informal way to express thanks that is often used in everyday conversation. थैंक्यू is the English loanword "thank you" transliterated into Hindi, which is very common in casual, urban settings.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
धन्यवाद is a formal term used in polite or official settings. शुक्रिया is a common way to express thanks in a formal setting, though it is also used in everyday conversation. थैंक्यू is a colloquial option used in casual environments.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of धन्यवाद is dhanyavād. It has 3 syllables.
Did you know?
- While धन्यवाद is the standard formal term, in many traditional Indian households, saying 'thank you' to an elder can actually be seen as too formal or distant, as it implies a transactional relationship rather than a familial bond.
- The term धन्यवाद is derived from the Sanskrit words धन्य meaning 'blessed' and वाद meaning 'speech', effectively making the phrase 'blessed speech'.
- In many parts of India, instead of a verbal 'thank you', people often express gratitude through a slight bow or a specific hand gesture called 'Namaste', which serves a similar social function.
Examples in context
- मैं टॉम को धन्यवाद कहना चाहता हूं।I want to say thank you to Tom.This sentence shows how to use धन्यवाद to express a desire to thank someone.Tatoeba #8889342 by simranbansal, translation #5788622 by CK
- हमारी भाषा में रूचि रखने के लिए धन्यवाद्।Thank you for your interest in our language.This sentence uses धन्यवाद to thank someone for their interest.Tatoeba #9928887 by anushka, translation #9927218 by Linguando
- आप कैसे हैं? बहुत बढ़िया। और आप? बहुत बढ़िया, शुक्रिया।How are you? Great. And you? Great, thank you.This sentence demonstrates the use of शुक्रिया in a conversational context.Tatoeba #9004646 by AnjaliNoronha, translation #9839066 by anushka
- 16 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Aditya hands Pooja a book she wanted to read.
- पूजा Poojaकिताब के लिए धन्यवाद, आदित्य।Kitaab ke liye dhanyavaad, Aditya.Thank you for the book, Aditya.
- आदित्य Adityaकोई बात नहीं, पूजा।Koi baat nahi, Pooja.It's no problem, Pooja.
- पूजा Poojaयह मेरे लिए बहुत मददगार है।Yeh mere liye bahut madadgaar hai.This is very helpful for me.
- आदित्य Adityaमुझे खुशी है कि आपको पसंद आई।Mujhe khushi hai ki aapko pasand aayi.I am glad that you liked it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “thank you” translations and entries धन्यवाद, शुक्रिया, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
