धन्यवाद
dhanyavādformal, standard
The standard Hindi way to say thank you is धन्यवाद (dhanyavād). शुक्रिया (shukriyā) is warmer and very common in speech, and थैंक यू (thaiṅk yū) is used casually.
Meaning: expression of thanks (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Indian | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| धन्यवाद | dhanyavād | formal, standard |
| शुक्रिया | shukriyā | warm, everyday |
| थैंक यू | thaiṅk yū | casual, English loanword |
धन्यवाद (dhanyavād) works in every setting, including formal ones. शुक्रिया (shukriyā) comes from Persian and feels friendly.
Which one should you use?
Hindi speakers often do not say thank you for small favors among family and close friends. Thanks may be shown through actions instead.
Did you know?
- The reply कोई बात नहीं (koī bāt nahīṁ) literally means no matter and is the usual response to thanks.
Examples in context
- आपकी मदद के लिए धन्यवाद।āpkī madad ke lie dhanyavād.Thank you for your help.
- बहुत शुक्रिया!bahut shukriyā!Thanks a lot!
Example conversation
Ravi helps an elderly woman cross the street and she thanks him.
- Raviमाँजी, आराम से चलिए।māṁjī, ārām se chalie.Madam, walk slowly.
- Womanधन्यवाद बेटा।dhanyavād beṭā.Thank you, son.
- Raviकोई बात नहीं।koī bāt nahīṁ.It is nothing.
Hi Kirsty, Can say Namaste as an opening greeting in a letter/email to a senior figure in a large organisation?
Hi John, yes, Namaste is a respectful greeting and a senior colleague in India will read it as polite. In a formal email, though, most people still open with “Dear Mr Sharma” or “Dear Ms Rao”. If you would like to include it, “Namaste Mr Sharma,” followed by the usual formal tone works well. If you are not sure of the person’s background, “Dear” is the safest choice.