Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| merci | /mɛʁ.si/ (Belgium, France) /maɛ̯ʁ.si/ (Canada) |
|
| je vous remercie | ||
| merci bien | /mɛʁ.si bjɛ̃/ | formal |
The phrase is used to express gratitude.
Which one should you use?
While merci is the standard and most versatile form, je vous remercie is a more formal and complete sentence used to express gratitude in professional or respectful settings. merci bien is also a formal way to say thank you.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
If you want to be more formal and complete, use je vous remercie. The phrase merci bien is also categorized as formal. For a highly formal way to say 'I am grateful to you', you can use Je Vous Suis Reconnaissant(e).
How does it change in a sentence?
When you want to specify what you are thankful for, you can use two different prepositions. Use merci pour for concrete objects, such as merci pour le cadeau (thank you for the gift). Use merci de for abstract concepts or verbs, such as merci de votre aide (thank you for your help).
How do you pronounce it?
/mɛʁ.si/
When do people say it?
When someone says merci to you, common responses include the informal de rien (it's nothing) or the formal je vous en prie (you're welcome).
Did you know?
- The word merci shares its roots with the English word 'mercy'. It originally meant a 'reward' or a 'price' paid for a service.
- The formal response je vous en prie literally translates to 'I pray you of it'.
- Although merci bien is used to say 'thank you very much', in some contexts, a sarcastic tone can turn it into a dismissive 'thanks a lot' that sounds quite cold.
Examples in context
- Merci ma chère !Thank you, my dear.This sentence uses merci to express affection.Tatoeba #1924315 by sacredceltic, translation #1923455 by Spamster
- Merci à vous deux.Thank you both.This sentence uses merci to thank two people.Tatoeba #2991730 by Ppjet6, translation #9800436 by Adelpa
- Merci mille fois !Thank you very much!This sentence uses merci to express great gratitude.Tatoeba #6780343 by Micsmithel, translation #1564 by adjusting
- Merci beaucoup pour ton aide précieuse!Thank you very much for your valuable help!
- 539 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Gabriel gives a book to Manon.
- GabrielVoici le livre pour toi.Here is the book for you.
- ManonMerci beaucoup, Gabriel !Thank you very much, Gabriel!
- GabrielDe rien, c'est un plaisir.You're welcome, it's a pleasure.
- ManonTu es très gentil.You are very kind.
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.
