þakka þér kærlega fyrir
The English phrase "thank you very much" is translated into Icelandic using þakka þér kærlega fyrir. Wiktionary also lists þakka þér fyrir and takk fyrir.
Meaning: greater gratitude than "thank you" (intj)
Ways to say it
| Icelandic | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| þakka þér kærlega fyrir | ||
| þakka þér fyrir | ||
| takk fyrir | [ˈtʰahk fɪrɪr] (word by word, narrow) | |
| kærar þakkir | [ˈcʰaiːrar ˈθahcɪr] (narrow) | feminine, plural |
These expressions are used to convey a higher degree of gratitude than a simple "thank you".
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase þakka þér kærlega fyrir literally translates to "thank you dearly for".
Which one should you use?
The form takk fyrir is the standard, shorter way to say "thank you", whereas þakka þér kærlega fyrir expresses a much higher degree of gratitude.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
þakka þér kærlega fyrir is a formal and heartfelt way to express deep gratitude.
How does it change in a sentence?
The expression kærar þakkir uses the feminine plural form of the adjective kær to modify the feminine plural noun þakkir, literally meaning "dear thanks".
Did you know?
- The word þér used in þakka þér fyrir evolved from a grammatical misunderstanding where speakers reinterpreted a verb ending as part of the pronoun.
- In Icelandic, gratitude is often tied to the concept of being 'dear', as seen in the use of kærlega and kærar in these phrases.
- Icelandic phrases for gratitude often function as incomplete sentences, implying 'thanks for [the thing you did]' even when the object is omitted.
Examples in context
- „Kærar þakkir“, sagði hún með bros á vör."Thank you very much," she said with a smile.This example shows the use of kærar þakkir in a sentence.Tatoeba #727649 by Swift, translation #41144 by sundown
- Kærar þakkir!Thank you very much!This example demonstrates the use of kærar þakkir as a standalone exclamation.Tatoeba #477892 by Swift, translation #1564 by adjusting
- Ég þakka þér kærlega fyrir hjálpina.I thank you very much for the help.
Example conversation
Gunnar gives Guðrún a thoughtful gift.
- GunnarHér er lítil gjöf til þín.Here is a small gift for you.
- GuðrúnÓ, ég þakka þér kærlega fyrir þetta!Oh, thank you very much for this!
- GunnarÞað er ekkert mál, Guðrún.It is nothing, Guðrún.
- GuðrúnÞú ert svo dásamlegur maður.You are such a wonderful man.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “thank you very much” translations and entries takk fyrir, kærar þakkir, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (takk, fyrir) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries fyrir, takk, takk fyrir, þakka, þér, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
