multas gratias
In Latin, thank you very much is expressed as multas gratias.
The phrase is used to express a greater level of gratitude than a standard "thank you". You can also use magnas gratias to emphasize the greatness of your gratitude, or gratias maximas to mean "great thanks".
Meaning: greater gratitude than "thank you" (intj)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase consists of the adjective multas (many/much) and the noun gratias (thanks/gratitude).
Which one should you use?
Omitting the adjective multas reduces the expression from "thank you very much" to a standard "thank you" (gratias tibi ago).
How does it change in a sentence?
In a complete sentence, the phrase is often accompanied by the verb ago (I do/I give) and the indirect object tibi (to you). To thank more than one person, you should change the indirect object from tibi to vobis (e.g., multas gratias vobis ago). Another variation is Multis tibi gratias, which means "Many thanks to you."
Did you know?
- The word gratias is a form of the noun gratia, which also means 'influence' or 'clout'. To give someone gratias could subtly imply that the person now had a social advantage over the speaker.
- In Latin, the act of thanking is treated as a physical transaction. The verb ago, used in multas gratias ago, literally means 'I drive' or 'I do', as if the speaker is actively delivering the thanks to the recipient.
- In classical Roman culture, simply saying multas gratias could be seen as insufficient. True gratitude was often expressed through the concept of officium, implying a moral obligation to return the favor in the future.
Examples in context
- Multas gratias tibi ago!Thank you very much!This sentence shows how to use the phrase multas gratias in a complete thought.Tatoeba #1268369 by alexmarcelo, translation #1564 by adjusting
- Multas gratias vobis ago.I thank you all very much.
- Multas gratias pro auxilio.Many thanks for the help.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Marcus gives Lucia a gift.
- LuciaMarce, hoc donum est pulcherrimum!Marcus, this gift is very beautiful!
- MarcusTibi placetne, Lucia?Do you like it, Lucia?
- LuciaIta! Multas gratias tibi ago.Yes! I thank you very much.
- MarcusNihil est, libenter.It is nothing, you're welcome.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
