reconnaissant
/ʁə.kɔ.nɛ.sɑ̃/
The English phrase "thankful" is translated into French as reconnaissant.
The adjective reconnaissant is used to describe someone showing thanks. When followed by a verb or a noun phrase representing an action, the preposition 'de' is commonly used in the expression être reconnaissant de.
Meaning: showing thanks (adj)
How does it change in a sentence?
The feminine form reconnaissante is created by adding an -e to the masculine form. The masculine plural form is reconnaissants, created by adding an -s to the masculine singular form. The feminine plural form is reconnaissantes, created by adding -es to the feminine singular form.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 4 syllables and is pronounced /ʁə.kɔ.nɛ.sɑ̃/.
When do people say it?
To express heartfelt gratitude, some people in certain areas of France say Merci mille fois or Merci du fond du cœur.
Did you know?
- The root of reconnaissant is the verb connaître, meaning 'to know'. To be thankful in French is literally to 're-know' or 'acknowledge' the value of a favor.
- While reconnaissant is an adjective, French speakers often use the noun reconnaissance to mean 'gratitude'. However, in a different context, this same word can mean 'reconnaissance' as in scouting or surveillance.
- In a formal letter, you might see the phrase Je vous saurais gré, which is a highly sophisticated way to say you would be thankful or grateful if someone performed an action.
Examples in context
- Je suis reconnaissant pour mes amis.I am thankful for my friends.This sentence is useful for expressing thankfulness for friends using reconnaissant.Tatoeba #6877096 by Micsmithel, translation #1227178 by CM
- Je suis reconnaissant pour ma famille.I'm thankful for my family.This sentence is useful for expressing thankfulness for family using reconnaissant.Tatoeba #6877110 by Micsmithel, translation #6873125 by CK
- Je suis reconnaissant d'avoir mes enfants.I am thankful for my children.This sentence is useful for expressing thankfulness for children using reconnaissant.Tatoeba #6877123 by Micsmithel, translation #436439 by lukaszpp
- Je vous remercie beaucoup pour votre aide précieuse.I thank you very much for your valuable help.
- Merci beaucoup d'être toujours là pour moi.Thank you very much for always being there for me.
- Je tiens à vous exprimer ma gratitude pour la confiance que vous me témoignez.I want to express my gratitude for the trust you place in me.
- Un grand merci à tous pour cette belle soirée !A big thank you to everyone for this wonderful evening!
- 24 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucas helps Léa with her heavy groceries.
- LéaMerci beaucoup pour ton aide.Thank you very much for your help.
- LucasDe rien, c'est normal.You're welcome, it's normal.
- LéaJe suis vraiment reconnaissante envers toi.I am truly thankful to you.
- LucasCela me fait plaisir, Léa.It's my pleasure, Léa.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “thankful” translations and entries reconnaissant, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
