merci de m'avoir lu
In French, 'thanks for reading' is expressed as merci de m'avoir lu.
This phrase is a polite way to thank someone for reading a piece of writing.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, merci de m'avoir lu translates to 'thanks for having read me', where the 'm’' refers to the speaker or the writer.
Which one should you use?
merci de m'avoir lu is more personal and common in blogs or letters. In contrast, you might use merci de votre lecture, which is a more formal, noun-based alternative often used in professional contexts.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form of the phrase changes depending on the identity of the writer. If the writer is female, the past participle 'lu' becomes 'lue' to agree with the direct object 'm’' (me), resulting in merci de m'avoir lue. If the writer is part of a group (e.g., a company or a team), the phrase changes to merci de nous avoir lus to reflect the plural 'us'.
Did you know?
- If a woman writes merci de m'avoir lue, the extra 'e' at the end of lue is invisible when spoken. The difference in gender is only revealed to the reader through the spelling.
- The word merci originally meant 'mercy' or 'reward' rather than a simple expression of gratitude. It stems from the Latin 'mercedem', which referred to a 'wage' or 'fee' paid for a service.
Examples in context
- Merci de m'avoir lu, mes chers abonnés.Thanks for reading, my dear subscribers.
- Merci de m'avoir lu, j'espère que l'article vous a plu.Thanks for reading, I hope you liked the article.
Example conversation
Nathan is telling Manon that he enjoyed her new blog post.
- ManonMerci de m'avoir lu, Nathan.Thanks for reading, Nathan.
- NathanC'était un excellent article, Manon.It was an excellent article, Manon.
- ManonJe suis ravie que tu aies aimé.I am delighted that you liked it.
- NathanContinue comme ça !Keep it up!
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries de, merci, CC BY-SA 4.0.
