Merci
/mɛʁ.si/
The English phrase 'thanks' is expressed in French as Merci.
Merci is used to express appreciation or gratitude.
Meaning: used to express appreciation or gratitude (intj)
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The phrase Je vous remercie is a more formal way to express gratitude than the simple Merci.
How does it change in a sentence?
To say 'thanks a lot' or 'thank you very much', you add beaucoup after merci to get Merci beaucoup. When you want to say 'thanks for' a noun, use the preposition pour (for example, Merci pour le cadeau). If you are saying 'thank you for' doing something and follow it with a verb in the infinitive, you typically use the preposition de (for example, Merci de m'aider).
When do people say it?
The most common way to respond to Merci in an informal or neutral setting is De rien, which means 'You're welcome' or 'It's nothing'.
Did you know?
- The word merci shares its origin with the English word 'mercy', as both come from the Latin 'mercēdem' meaning 'wages' or 'reward'.
- In some French-speaking cultures, such as in Quebec, you might hear Bienvenue as a response to Merci. This is a direct influence from the English 'You're welcome'.
- Using merci too many times in a single conversation can sometimes be seen as overly anxious or insincere in French culture, unlike the frequent repetition common in American English.
Examples in context
- Merci pour ça !Thanks for that.This sentence shows how to say thanks for a specific thing using Merci.Tatoeba #3951968 by nimfeo, translation #1898228 by CK
- Merci, les mecs !Thanks, guys!This sentence demonstrates a casual way to say thanks to a group using Merci.Tatoeba #5050013 by sacredceltic, translation #2564658 by Hybrid
- Merci, mon pote !Thanks, bud!This sentence shows a casual way to say thanks to a friend using Merci.Tatoeba #8984264 by Micsmithel, translation #2730962 by Hybrid
- Merci beaucoupThank you very much
- Je vous remercieI thank you
- Je vous suis reconnaissant(e)I am grateful to you
- Je tiens à vous exprimer ma gratitudeI wish to express my gratitude to you
- MerciThanks
- Merci bienThanks a lot
- Je vous adresse mes plus vifs remerciementsI extend my heartfelt thanks to you
- Un grand merci pour votre aideA big thank you for your help
- Je tiens à vous remercier sincèrementI sincerely want to thank you
- 449 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Nathan hands Chloé a cup of coffee.
- NathanTiens, un café pour toi.Here, a coffee for you.
- ChloéOh, merci Nathan !Oh, thanks Nathan!
- NathanDe rien, c'est normal.You're welcome, it's nothing.
- ChloéC'est très gentil de ta part.That is very kind of you.
Sources
- Pronunciation from the Wiktionary entry merci.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries merci, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
