Whether it’s for your morning coffee from your favorite barista or a selfless act from a loved one that you’ll never be able to repay, saying “thank you” can pack a lot of care and consideration behind two little words. Thanking someone in their native language is an act of appreciation that won’t go unnoticed. Ready to express your gratitude no matter where you are? Here’s how to say “thank you” in different languages!
Rosetta Stone’s lessons cover all of the languages below. With our TruAccent speech recognition engine that compares your voice to native speakers’ and gives you immediate feedback on your pronunciation, you can say “thank you” in various languages—like you mean it. And immersive, bite-sized lessons prepare you for real-world conversations with actionable feedback and culturally relevant examples.
Table of Contents
1. Spanish: Gracias
Gracias is Spanish for “thank you” and can be used in most situations when you want to be courteous. Depending on how thankful you are and who you’re talking to, there are a few variations to express exactly how grateful you are. To enthusiastically thank someone, you could say muchas gracias or take it up a notch with muchísimas gracias. For formal situations, te doy las gracias or estoy agradecido would be more appropriate.
When you’re thanking an elder, add a señor or señora after to show respect for their age. Señorita is typically used for unmarried or younger women. However, the señora/señorita distinction can be a touchy subject, so tread carefully depending on your audience. Once you’ve mastered “thank you,” learn more basic Spanish phrases and translations of common greetings.
Spanish | English |
Gracias | Thank you |
Agradecer | To be grateful |
Estoy agradecido | I am grateful |
¡Muchas gracias! | Many thanks! |
Mil gracias | A thousand thanks (equivalent to “thanks a million”) |
¡Muchísimas gracias! | Many many thanks |
Te doy las gracias | I give you my thanks |
¡Qué amable! | How kind! |
2. French: Merci
Merci is the basic French “thank you” and is considered appropriate in most contexts. But it’s not the only way to express gratitude. French is a language that values levels of formality, and the French have no problem expressing their sincerity. Merci beaucoup is also good for a wide variety of situations. Merci bien has about the same literal meaning, but it’s often used sarcastically. Like in Spanish, the French equivalent to “thanks a million” translates literally to “thanks a thousand.” Explore more conversational French phrases to round out your conversations.
French | English |
Merci | Thank you |
Merci beaucoup | Thanks a lot |
Merci bien | Thank you very much (often sarcastic) |
Merci mille foi | Thanks a thousand (equivalent to “thanks a million”) |
Je vous remercie | I thank you (formal) |
Je te remercie | I thank you (informal) |
Avec tous mes remerciements | With all my thanks (formal, only used in writing) |
C’est vraiment gentil de votre part | That’s very kind of you |
Merci, monsieur | Thank you, sir |
Merci, madame | Thank you, ma’am |
3. German: Danke
As German culture values formality and punctuality, expressing gratitude appropriately for the situation is essential. Danke is a simple thank you that’s usually used in casual situations. If you want to be more formal, Dankeschön or Ich danke Ihnen would be more appropriate. Vergelt’s Gott is often used in Catholic communities in Austria and Southern Germany but doesn’t always go over well in non-religious circles. “A thousand thanks” is also an expression in German—English speakers like to exaggerate with “thanks a million.” Before you utter a “thank you,” be sure to say “hello” in German first.
German | English |
Danke | Thank you |
Dankeschön | Thank you kindly |
Danke sehr | Thank you very much |
Vielen Dank | Many thanks |
Tausend Dank | A thousand thanks (equivalent to “thanks a million”) |
Ich danke Ihnen | I give you my thanks |
Vergelt’s Gott | May God reward you |
Sehr aufmerksam | You’re very kind |
4. Italian: Grazie
In Italian, grazie usually gets the job done in everyday situations. La ringrazio tanto is a better fit for formal situations. When you’re really, really grateful, pull out a grazie di tutto. Don’t use grazie tante if you’re being sincere, but you can try it out if you’re giving target-language sarcasm a try. No matter which way you say it, make it enthusiastic and sincere. After all, Italian is the most animated of the Romance languages. In the spirit of good manners, be sure to brush up on the best Italian greetings.
Italian | English |
Grazie | Thanks |
È molto gentile da parte tua | You’re so kind |
Grazie mille | Thanks a thousand |
Grazie tante | Thanks a lot (sarcastic) |
La ringrazio tanto | Thank you very much (formal) |
Ti ringrazio tanto | Thank you very much (informal) |
Grazie di tutto | Thanks for everything |
5. Chinese (Mandarin): 谢谢 (xiè.xiè)
Chinese culture values gratitude, honor, and formality. So, it makes sense that there are a lot of different ways to say “thank you” for various situations. 谢谢 (xiè.xiè) is the default. 谢了(xiè.le) and 多谢 (duō.xiè) are more casual options. There are also two different ways to say “I’m grateful.” If you’re super grateful and want to emphasize it, you could say 非常谢谢 (fēi.cháng xiè.xiè) or 太谢谢你了(tài xiè.xiè nǐ le). Chinese culture also values actions over words, so if you really want to show gratitude, try to return the favor in any way you can. And don’t forget the Mandarin Chinese essentials guide for grammatical basics.
Mandarin | English |
谢谢 (xiè.xiè) | Thank you |
谢谢你 (xiè.xiè nǐ) | Thank you (emphasis on “you”) |
谢谢大家 (xiè.xiè dá.jiā) | Thank you all |
谢了(xiè.le) | Thanks |
多谢 (duō.xiè) | Many thanks |
感恩 (gǎn.ēn) | Grateful (implies owing repayment) |
感谢 (gǎn.xiè) | Grateful/thankful |
非常谢谢 (fēi.cháng xiè.xiè) | Extreme thanks |
太谢谢你了(tài xiè.xiè nǐ le) | Thank you too much |
你太好了 (nǐ tài hǎo le) | You’re too good |
你太客气了(nǐ tài kèqì le) | You shouldn’t have |
6. Japanese: ありがとう(arigato)
Expressing gratitude in Japanese culture is full of nuances. Though ありがとう(arigato) is the most common way to say “thank you,” the formality of the situation, your relationship to the person you’re thanking, and how grateful you are determine which of the options below is most appropriate. In some situations, Japanese people say “excuse me” or “I’m sorry” instead of thanking someone to express feeling like a burden. Bowing is a common non-verbal way to show gratitude and respect, and the deeper your bow, the more respect you show the other person. Learn more useful Japanese phrases for your conversations.
Japanese | English |
ありがとう(arigato) | Thank you |
ありがとう ございます (arigato gozaimasu) | Thank you (formal) |
あざす (azasu) | Thank you (slang) |
ありがとう ございました (arigato gozaimashita) | Thank you (past tense) |
サンキュー (sankyu) | Thank you (casual) |
すみません (sumimasen) | Excuse me (used to apologize after a favor) |
すまない (sumanai) | Excuse me (slang) |
恐れ入ります (osoreirimasu) | Thank you (extremely formal) |
どうも (doumo) | Thanks |
どうも ありがとう(doumo arigato) | Thank you very much |
どうも ありがとう ございます(doumo arigato gozaimasu) | Thank you very much (very polite) |
本当に ありがとう ございます (hontoni arigato gozaimasu) | Really, thank you very much |
拝謝申し上げます (haisha moushiagemasu) | Thank you very much (humble) |
7. Korean: 감사합니다 (gahm-sa-hab-ni-da)
Like other East Asian cultures, Korean culture emphasizes politeness and social etiquette. That means there are many ways to say “thank you” depending on the situation and your relationship with the person you’re thanking. 감사합니다 (gahm-sa-hab-ni-da) is the most common and versatile way of saying thank you. 고맙습니다 (go-map-seup-ni-da) is also common but implies more familiarity. Longer phrases like 정말 고마워요 (jung-mal go-ma-wo-yo), 정말 친절하시네요 (jung-mal chin-jul-ha-si-ne-yo), or 대단히 감사합니다 (dae-dan-hi gahm-sa-hab-ni-da) are more appropriate for formal situations.
Korean | English |
감사합니다 (gahm-sa-hab-ni-da) | Thank you |
고맙습니다 (go-map-seup-ni-da) | Thank you (familiar) |
고마워요 (go-ma-wo-yo) | Thank you (familiar yet polite) |
고마워 (go-ma-wo) | Thank you (informal) |
감사 (gahm-sa) | Thanks |
정말 고마워요 (jung-mal go-ma-wo-yo) | Thank you truly |
정말 친절하시네요 (jung-mal chin-jul-ha-si-ne-yo) | That’s truly kind of you |
대단히 감사합니다 (dae-dan-hi gahm-sa-hab-ni-da) | Thank you very much |
8. Arabic: شكراً (Shukran)
Arabic is a complex language with many nuances, several dialects, and some poetic ways to express gratitude. شكراً (shukran) is used for a simple thank you in all Arabic-speaking countries, but showing your thanks with a phrase specific to a region is a great way to show extra care and respect for another person’s culture. “May God give you health” and “I wish that God increases your welfare” are particularly lovely expressions of gratitude.
Arabic | English |
شكراً (Shukran) | Thank you (used in all Arabic-speaking countries) |
تسلم (Tislam) | Thank you (masculine, used in Levant countries) |
تسلمي(Tislami) | Thank you (feminine, used in Levant countries) |
ممنونك (mamnounak/ek) | I am grateful to you (masculine) |
ممنونتك (Mamnountak/ek) | I am grateful to you (feminine) |
يعطيك العافية (Ya‘tik al-‘afiya) | May God give you health |
يكثر خيرك (Yekather khairak/ek) | I wish that God increases your welfare |
9. Hindi: धन्यवाद (dhanyavaad)
Indian culture has unique norms about polite phrases like “please” and “thank you.” While thanking strangers is expected, thanking friends and family members can be seen as impersonal because doing favors for your loved ones is part of the relationship. Knowing how to say “thank you” in Hindi is still important for travel to India. धन्यवाद (dhanyavaad) works in most cases. बहुत धन्यवाद (bahut dhanyavaad) and मैं आभारी हूं (Main Ābhārī Hōṅ”) are appropriate for formal interactions. शुक्रिया (Shukriyaa”) and बहुत शुक्रिया (Bahut Shukriyaa) are the most common for informal situations. The loanword थैंक्यू (Thaiṅkyū) is the least formal and easiest option for English speakers.
Hindi | English |
धन्यवाद (dhanyavaad) | Thank you (formal) |
बहुत धन्यवाद (bahut dhanyavaad) | Thank you very much (formal) |
मैं आभारी हूं (Main Ābhārī Hōṅ”) | I am grateful |
शुक्रिया (Shukriyaa) | Thank you (informal) |
बहुत शुक्रिया (Bahut Shukriyaa) | Thank you very much (informal) |
थैंक्यू (Thaiṅkyū) | Thank you (very informal) |
10. Russian: Спасибо (Spasibo)
Russian people express gratitude in a variety of beautiful, complex ways. Спасибо does the job most of the time. Спасибки (cheers) is great for close friends. Большое спасибо (a big thank you) and Огромное спасибо (a massive thank you) convey different levels of gratitude. Спасибо от всего сердца и души (thank you from the bottom of my soul) is the most poetically grateful a person can be. Greet the day and learn how to say “hello” in Russian.
Russian | English |
Спасибо | Thanks/thank you |
Спасибки | Cheers |
Спасибочки | Thank you very much |
Большое спасибо | A big thank you |
Огромное спасибо | A massive thank you |
Благодарю Bac | I offer you blessings |
Благодарю от всей души | I am very grateful |
Спасибо от всего сердца и души | Thank you from the bottom of my soul |
Я очень обязан Вам | I am in your debt |
Вы очень добры | You are very kind |
11. Ukrainian: Дякую (Dyakuyu)
Дякую is the catch-all thank you in Ukrainian. Дуже дякую (thank you very much), Щиро дякую (sincerely thank you), and Сердечно дякую (thank you from my heart) convey different levels of gratitude. There are three versions of “I am grateful” depending on who you are thanking: feminine (Я дуже вдячна), masculine (Я дуже вдячний), and plural (Я дуже вдячні).
Ukrainian | English |
Дякую | Thank you |
Дуже дякую | Thank you very much |
Щиро дякую | Sincerely thank you |
Сердечно дякую | Thank you from my heart |
Я дуже вдячна | I am grateful (feminine) |
Я дуже вдячний | I am grateful (masculine) |
Я дуже вдячні | I am grateful (plural) |
12. Greek: ευχαριστώ (efcharistó)
Greek culture is known for hospitality and good spirits. Show your appreciation for that hospitality with a Ευχαριστώ (Efcharistó) from the heart. The most important thing to keep in mind when thanking people in Greek is the difference between formal and informal versions. Like many other languages, Greek has two versions of the pronoun “you:” singular informal and plural/formal—like tu and usted in Spanish or tu and vous in French. To thank a group of people or someone older or in a position of authority, add the pronoun σας (sas). So Ευχαριστώ becomes σας ευχαριστώ (sas efcharistó) and ευχαριστώ πολύ (efcharistó poli) becomes σας ευχαριστώ πολύ (sas efcharistó poli).
Greek | English |
Ευχαριστώ (Efcharistó) | Thanks |
σ’ ευχαριστώ (s’ efcharistó) | Thank you (informal) |
ευχαριστώ πολύ (efcharistó poli) | Thanks a lot (informal) |
ευχαριστώ πάρα πολύ (efcharistó para poli) | Thank you very much (informal) |
σας ευχαριστώ (sas efcharistó) | Thank you (formal) |
σας ευχαριστώ πολύ (sas efcharistó poli) | Thanks a lot (formal) |
σας ευχαριστώ πάρα πολύ (sas efcharistó para poli) | Thank you very much (formal) |
Είναι πολύ ευγενικό εκ μέρους σας (Íne polí evyenikó ek mérus sas) | That’s very kind of you |
Είμαι ευγνώμων (Eímai evgnómon) | I am grateful |
13. Hebrew: תודה (to-dah)
Hebrew is the only language that has been successfully brought back from the dead. It had gone extinct as a spoken language but continued to be used in writing. In the late 19th century, Jewish linguists started developing Modern Hebrew to bring it back. Today, Modern Hebrew is the official language of the State of Israel and is spoken by about nine million people. Even if you don’t know any other Hebrew, saying “thank you” is easy. תודה (to-dah) does the job in informal situations. There are two formal versions: one masculine and one feminine. If you are a man, use אני מודה לך (ani mode lecha). If you’re a woman, use אני מודה ל (ani moda lach).
Hebrew | English |
תודה (to-dah) | Thank you |
תודה רבה (toh-dah rah-bah) | Thank you very much |
אני מודה לך(ani mode lecha) | Thank you (formal, masculine) |
(ani moda lach) אני מודה | Thank you (formal, feminine) |
14. Dutch: Dankjewel
Since Dutch is similar to English, the word Dankjewel feels comfortable to many English speakers. But it’s not the only way to thank someone. Dutch culture is pretty informal, so you’ll probably use and hear variations on “thanks” like dankje, bedankt, and superbedankt most often. The formal phrases at the bottom of the table like hartelijk dank, dank u zeer, and bij voorbaat dank are useful if you’re working with Dutch people.
Dutch | English |
Dankjewel | Thank you |
Dankje | Thanks |
Bedankt | Thanks |
Echt heel erg bedankt | Really thank you very much |
Superbedankt | Super thanks |
Dank jullie wel | Thank you all |
Hartelijk dank | Hearty thanks |
Dank u zeer | Thank you very much |
Bij voorbaat dank | Thank you in advance |
Alvast bedankt | Thanks in advance |
15. Swedish: Tack
Swedish is a logical, minimalist language, but there are still many ways to express gratitude. When in doubt, use tack. Tack så mycket, stort tack, and tack ska du ha are all options for adding emphasis. “A thousand thanks” makes another appearance with tusen tack. Swedes even avoid the “no problem/you’re welcome” debate with tack, tack, or “thanks for your thanks.”
Swedish | English |
Tack | Thank you |
Tack så mycket | Thank you very much |
Tackar | Thanks |
Tusen tack | A thousand thanks |
Stort tack | Thank you so much |
Tack ska du ha | Thanks a lot |
Tack, tack | Thanks for your thanks |
Tack på förhand | Thanks in advance |
16. Irish Gaelic: go raibh maith agat
Irish Gaelic almost died off, but thanks to revitalization efforts, including online courses, Irish people at home and abroad are learning it to get in touch with their roots. The main way to thank one person is go raibh maith agat. The equivalent of thanking multiple people is go raibh maith agaibh. Agat is the singular you and agaibh is the plural you. Since Irish culture loves poetry, the literal translation is “may you have goodness.” It’s also not as long as it looks because native speakers don’t enunciate every sound.
Irish | English |
Go raibh maith agat | Thank you (to one person) |
Go raibh maith agaibh | Thank you (to more than one person) |
Buíochas | Thanks |
Míle buíochas | Many thanks |
Go raibh míle maith agat | May you have a thousand good things |
Go méadaí Dia thú | May God make you prosper |
17. Portuguese (Brazil): Obrigado
Obrigado/Obrigada is the Portuguese word for “thank you,” but it literally translates to “I am obliged.” In Portuguese, the words for “thank you” depend on the speaker’s gender. If you’re a man, use the version that ends in “o.” If you’re a woman, use the version that ends in “a.” This also applies to the variations for different situations. Rosetta Stone’s Portuguese course follows the Brazilian dialect because the country has a higher population than Portugal. Portugal has 10 million speakers of its native tongue while Brazil has 200 million speakers. Take your learning further with these Brazilian Portuguese conversational phrases.
Brazilian Portuguese | English |
Obrigado | Thank you (masculine) |
Obrigada | Thank you (feminine) |
Brigado | Thanks (masculine, informal) |
Brigada | Thanks (feminine, informal) |
Agradecido | Thank you (masculine, formal) |
Agradecida | Thank you (feminine, formal) |
Valeu | Thanks (slang) |
18. Latin: Grātiās tibi agō
As in most languages, there are several ways to say “thank you” in Latin—formal, informal, singular, and plural. The most common phrase, grātiās tibi agō, means “I give thanks to you,” or literally, “thanks to you I give.” You’d use this phrase when you’re thanking one person. If you’re thanking multiple people, you’d say grātiās vōbīs agō.
If you want to thank someone “very much,” you can say grātiās maximās tibi agō. For a more informal way to thank someone in Latin, Benigne simply means “kindly.”
Latin | English |
Grātiās tibi agō | Thank you (one person) |
Grātiās vōbīs agō | Thank you (two people) |
Grātiās maximās tibi agō | Thank you very much (one person) |
Grātiās maximās vōbīs agō | Thank you very much (two people) |
Benigne | Thank you (informal) |
Grātiam habeō | I’m grateful |
19. Tagalog (Filipino): Salamat
Filipino culture is known for hospitality and kindness, and thanking a Filipino person in Tagalog is a small way to show that kindness in return. Salamat is the basic, informal thank you. Adding maraming once means you’re very grateful. You can even add it twice for your most grateful moments. Adding po makes any phrase formal, particularly for speaking to anyone older or in a position of authority.
Tagalog | English |
Salamat | Thank you (informal) |
Salamat po | Thank you (formal) |
Maraming salamat | Thank you very much (informal) |
Maraming salamat po | Thank you very much (formal) |
Maraming-maraming salamat | Thank you very very much |
Maraming salamat po sa inyo | Many thanks to you (formal) |
20. Vietnamese: Cảm ơn
Expressing gratitude in Vietnamese culture has a lot of nuance. Cảm ơn does the job for strangers and informal situations like customer service and asking for directions. In formal situations, it’s customary to add a personal pronoun for the person you are addressing. They are:
- Ông: sir, used for men over 50
- Bà: ma’am, used for women over 50
- Anh: used for men under 50 and boys
- Chi: used for women under 50
- Cô: used for girls
If you’re not sure which one to use, you can still show respect with xin cảm ơn.
Vietnamese | English |
Cảm ơn | Thank you |
Cảm ơn ông | Thank you, sir |
Cảm ơn bà | Thank you, ma’am |
Cảm ơn anh | Thank you, young man |
Cảm ơn chi | Thank you, young lady |
Cảm ơn cô | Thank you, young girl |
Cảm ơn nhiều lắm | Thank you so much |
Xin cảm ơn | Thank you (formal) |
21. Indonesian (Bahasa): Terima kasih
Indonesian, also known as Bahasa, has a few different ways to show your gratitude to loved ones and strangers alike. Terima kasih is the most common way to say “thank you.” Makasih is a quick “thanks.” Adding ya to the end expresses gratitude to those closest to you. Like the Japanese sankyu, an English loanword became an ultra-casual way to thank your friends with thanks ya.
Indonesian | English |
Terima kasih | Thank you |
Makasih | Thanks |
Makasih ya | Thanks (familiar) |
Thanks ya | Thank you (casual) |
Terima kasih banyak | Thank you very much |
Makasih banyak | Thanks a lot |
22. Thai: ขอบคุณ (khoob-khun)
Thai is a difficult language for English speakers to learn, but expressing gratitude is more straightforward than you’d think. That makes saying “thank you” a relatively easy way to make an effort and show respect. There are gendered versions for formal situations. So, ขอบคุณ (khoob-khun) becomes ขอบคุณครับ (khoob-khun krab) if you’re a man and ขอบคุณค่ะ (khoob-khun ka) if you’re a woman. To be extra polite when you’re thanking an elder, put your palms together as if to pray or bow.
Thai | English |
ขอบคุณ (khoob-khun) | Thank you (neutral) |
ขอบคุณค่ะ (khoob-khun ka) | Thank you (feminine) |
ขอบคุณครับ (khoob-khun krab) | Thank you (masculine) |
ขอบคุณนะ (khoob-khun na) | Thank you (informal) |
ขอบใจ (khoob-jai) | Thanks (very informal) |
ขอบคุณจริงๆ (khoob-khun jing-jing) | I truly thank you |
ขอบใจโครต (khoob-jai khood) | Thanks a lot |
ซึ้งใจ (sueng-jai) | I am touched |
คุณใจดีจัง (khun jai-dii jang) | You’re so kind |
23. Farsi (Persian): متشکرم (moteshkaram)
Persian culture values hospitality and humility, so saying “thank you” in Farsi is an easy way to show respect for both. متشکرم (moteshkaram) is the most common way to say thank you. مرسی (mersi), a loanword from French, is less formal. دست شما درد نکنه (Daste shomā dard nakone), which literally means “may your hand not hurt,” is a poetic way to express gratitude for a gift. When a Persian person compliments you, it’s not customary to accept the compliment, but to deflect it with قربان شما (Ghorbāne shomā), literally “your sacrifice.”
Farsi | English |
متشکرم (moteshkaram) | Thank you |
(Sepās-gozāram) سپاسگزارم | I am grateful |
(mersi) مرسی | Thank you (informal) |
(Daste shomā dard nakone) دست شما درد نکنه | May your hand not hurt |
(Kheili lotf dārid) خیلی لطف دارید | That’s very kind of you |
(Ghorbāne shomā ) قربان شما | Literally “your sacrifice;” response to compliments |
24. Turkish: Teşekkür Ederim
Teşekkür Ederim most directly translates to “thank you,” but it’s not the only way Turkish people express gratitude. Teşekkürler and sağ ol are both options for “thanks.” The latter is very informal and literally means “stay healthy.” Çok Naziksiniz (that’s very kind of you) and Çok Düşüncelisiniz (that’s very thoughtful of you) are often used in formal situations. They even have a version of “thanks” associated with masculinity, eyvallah.
Turkish | English |
Teşekkür Ederim | Thank you |
Teşekkürler | Thanks |
Sağ ol | Thanks (informal) |
Çok Naziksiniz | That’s very kind of you |
Çok Düşüncelisiniz | That’s very thoughtful of you |
Eyvallah | Thanks (mostly used by men) |
25. Polish: Dziękuję
Polish expressions of gratitude are pretty straightforward. There’s dziękuję for “thank you,” dzięki for “thanks,” bardzo dziękuję/dziękuję bardzo for “thank you very much,” and wielkie dzięki for “thanks a lot.” To say thank you for something specific, add it after the word za, and say it in the accusative case. For example, dzięki za wszystko is “thanks for everything.” Keep your lessons going as you learn to say hello in Polish, along with other greetings.
Polish | English |
Dziękuję | Thank you |
Dzięki | Thanks |
Bardzo dziękuję | Thank you very much |
Dziękuję bardzo | Thank you very much |
Wielkie dzięki | Thanks a lot |
Dzięki za wszystko | Thanks for everything |
Learn up to 25 languages with Rosetta Stone
Now that you’ve learned how to say “thank you” in different languages, immerse yourself in the language that most interests you. With Rosetta Stone, you’ll learn more than just vocabulary words. You’ll learn the grammar, cultural context, and real-world applications of the words with our Dynamic Immersion method, which helps your brain connect images and words for a deeper understanding.
Start learning today!