Je vous remercie is the long way to say thank you It’s the difference between saying merci to the barista who makes your coffee and merci mille fois to the coworker who just covered your shift. Mille is actually a thousand in French but it’s the same sentiment. In English, you might say “thanks a million” to be effusive about the depth of your appreciation. What’s to worry about? Merci bien is sometimes used sarcastically in the same way “thanks a lot!” might be tacked onto a complaint to needle the recipient into feeling guilty over a faux pas. Beaucoup means “a lot,” so this French phrase roughly translates to “thanks very much” or “thanks a lot.” Merci bien is a French phrase to watch out forĪs you might have guessed, merci bien is literally “well” or “good” and seems to imply something positive. It also implies a bit more gratitude and thoughtfulness than the shortened version.
Get more genuine with merci beaucoupĪs you’ll discover from your French lessons, merci beaucoup is quite versatile and can be used in almost any context. If you’re trying to express a more profound sense of appreciation, you’ll want to be more specific to the situation. While this French word is a common way to say thank you in French that works for just about any audience, it can also come off perfunctory and cold. You’ll hear merci often, from the airport to the hotel and back again. Merci is short, simple but not always on point Here are eight ways to extend thanks in French, along with the contextual cues to be aware of before offering an expression of your gratitude.
With this immersive method, the next time you thank your French cab driver or accept an invitation into someone’s home in France, you’ll know just what to say. That’s why Rosetta Stone encourages learners to study and practice French words in context. However, not all forms of thanks are appropriate for every setting, no matter how sincere. Whether you’re passing through a door that someone has held open or been the recipient of a favor or gift, knowing different French phrases to communicate your gratitude lends a certain je ne sais quoi. However, if you’d like to win friends in France and earn the respect of native speakers, you’ll want to branch out and find other ways to extend your thanks. It’s likely you’re familiar with the most basic way to say “thank you,” the French word merci. Expressing gratitude is a universal sentiment, but it holds a special place in the French language where social niceties are an integral part of the culture.