The English language can be pretty challenging, including even the simplest expressions, such as giving thanks. That’s because there are many ways to say thank you, and you're welcome in English.
Each of these phrases has its own subtle nuance, depending on whom you're speaking with or what kind of occasion you're acknowledging.
The context in which you use each expression is extremely important to make it appropriate. You wouldn't want to use an excessively familiar phrase among colleagues at work, for instance, because it would sound too casual. And on the other hand, if a family member said one of those phrases to you, it could sound overly formal and even disrespectful.
Because of this, sometimes it's easy to forget how to thank someone in English, or you might realize you need to brush up on your skills.
That’s why in this article, we’ll give you a multitude of different ways to say “thank you” and “you’re welcome” in English, explaining the context. These examples give you a basic idea of when to use each phrase - but practicing them will help you put them into action with ease.
The importance of thank you in English
Learning to say “thank you” and “you're welcome” in English is essential for social skills and for your success, whether you're a native speaker or not. Here’s why.
1. It’s important to show gratitude.
If someone does something for you or gives you a gift, it's natural to say "thank you." It doesn't matter how big or small whatever they did for you is. Saying "thank you" shows that you appreciate their efforts. Knowing different English expressions to say “thank you” will make it easier for you to express your gratitude and appreciation appropriately in any situation.
2. It’s polite.
Of course, “thank you” is one of the first phrases our parents taught us when we were little kids. Why? Well, because saying “thank you” is simply polite - and being polite is essential in most cultures.
Still, it's especially so in English-speaking countries. The more polite words and phrases you know, the better your English will sound.
3. It’s a social norm.
Saying “thank you” is a basic necessity, no matter where you live. There are definite social expectations for doing so, and breaking those expectations can sometimes lead to misunderstandings.
In some countries, not saying “thank you” in certain situations means being rude. And you definitely don’t want to come off as a rude person!
How to say thank you in English
So, how do you give thanks to someone in English? By saying “thank you!” This expression is used when:
- someone gives you a gift;
- compliments you; or
- simply does something nice for you.
It’s also used in everyday situations, such as when the lady behind the counter hands you the change at the store.
A less formal way to say “thank you” in English is “thanks.” If you're expressing gratitude to someone you have a formal relationship with, such as your boss or the call center agent you’re talking to on the phone, then "thank you" is the polite way to do it. If you're thanking someone you know, such as a friend or your mum, the more informal version of "thanks" is the best option.
Here are 30+ ways to say thanks in English.
| English | Context |
|---|---|
| Thank you. | Usually in a formal setting, but it can be used in a casual setting. |
| Thanks. | In a casual setting, for example, to a friend. |
| Thank you very much. | Emphasizes how thankful you are. |
| No, thank you. | To politely decline something. |
| Okay, thank you. | To agree to a solution or offer. |
| Thank you, my friend. | To thank a friend. |
| Thanks a million. | To thank someone very much in a casual way. |
| Thanks a ton. | To thank someone very much in a casual way. |
| Thank you for everything. | To thank someone for their effort. |
| Thank you, have a nice day. | A polite way to end an exchange, for example, in an email or over the phone. |
| Thank you for your help. | To thank someone for helping you. |
| Thank you for coming. | To thank someone for attending an event. |
| Many thanks. | Informal way to express thanks. |
| Thank you, sir. | To thank someone you don’t know. |
| Thank you for your business. | To thank a customer for doing business with you. |
| Thank you for the gift. | To thank someone for a gift. |
| Thank you for listening. | To thank someone for lending an ear. |
| Thanks in advance. | To thank someone for something they will do for you. |
| Thank you for your service. | To thank a service person, such as a waiter or call center rep. |
| Thank you for the ride. | To thank someone for driving you, or to thank a taxidriver. |
| Thank you, brother. | To thank your brother, or to thank someone who’s like a brother to you. |
| Thank you, cousin. | To thank your cousin. |
| Thank you, sister. | To thank your brother, or to thank someone who’s like a sister to you. |
| I’m so grateful. | To express gratitude. |
| I appreciate it. | To express appreciation. |
| I can’t thank you enough. | To express deep gratitude. |
| That’s so kind of you. | To thank someone for something they did for you that they didn’t have to do. |
| You’ve been a big help. | To thank someone for their help. |
| I couldn’t have done it without you. | To express appreciation for someone’s help. |
| Much appreciated. | To casually express appreciation. |
| Much obliged. | To express gratititude. |
| I really appreciate your help. | To express appreciation. |
| I value your support. | A formal way to express appreciation. |
| Accept my endless gratitude. | A very formal way to express gratitude. |
| You’re a lifesaver! | A casual way to say how much someone has helped you. |
| You shouldn’t have! | To thank someone for something they did that you didn’t expect them to do. |
How to say thank you in English formally
When you’re in a formal setting, such as in a business meeting or when talking to your boss, you want to be very careful with the language you’re using to express yourself. While expressing your gratitude is essential, if you do it in a way that is not appropriate for a formal setting, you might come across as unprofessional.
To help you avoid these awkward situations, we’ve come up with 10 ways to formally say thank you in English.
| English | Context |
|---|---|
| Thank you. | General way to give thanks, appropriate in any situation. |
| Thank you very much. | General way to give thanks, appropriate in any situation. |
| I sincerely appreciate your help. | A formal way to express appreciation for someone’s help. |
| Please accept my deepest thanks. | A very formal way to give thanks; mostly used in official written correspondence. |
| I appreciate your assistance. | Used in a business setting to thank someone for their help. |
| Your assistance/work is sincerely appreciated. | Used in a business setting to thank someone for their assistance or work. |
| Thank you for your time. | Used in a business setting, for example, after a job interview. |
| Thank you for your feedback. | Used in a business setting, for example, after someone provided valuable feedback. |
| Thank you for your consideration. | Used in a business setting, for example, after being offered a job interview. |
| Thank you for your help. | A formal way to thank someone for their help. |
Ways to say thank you in casual English or English slang
Your English vocabulary can’t be complete unless you know a few useful expressions to say thank you in an informal setting. These expressions are used to express gratitude to friends, family members, or other people you have a casual relationship with. And if you’re looking for more American English slang expressions, we’ve got 321 of them right here.
Here are a few different casual thank you phrases and their contexts.
| English | Context | Country of use |
|---|---|---|
| Thanks. | A casual way to give thanks. | All |
| Many thanks! | A casual way to give thanks. | All |
| Thanks a ton. | A casual way to give thanks. | All |
| Thanks a million. | A casual way to give thanks. | All |
| Thanks a bunch. | A casual way to give thanks. | All |
| Appreciate it. | A casual way to express appreciation. | All |
| You’re the best. | To express gratitude for something someone did. | All |
| Cheers. | A casual way to give thanks in British or Australian English. | England, Australia |
| Cheers, mate. | A casual way to give thanks to a friend in British or Australian English. | England, Australia |
| Ta muchly. | Thank you very much in British slang. | England |
| Chur. | New Zealand’s slang word for “thank you”. | New Zealand |
Ways to say thank you in social media or messaging slang
Seeing a lot of THX, TY, and TGIF all over social media? Getting messages from your friends that look like an undecipherable code? Did you know that these are actually abbreviations of different “thank you” phrases?
If you didn’t, we understand! The older we get, the harder it becomes to keep up with the new social media and messaging abbreviations. But don’t despair! We’ve got you covered with this list of different ways to say “thank you” over the text.
| English | Context | Country of use |
|---|---|---|
| Thanx / thnx / thx | An abbreviation of “thanks” | All |
| Ty | An abbreviation of “thank you” | All |
| Tyty | Meaning “thank you, thank you”, as in thanking a crowd after giving a speech, but used in a text | All |
| Fnx | Short for “thanks” | All |
| Tysm | Abbreviation of “thank you very much” | England |
| Tgif | Abbreviation for “Thank God, it’s Friday!” | All |
| Kthx | Abbreviation for “ok, thanks” | All |
| Tyia | Abbreviation for “thank you in advance” | All |
| Nty | Abbreviation for “no, thank you” | All |
| Tysvm | Abbreviation for “thank you so very much” | All |
| Tyfe | Abbreviation for “thank you for everything” | All |
| Tyfj | Abbreviation for “thank you for joining”, used in gaming or virtual groups | All |
How to write a thank you note in English
In English-speaking countries, it’s customary - and polite - to send a thank-you note after receiving a gift. The same goes for showing appreciation for someone’s hospitality, such as when you stay in their home or enjoy a meal with them.
But how do you write a thank you note for different social situations? Here are some examples:
Example 1 - Business
Dear *name*,
Thank you so much for your time and valuable advice last week. I really appreciate everything you’ve done to help get this project moving forward.
Sincerely,
*your name*
Example 2 - Thank you note to a friend or family member
Dear *name*,
How are you? I just wanted to say thanks so much for your help! I couldn’t have done this without you.
Love you,
*your name*
Example 3 - Thank you note for a gift
Dear *name*,
I received your gift. It’s lovely! Thank you so much for remembering my birthday. I truly appreciate it.
All the best,
*your name*
Example 4 - Thank you note for a teacher
Mrs./Mr. *name*,
With this short note, I wanted to thank you for your assistance and advice throughout the academic year. I’m truly grateful for such an amazing teacher.
Please accept my deepest thanks.
Regards,
*your name*
Thanks pronunciation
Let's make pronouncing 'thanks' and 'thank you' a breeze! Correct pronunciation is key to sounding natural in English. For a visual demonstration and more tips, be sure to check out our video mini lesson on mastering 'thanks' pronunciation. Happy practicing!
Other words for grateful
When someone does something nice for you, it's a good idea to let them know you appreciate their efforts. The word "grateful" is one of the best ways to express your appreciation.
Here are seven different expressions and synonyms of gratitude and appreciation in English:
- I am grateful to you.
- I am indebted to you.
- I’m obliged.
- I’m thankful.
- I appreciate it.
- I’m really appreciative of what you did.
- I can't thank you enough.
How to say you’re welcome in English
In English, “you're welcome” means "you don't owe me anything for what I did" and is the polite way to reply when someone thanks you. Another way to phrase it is "no problem."
The correct way to spell it is “you’re welcome” or “you are welcome” without the contraction. The different spellings you might see on the internet (especially on social media and chats), such as your welcome or youre welcome, are incorrect.
Here are 20 ways to say you’re welcome in English.
| English | Context |
|---|---|
| You’re welcome. | Both formal and informal |
| You’re very welcome. | Formal |
| No problem. | Informal |
| No worries. | Informal |
| Of course, no problem. | Both formal and informal |
| My pleasure. | Both formal and informal |
| Don’t mention it. | Informal |
| Sure thing. | Informal |
| Happy to help. | Both formal and informal |
| You got it! | Informal |
| Not a problem. | Informal |
| Anytime! | Informal |
| Don’t give it a second thought. | Informal |
| The pleasure is all mine. | Formal |
| Glad I could be of assistance. | Formal, business setting |
| It was nothing. | Slightly casual |
| Absolutely. | Informal |
| No thanks are necessary. | Formal, business setting |
| Certainly. | Formal, business setting |
| Always glad to help. | Formal |
Learn to say thank you in English with songs
Songs are a great way to memorize new vocabulary! They are catchy, fun, and can brighten your day. Plus, dedicating a song to someone who’s truly important to you can be an excellent way to express your gratitude to them.
Here are a few songs in English that you can use to express gratitude:
- Dido - Thank you
- Alanis Morrissette - Thank U
- Abba - Thank you for the music
- Bon Jovi - Thank you for loving me
- Shania Twain - Thank you baby
Thank you for reading!
If you’ve come this far - congrats! With 90+ expressions to say thank you, and you’re welcome in English, you’re now prepared to appropriately express your gratitude and give thanks in any social situation.
We hope that this blog article was truly helpful to you, and we’re grateful that you took the time to read it.
If you enjoyed this article, then remember to check out more English blog vocabulary lessons on our learn English blog.
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