thank you

7 synonyms for thank you, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Interjection — A polite expression used to acknowledge a gift, favour, service or kindness.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

thanks

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

cheers ta gratitude

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

much obliged many thanks acknowledgement

Synonyms by Meaning

1. interjection

A polite expression used to acknowledge a gift, favour, service or kindness.

“Thank you for driving me to the airport.”

thanks cheers much obliged ta many thanks

2. noun

An expression or gesture of gratitude.

“She sent a handwritten thank-you to every guest.”

acknowledgement gratitude thanks

How to use thank you

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

thank you very much thank you so much thank-you note thank-you card a big thank you

Neutral in every register. Adding "so much" or "very much" raises the warmth; a flat "thank you" delivered coldly can read as sarcastic or dismissive.

Etymology

From Middle English thanke yow; as with thank God, praise be to God, and praise the Lord, it was originally a present subjunctive form but is usually not parsed that way in current usage. It has also sometimes been parsed as a prodrop form of (present indicative) I thank you, a mechanism that may plausibly coexist with...

Full origin of thank you →

Frequently asked questions

Is it "thank you" or "thankyou"?

In standard English it is two words: thank you. "Thankyou" as a single word is a common misspelling, though it does appear informally in some Australian and British usage. Use the hyphenated "thank-you" only when it works as a noun or adjective, as in "a thank-you card".

What is the difference between "thank you" and "thanks"?

They mean the same thing, but "thank you" is slightly more formal and more emphatic, while "thanks" is casual and quicker. Use "thank you" in writing, with strangers, or when the favour was substantial; "thanks" is fine among friends and colleagues.

How do you reply to "thank you"?

The standard replies are "you're welcome", "no problem", "my pleasure" or simply "of course". In British English "not at all" and "don't mention it" are also common and slightly more formal.

People also searched

thanks cheers TA gratitude

Nearby words

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