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One word, 26 languages

Thank you in 26 languages

English speakers say thank you constantly – to bus drivers, baristas and their own family. Travel a little and that habit starts to stand out. In Mandarin, thanking close relatives can sound oddly formal, and in German a quick “Danke” to an offer usually means no. Below you can hear the word in 26 languages, spelled out for English readers, followed by the points English speakers tend to trip over.

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Spanish

gracias

GRAH-see-ahs

Thank you

One word, 26 languages

  • شُكْرًاSHOOK-rahn/ˈʃukran/Arabic
  • DankschönDAHNK-shurn/ˈdaŋkʃøːn/Austrian
  • благодаряblah-goh-dah-RYAH/blɐɡodɐˈrja/Bulgarian
  • 谢谢shyeh-shyeh/ɕjɛ˥˩ ɕjɛ/Chinese
  • hvalaHVAH-lah/ˈxʋaːla/Croatian
  • taktahk/tˢak/Danish
  • dank je weldahnk yuh VEL/ˈdɑŋk jə ˈʋɛl/Dutch
  • thank you/ˈθæŋk juː/English
  • kiitosKEE-toss/ˈkiːtos/Finnish
  • mercimair-SEE/mɛʁ.si/French
  • DankeDAHN-kuh/ˈdaŋkə/German
  • ευχαριστώef-khah-ree-STOH/efxariˈsto/Greek
  • grazieGRAHT-see-eh/ˈɡrattsje/Italian
  • ありがとうございますah-ree-gah-toh goh-zai-mahs/aɾiɡatoː ɡozaimasɨ/Japanese
  • 감사합니다kahm-sah-hahm-nee-dah/kam.sa.ham.ni.da/Korean
  • Dank didahnk dee/daŋk diː/Low German
  • takktahk/tɑk/Norwegian
  • dziękujęjen-KOO-yeh/d͡ʑɛŋˈkujɛ/Polish
  • obrigadooh-bree-GAH-doo/obɾiˈɡadu/Portuguese
  • mulțumescmool-tsoo-MESK/mult͡suˈmesk/Romanian
  • спасибоspah-SEE-bah/spɐˈsʲibə/Russian
  • graciasGRAH-see-ahs/ˈɡɾasjas/Spanish
  • tacktahk/tak/Swedish
  • شكراًSHOOK-ran/ˈʃukran/Syrian Arabic
  • teşekkürlerteh-shek-kewr-LEHR/teʃecːyɾˈleɾ/Turkish
  • дякуюDYAH-koo-yoo/ˈdʲakuju/Ukrainian

Formal, casual and everything in between

English softens or strengthens thanks with small add-ons: “thanks”, “thanks a lot”, “I really appreciate it”. Spanish does something similar with “muchas gracias”, and French with “merci beaucoup”.

Other languages build politeness into the word itself. In Japanese, “arigatō” is fine with friends, but strangers and colleagues get “arigatō gozaimasu”, which is the form in the table. Korean “gamsahamnida” is polite and safe everywhere, while “gomawo” is for friends. In Mandarin, “xièxie” works in shops and restaurants, but among family a simple nod often does the job.

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Pronunciation tips for English speakers

The respellings in the table use English sound patterns, with the stressed syllable in capitals. Watch the vowels: Italian “grazie” has a clear “ah” and a “ts” sound in the middle – GRAHT-see-eh, not “grassy”.

Mandarin “xièxie” starts with a sound between “sh” and “s”, and the first syllable falls sharply in pitch. Spanish “gracias” uses a single tapped r, much like the tt in American “butter”.

Mistakes English speakers often make

The most common slip is stress. English speakers tend to push the first syllable, which is right for “GRAH-see-ahs” but wrong for Russian “spa-SEE-ba” and Turkish “teşekkürler”, which leans on the last syllable. Turkish “ü” is not “oo” either: round your lips as for “oo”, then say “ee”.

The second is context. Answering “Möchten Sie noch Kaffee?” with “Danke” in German usually turns the coffee down – the opposite of a cheerful English “thanks”. Say “ja, bitte” if you want more.

Short everyday dialogues

At a market stall in Lisbon

  • VendorAqui tem o troco.Here’s your change.
  • YouObrigado, bom dia!Thanks, have a good day!

In a taxi in Seoul

  • Driver다 왔습니다.We’re here.
  • You감사합니다!Thank you!

At a guesthouse in Kraków

  • HostŚniadanie jest o ósmej.Breakfast is at eight.
  • GuestDziękuję bardzo.Thank you very much.

At a tram stop in Vienna

  • Passer-byDie Linie 2 hält gleich da drüben.The number 2 stops just over there.
  • YouVielen Dank!Thanks so much!
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Frequently asked questions

How do you say thank you in Korean?
The safe, polite form is “감사합니다” (gamsahamnida). With friends or younger people you can use “고마워” (gomawo).
What is the most polite way to say thank you in Japanese?
“Arigatō gozaimasu” is polite in almost every situation. In very formal settings you may also hear “dōmo arigatō gozaimasu”.
How do you pronounce “merci” correctly?
Say “mair-SEE”, with the stress on the second syllable and the r made softly at the back of the throat rather than with the tongue.

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