How to say Thank You in English

THANK YOU!

We have to say Thank You several times a day… but did you know there are many ways of expressing the same two words?

Depending on your situation, it may be better to use one phrase instead of another.

Would you like to know how to say many other ways of saying thank you?

Of course, you would!

Read on and let’s find out what they are…

Thank You

There are a few ways we can say thank you while still using the same basic words.

Thank you so much

The same as saying thank you but a little stronger.

Thanks so much

Thanks a lot

A slightly more enthusiastic way of saying thank you.

Thanks a bunch!

Thanks a ton!

These are two informal ways of saying thank you. But more enthusiastic than just saying thank you.

Thanks!

Just a simple way of saying thank you — not overly polite, but still expressing gratitude.

Formal Ways of Saying Thank You

You may find yourself in a situation when you have to say thank you in a very polite and formal way.

Let’s look at some choices.

I’m so thankful for…

• I’m so thankful for all the help you have given me
• I’m so thankful for the flowers you sent

I really appreciate it

• Thank you for taking the time to show me how to use this app. I really appreciate it.
• Thank you for meeting me today. I really appreciate it.
• We add this phrase on to thank you to show more gratitude when someone helps you or gives you something.

Thank you ever so much for

• Thank you ever so much for all the hard work you have done.
• Thank you ever so much for the wonderful gifts you sent us.

You can use this phrase if you want to express gratitude in a much bigger way. This is much more than just a simple thank you.

Many thanks for…

• Many thanks for your kind words this evening.
• Many thanks for coming tonight.

This is still a very sincere way of saying thank you that you can use in all formal situations.

I’m so grateful for…

• I’m so grateful for all you have done recently.
• I’m so grateful for the fruit you gave us.

This phrase is very heartfelt. It shows much gratitude to the person hearing it.

I truly appreciate…

• I truly appreciate everything you have done for me.
• I truly appreciate the way you helped us this evening.

You can use this phrase to show that you are very grateful.

You shouldn’t have

• Oh, you shouldn’t have!

This phrase literally means you should not have done the things you did!

We can use it in all formal situations and is extremely polite.

Thank you for going through the trouble to…

Thank you for taking the time to…

Thank you for taking the trouble to …

• Thank you for going through the trouble to call all the guests this past week.
• Thank you for going through all the trouble to bring me the fruit.
• Thank you for taking the time to talk to the hotel about our booking.

If someone has performed a task that takes up much of their time — like calling people, going to the shops to buy something — then you can use one of these phrases.

You are saying that the person had a little trouble by using their time, and you are expressing many thanks this way.

I couldn’t have done it without you!

• Thank you for helping me send the emails. I couldn’t have done it without you!
• Thank you for driving me to the train station. I couldn’t have done it without you!

You are literally saying; there is no way I could do this on my own, so thank you very much for helping me.

It is extremely polite.

I don’t know what to say!

You can just say this when you literally do not know how to express your gratitude.

Sometimes I simple thank you is not enough. So we use this phrase when we mean that we are very grateful.

It can be used in a strong, emotional way.

It’s so kind of you to…

• It’s so kind of you to look after my dog.
• It’s so kind of you to bring me the newspapers.

This phrase should be self-explanatory. We are simply saying that the person is very kind for helping us.

It is polite, and people respond well to it.

I can’t thank you enough

We can use this phrase to show we are very grateful for something someone has done or given us.

It means that a simple thank you is not sufficient.

How thoughtful

That’s very kind

You can use this phrase to express that the person is very kind and considerate. You are telling them they have good qualities.

It is formal and polite.

Informal Ways of Saying Thank You

Just as we have formal ways to say thank you, we also have very informal ways to express thanks too.

We can use these expressions with people we know or our friends or colleagues.

Cheers!

This is British English and is very common.

You can just replace thank you with cheers for most situations with people you know.

Thanks a bunch!

A bunch means a group of things together.

So this is just saying many thanks!

Thanks a million!

What would be better than one thank you?

A million thank you’s!

This is a little joke that you can use when saying thank you. People like it as it is very friendly and heartfelt.

You’re the best!

You rock!

This is simply saying that the person you want to say thank you to is a very good person.

The best, in fact!

You rock means you are great, you are awesome.

It is very informal, but it also expresses great gratitude.

I owe you

I owe you one

If you use this phrase, it means that you now owe the person a favour next time.

So your friend helps you and you can say: I owe you.

This means that next time, you will help your friend.

You’re a gentleman and a scholar

This was a very formal expression, but now used informally.

It’s said as a little joke. You are saying that the person is of very good quality.

People like to hear it, it brings a smile to their face.

Extremely Polite Ways of Saying Thank You

We also have phrases that we can use to say thank you in an extremely polite way.

You can use these in more formal situations. If you are talking to someone very important or where you want to make a good impression — use these phrases.

What would I do without you?

I can’t thank you enough

I cannot thank you enough

Words cannot describe how grateful I am

I want you to know how much I value… (what you have done/your help/your kind words/etc)

I’m eternally grateful

Please accept my deepest thanks

To say thank you is not enough

You can simply replace the words thank you with these phrases above.

Professional Thank You’s

You might need to say thank you in the workplace, at work, or in a business meeting.

These phrases are especially useful.

Thank you for your assistance with

• Thank you for your assistance with the French contract.
• Thank you for your assistance with our marketing.

Thank you for your attention to this matter

This is used to say thank you in a very sincere way. It is used in very formal, professional situations.

This phrase can also be used in written correspondence, such as an email or a letter.

Your support is greatly appreciated

Thank you for your kind consideration

Your support is greatly appreciated

These phrases are seldom used in spoken English but can often be used in written English.

They are very formal and often used in professional correspondence.

I’d like to express my/our appreciation/gratitude for…

• I’d like to express my appreciation for all the hard work you have done.
• I’d like to express our gratitude for coming here today.

You can use these phrases in spoken English. Often used in a public meeting to express thank you in front of other people.

Phrases that you can add after saying Thank You

You made my day

I really appreciate it

I’m touched

You’re the best!

You’re awesome!

You rule!

You rock!

I owe you one

Often in English, we say thank you, then add another phrase after to show how grateful we are.

These phrases can all be used this way.

• Thank you! You’re the best!
• Thank you! You rule!
• Thank you! I owe you one!
• Thank you! I’m touched!

The second phrase shows how sincere we are, and it is often polite to say this.

How to Reply or Respond to Thank You

Just as we can express thank you in many ways, there are also many ways we can reply or respond to it.

These are some very common phrases.

You’re welcome

Anytime

That’s all right

Not at all

You got it

No worries

Don’t mention it

It’s nothing/It was nothing

It’s my pleasure/My pleasure

Not a problem

I’m happy to help/Happy to help

Sure

You can use all of these, mostly in informal situations.

The most common and well-known phrase to use is: You’re welcome.

Conclusion

So that is a lot of phrases for you to practise.

The best way to learn these phrases is to use them whenever you can.

You can do this by setting up a role play with your classmates or friends. That way you can try out all the phrases in different situations.

Another thing you can try is to learn a new way to say Thank You and try it out in real life.

So for example, you learn the phrase: Thanks a million!

Now you can try this out in the shop, the supermarket, with your teacher, your classmates — everywhere you go.

The more you use the new phrases in your own daily life, the quicker you will remember them.

Good luck!

And let me know your thoughts in the comments below…