Remember the “magic words” your nursery school teacher taught? The first one of them was surely ‘thank you.’
No matter where you are, a heartfelt expression of gratitude is always well-received. Saying ‘thank you’ still remains the purest form of appreciation that will never go out of style.
Different languages and locales express gratitude in different ways. So, culture enthusiasts, thinking of learning new languages? Why not start with ‘thank you,’ then?
Keep reading to find out how to say thank you in different languages. Make your expression of gratitude even more wholesome by using local words and the region’s language.
Thank You in European Languages
With a population of more than 700 million, Europe is home to about 50 million native speakers. The European Union provides an official status to only one or two but 24 languages!
Here is your guide to saying thank you in the different languages spoken on this continent.
1. German
German is one of the most widely used European languages. Although you will find a considerable English-speaking population in Germany, using the word danke instead of your regular thank you will always be received kindly.
Apart from Germany, a vielen dank u or thank you very much will also put you in the good books of locals in Austria, Belgium, and Luxembourg.
2. French
Who doesn’t harbor a secret admiration for the French and their language? Mastery of this beautiful language is a dream for many.
The French will surely appreciate a merci or merci beaucoup to show gratitude. Plus, what’s better than having one’s culture truly appreciated?
3. Russian
Russia has quite a bit of its landmass falling under the territory of Europe. Being the largest country in the world, it is only natural to find Russian speakers aplenty.
Most native Russian speakers cannot speak English. Therefore, a thoughtful spasiba (pronunciation: spuh see buh) will go a long way. Keep this in mind when in Belarus as well!
4. Italian
Apart from being the local language of Italy, Italian is of utmost religious importance on the world stage as it is also the official language of Vatican City.
True, Italy has offered the world one of the most delectable cuisines and a lush way of life. So when in Rome, do as the Romans do and say grazie (pronunciation: grahts yeh) instead of thank you!
5. Spanish
Spain has to be the most popular travel destination in Europe, and rightly so. If you still need more reason to learn this language, it enjoys official status in 20 other countries apart from Spain and is the second most spoken native language in the world.
To say thank you in Spanish, we use gracias. This is very close to its Italian counterpart, Grazie.
6. Dutch
Dutch is mainly spoken in the Netherlands and enjoys official status in Belgium. Although it is one of the less popular languages, it is very easy to learn for speakers of any foreign language, especially English.
Thank you in Dutch is called bedankt. Planning a vacation to Amsterdam? Do use this word to say thank you!
7. Turkish
Turkish is one of the dominant languages in the Eastern part of Europe. This one is different from the other languages spoken in Europe in many unique ways.
The Turkish culture is the perfect blend of European and Asian ones. Be sure to learn some Turkish words for regular use to soak in the full essence of this one-of-a-kind place. Teşekkür ederim is used to say thank you in Turkish.
8. Greek
If you thought that Greek is a language you can study about only in History textbooks, we might have a surprise for you. In its modern form, this language is the official language of Greece and Cyprus.
Up for an enriching cultural experience in Greece? Here’s a phrase that might help. Use efharisto (pronunciation: ef hah rees toh) to say thank you in Greek.
9. Danish
Ok, this might be a language not everybody has heard of. Danish is the local language of Denmark and is also spoken in parts of Germany and some Scandinavian countries.
Denmark falls on the list of off-beat travel destinations. So if you ever plan a trip here, use tak skal du instead of thank you.
10. Croatian
Tucked away along the coastline of the Adriatic Sea, Croatia is a hidden gem in its truest sense. If you plan to stop by this hidden beauty on your Europe trip, remember the important phrases. The expression for thank you is hvah lah.
As in most other countries, make sure to say hvah lah in the friendliest way possible while interacting with the locals.
Thank You in Asian Languages
On this journey of learning how gratitude is expressed worldwide, it’s only natural we spend the most time in the largest continent, Asia.
Asia is the haven of myriad cultures, multiple languages, and exotic cuisines. Even a basic understanding of this wonderland would tempt you into wanting to learn more about the magic it hides within. Why not start with learning a few words, then?
11. Mandarin
Mandarin is the native tongue of over a billion Asians. Apart from being one of the major Chinese languages, it is also comprehended well in Taiwan and Singapore.
Using the word xiexie ni instead of ‘thank you’ in these regions will surely create the best impression on the locals! Do take special care of the pronunciation.
12. Arabic
Arabic is largely spoken in the middle east and enjoys official status in more than 25 countries.
Arabic-speaking countries have many different ways to express gratitude depending upon the region, but shukran is the most commonly used expression.
13. Malay
Malay is originally from Malaysia but is used in various other countries in Southeast Asia. Knowing how to say just thank you in this language will surely resolve the bulk of your problems related to the language barrier.
The word for thank you in Malay or Bahasa, is Terima Kasih. What makes this phrase more beautiful is its literal meaning. While terima denotes acceptance, Kasih means love in this language. So the words Terima Kasih stands for accepting with love.
14. Japanese
Let’s be honest; haven’t we all wished to learn Japanese while watching anime? Japan is a great country both for travel and work, and the language’s acceptance in pop culture worldwide has seen a meteoric rise.
In Japanese, thank you is called arigato (pronunciation: ah ree gah toh). Doomo arigato gozaimasu (pronunciation: go Zai maas) translated to ‘thank you so very much and is the politest and most formal way to say thank you.
15. Korean
Hey there, K-popper and K-drama lover! We know you are obsessed with this language already. With the rise in the consumption of South Korean content, Korean has become a new language that non-native speakers across the globe are accepting.
The formal way to thank someone in Korean is by saying gamsahamnida or gomapseumnida.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNrleq6Xbb4
16. Hindi
Hindi is one of the many languages used in India. Interesting bit of trivia: did you know that most feature films produced annually are in this language?
The word for thank you in this language is dhanyavaad. Although India is home to a plethora of local and regional languages, Hindi is well-understood in the Northern and Western parts of the country which comes from Sanskrit and the southern part of India follows a Dravidian dialect.
17. Thai
Let’s admit it, Thailand is the first name that comes to our mind when mentioning Asia. This place has got something for everyone with picturesque beaches, intricate architecture, and breathtaking natural landscapes.
So for your Thai vacation, it would be helpful to learn how to say a few important phrases in their language. To say thank you in this language, you can use kap khun.
18. Hebrew
Hebrew is a language with rich historical and cultural value. It is spoken in its modern form in Israel, but its origin can be dated back to the 10th Century BCE! The word for thank you in Hebrew is toda (toh dah).
Thank You in American Languages
Although English is understood almost ubiquitously in America, why not explore some other languages as well?
19. Brazilian Portuguese
Brazil is a wanderlust paradise, from cultural and historical heritage to natural beauty. Brazilian Portuguese is one of the most widely understood languages here. Thank you! Brazilian Portuguese is called Obrigado (oh Bree gah dooh).
20. Hawaiian
Whether you are a sporty and adventurous person or a carefree and easy-going one, Hawaii will never disappoint you.
From water sports to pina Coladas, Hawaii offers the best beach experience one can ask for. For your Hawaii trip, do remember to use mahalo (ma ha lo) to say thank you!
Now that you know how to say thank you in different languages don’t forget to this your knowledge with your friends. How many languages can you speak? How is thank you said in your language? Tell us below and continue this process learning and gratitude continue!
Last Updated on by ritukhare