Phrases for thanking someone in English
This is a list of phrases for showing appreciation or gratitude to someone in English.
Light "thank you" phrases
If someone does something small for you, you can say:
Thanks.
Thank you.
It's common to follow "Thanks" with a person's name or a word to address them:
Thanks darling.
Thanks Ben!
Appreciate it!
It's not often used in American English, but English speakers in Britain and Australia often say:
Cheers.
More serious English "Thank you's"
When someone really goes out of their way to help you, you can use one of these expressions to show a deeper level of gratitude:
Thank you so much.
This is less formal but expresses a lot of emotion:
Thank you so, so much for coming.
You might think that this phrase would express deep thanks, but it's not exactly used that way:
Thank you very much.
Actually, people often use this for simple polite interactions like when a waiter brings your food.
You can also use it when you're angry with someone:
I can do it just fine by myself, thank you very much.
Formal expressions of thanks
Here's a formal phrase to use in situations like when you're writing a card to someone:
I'm so thankful for having you in my life.
The emotion that this phrase expresses is really strong.
Another phrase which is also formal but not as emotional are these:
I want to thank you for all the support you've given me during my time here.
I appreciate all of your help.
These phrases are good to use in various situations at work.
Responding to "thank-you's"
When someone thanks you, it's polite to respond in some way. Depending on how serious the "thank you" is, you can respond with one of the phrases below:
Sure.
No sweat.
No problem.
You're welcome.
Don't worry about it.
Don't mention it.
You're quite welcome.
No, not at all.
It's my pleasure.
It's the least I could do.
This list is arranged roughly in order of seriousness, meaning that the most serious responses are at the end.
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