Thank you in Spanish is gracias. In most of Spain it sounds like "GRAH-thyahs"; in Latin America and the Canary Islands, "GRAH-syahs". For more feeling, say muchas gracias (thank you very much) or muchísimas gracias. To name the reason, use por: gracias por la cena, thanks for dinner. The standard reply is de nada.
- Thank you
- gracias
- Thank you very much
- muchas gracias
- Thanks for…
- gracias por…
- Formal
- se lo agradezco
- Level
- A1
How do you say thank you very much in Spanish?
Gracias on its own is never rude, and Spanish speakers say it all day: to waiters, drivers and anyone who holds a door. To turn it up, Spanish adds a word in front rather than after.
| Spanish | English | Feel |
|---|---|---|
| Gracias | Thank you, thanks | Everyday; fits anyone |
| Muchas gracias | Thank you very much | Warm, still everyday |
| Muchísimas gracias | Thank you so much | Strong gratitude |
| Mil gracias | A thousand thanks | Informal, enthusiastic |
| Gracias, muy amable | Thank you, that's very kind | Polite; good with strangers |
| Te lo agradezco | I really appreciate it | Sincere, to someone you call tú |
| Se lo agradezco | I really appreciate it | The usted version |
Often it is a quick word in passing. A courier hands over a parcel in Madrid:
Javier sonríe, dice "gracias" y cierra la puerta.How do you say thank you for something?
Use gracias por followed by a noun or a verb in the infinitive. It is always por, never para. To talk about thanking someone, rather than doing it, Spanish says dar las gracias (to give thanks) or uses the verb agradecer.
Gracias por todo.
Thanks for everything.
Gracias por venir.
Thanks for coming.
Muchas gracias por tu ayuda.
Thank you very much for your help.
Le agradezco mucho su paciencia.
I am very grateful for your patience.
Formal, usted.
Gracias de antemano.
Thanks in advance.
Common in emails.
Dar las gracias turns up when a choir director thanks the plumber who has rushed in late:
Marina le dio las gracias y le pidió que abriera la puerta con sus herramientas.Why does gracias sound different in Spain?
In most of Spain, c before e or i is pronounced like the th in "think", so gracias is "GRAH-thyahs". Latin America, the Canary Islands and parts of Andalusia pronounce it as an s: "GRAH-syahs". Both are correct Spanish, and everyone understands both. Contos follows Spain Spanish, but you do not need to switch accents to be understood anywhere.
The final s matters too. Gracias ends in s even when you thank one person; the singular gracia means grace or charm, and me hace gracia means "I find it funny".
How do you reply when someone thanks you?
De nada is the safe answer anywhere. If the other person has helped you as well, turn the thanks back with gracias a ti, or gracias a usted to someone you address formally.
Gracias a on its own means "thanks to" in the sense of "because of": gracias a ti, llegué a tiempo means thanks to you, I arrived on time. More replies are on the page on how to say you're welcome in Spanish.
Read A1 Spanish stories and tap any word, including every gracias, to see what it means.
Read free in your browserFrequently asked questions
How do you pronounce gracias?
In most of Spain, "GRAH-thyahs", with a th as in "think". In Latin America, "GRAH-syahs". The r is a single tap of the tongue, and the stress falls on the first syllable.
Is it gracias por or gracias para?
Gracias por. Por gives the reason you are grateful: gracias por el regalo (thanks for the present), gracias por llamar (thanks for calling).
What does mil gracias mean?
Literally "a thousand thanks". It is an informal, enthusiastic thank you, similar to thanks a million.
How do you say thank you to a group?
Gracias works for any number of people. To thank a group of friends for something in Spain, say gracias a todos or os lo agradezco (vosotros). In Latin America, les agradezco.
What does no, gracias mean?
No, thank you. It is the polite way to refuse an offer. To accept, say sí, gracias or sí, por favor.