You're welcome in Spanish is de nada (deh NAH-dah), literally "of nothing". It suits every situation, from a friend to a customer. No hay de qué is a slightly more polished alternative, and a ti (or a usted) means "no, thank *you*" when you are grateful too. In parts of Latin America, por nada and con mucho gusto are common.
- You're welcome
- de nada
- Don't mention it
- no hay de qué
- Thank you (back)
- a ti / a usted
- My pleasure
- es un placer
- Level
- A1
What are the ways to say you're welcome in Spanish?
De nada is the one to learn first; it is never wrong. The others add a shade of meaning: shrugging off the favour, showing it was a pleasure, or pointing the thanks back at the other person.
| Spanish | Literally | Use it when |
|---|---|---|
| De nada | Of nothing | Any time; the default |
| No hay de qué | There is nothing to thank for | A little more polished |
| No es nada | It's nothing | Playing down a bigger favour |
| A ti / A usted | To you | You are grateful too: no, thank you |
| Gracias a ti | Thanks to you | Same idea, more emphatic |
| Es un placer | It is a pleasure | My pleasure; warm and polite |
Stress makes a difference with a ti. Said with weight on ti, it means "no, thank *you*", the natural reply when a shop assistant thanks you for your purchase and you thank them for their help.
How do people reply to gracias in Spain?
In Spain the reply is often quick and informal, sometimes so quick it is hardly a reply. Waving the thanks away is a way of being friendly.
De nada, hombre.
No problem, mate.
Casual, to a man; mujer to a woman. Common in Spain.
Nada, nada.
Oh, it's nothing.
Brushing off the thanks.
¡Faltaría más!
Don't mention it! / Of course!
Spain; roughly "of course, it's the least I could do".
A usted.
Thank you.
To a shopkeeper or waiter who has just thanked you.
How do you say you're welcome in Latin America?
De nada works everywhere, but you will hear other replies depending on the country, some of them very polite.
- Por nada: common in parts of Latin America, including Argentina and Uruguay.
- Con mucho gusto: with great pleasure; very common in Colombia and Costa Rica.
- A la orden: at your service; Colombia and Venezuela, often from shop staff.
- Para servirle: at your service; a formal reply heard in Mexico and Colombia.
What do learners get wrong about you're welcome?
The classic mistake is bienvenido. It does mean welcome, but only as in "welcome to my home" or "welcome to Madrid"; it is never a reply to gracias. Say de nada instead.
The other mix-up is with no pasa nada, which answers an apology rather than thanks. It means it doesn't matter, don't worry. On a Madrid commuter train, David spills his coffee over Marta's newspaper, and she shrugs it off:
Dice que no pasa nada, que es solo un periódico.For the thanks that come before all of this, see how to say thank you in Spanish.
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What does de nada literally mean?
Of nothing, or for nothing. It is short for something like "no need to thank me for anything", which is why it plays down the favour.
Is por nada correct Spanish?
Yes. It means the same as de nada and is common in parts of Latin America. In Spain, de nada is far more usual.
How do you say my pleasure in Spanish?
Es un placer, or just un placer. Con mucho gusto (with great pleasure) is also used, especially in Latin America.
Is no hay de qué formal?
It is a little more formal than de nada, but people use it with friends too. It means there is nothing to thank me for.
Can bienvenido mean you're welcome?
No. Bienvenido (or bienvenida, bienvenidos) means welcome as in a greeting to a guest or a new arrival. The reply to gracias is de nada.