How Do You Say Thank You in Different Languages Around the World

I still remember the moment clearly.

I was 19, exhausted, and dragging my backpack through a tiny mountain village in northern Thailand after a 14-hour bus ride.

An unless woman I’d never met before handed me a bowl of hot noodle soup and refused to take a single baht.

I fumbled for words, managed a shaky “khàwp khun khâ,” and her face broke into the warmest smile I’ve ever seen. In that instant, two strangers who shared no common spoken language understood each other perfectly.

That’s the magic of “thank you.”

It’s one of the shortest sentences in any language, yet it carries the weight of gratitude, respect, humility, and connection. No matter where you go, saying “thank you” is a tiny bridge between souls.

Today, let’s travel the world together—one heartfelt “thank you” at a time.

A Quick-Reference Table

Language	How to Say Thank You	Pronunciation (approx.)	Cultural Note
English	Thank you	–	Simple and direct; “thanks” is casual, “thank you very much” is more formal
French	Merci (mille fois)	mehr-SEE	“Mille fois” = a thousand times; very common to exaggerate gratitude
Spanish	Gracias	GRAH-see-ahs	In Spain, often doubled: “¡Gracias, gracias!”
Italian	Grazie (mille)	GRAHT-see-eh	“Grazie mille” = thanks a thousand; hand on heart is common
German	Danke (schön / sehr)	DAHN-keh	“Danke schön” is warmer; refusing thanks can be seen as polite in some areas
Portuguese	Obrigado (masc.) / Obrigada (fem.)	oh-bree-GAH-doo/dah	Gendered! The speaker’s gender changes the ending
Dutch	Dank je / Dank u	dahnk yuh / dahnk oo	“Je” = informal, “u” = formal or older person
Swedish	Tack	tahk	Can be repeated: “Tack, tack!” to show extra warmth
Russian	Спасибо (Spasibo)	spa-SEE-ba	Comes from “God save you”; very frequently used
Polish	Dziękuję	jen-KOO-yeh	Bowing the head slightly while saying it is polite
Arabic	شكراً (Shukran)	SHOOK-rahn	Often followed by “jazeelan” (very much); hand on heart is respectful
Hebrew	תודה (Todah)	toe-DAH	“Todah rabah” = thank you very much; big smiles expected
Turkish	Teşekkür ederim	tesh-ek-KEWR eh-deh-rim	Literally “I do gratitude”; shorter “Sağ ol” among friends
Mandarin Chinese	谢谢 (Xièxiè)	syeh-syeh	Doubling shows sincerity; never said to subordinates in traditional settings
Cantonese	唔該 (M̀h-gōi)	mm-goy	Also means “excuse me”; tone matters!
Japanese	ありがとうございます (Arigatō gozaimasu)	ah-ree-gah-toh go-zai-mass	Bowing depth changes with level of gratitude
Korean	감사합니다 (Gamsahamnida)	gam-sa-ham-ni-da	Formal; drop the “hamnida” among friends
Hindi	धन्यवाद (Dhanyavaad)	dhan-ya-vaad	Often paired with folded hands (namaste gesture)
Bengali	ধন্যবাদ (Dhonnobad)	dhon-no-baad	Very formal; “shukriya” (from Urdu/Persian) is also widely used
Thai	ขอบคุณครับ/ค่ะ (Khàwp khun khráp/khá)	kop-koon-krap/ka	Gender particle at the end; smile is mandatory
Vietnamese	Cảm ơn	kahm un	Add “nhiều” for “thank you very much”; nodding is polite
Indonesian	Terima kasih	teh-REE-mah KAH-see	Literally “receive love”; Muslim areas often use Arabic “syukron”
Swahili	Asante (sana)	ah-SAHN-teh	“Asante sana” = thank you very much; used across East Africa
Zulu	Ngiyabonga	ngee-ya-BON-ga	The “ng” is nasal; often repeated for emphasis
Yoruba	E se	eh SHEH	Literally “you have done”; tone rises warmly
Amharic (Ethiopia)	አመሰግናለሁ (Ameseginalehu)	ah-meh-seh-gi-NA-le-hu	Deeply respectful; used even for small things
Maori (New Zealand)	Kia ora / Tēnā koe	kee-ah OR-ah	“Kia ora” also means hello and wellbeing
Hawaiian	Mahalo	mah-HAH-lo	Often accompanied by the shaka hand sign
Cherokee	ᏩᏙ (Wado)	wah-doh	Simple and powerful; spoken with a slight nod
Samoan	Fa’afetai	fah-ah-feh-tie	Emphasizes reciprocity in island culture
Inuit (Inuktitut)	Qujannamiik	koo-ya-nah-meek	Literally “because you are kind”

European Languages

In Europe, “thank you” often comes with physical flair. The French kiss the air near your cheeks while saying “merci,” Italians clutch their hearts, and the Spanish might throw in an enthusiastic “¡Mil gracias!” (a thousand thanks!).

In Germany and the Netherlands, a firm “Danke” or “Dank u” paired with eye contact is enough—no need to overdo it. Eastern Europe tends to keep the old Slavic root “spas-” (to save), reminding us that gratitude once carried a spiritual dimension: God save you for your kindness.

Asian Languages

Asia shows us that “thank you” is rarely just two syllables.

In Japan, the depth of your bow and the formality of “arigatō gozaimasu” reveal your exact social relationship. In Korea, saying “gamsahamnida” to an elder is non-negotiable.

Mandarin’s simple “xièxiè” feels almost abrupt to Western ears, but refusing thanks (“bù yòng xiè”) is a common way to show humility. In Thailand and Vietnam, the smile and wai (prayer-like gesture) are inseparable from the words—say it without smiling and it feels cold.

African Languages

Across the continent, saying thank you often acknowledges the web of relationships. Swahili’s “asante sana” echoes from Zanzibar to Nairobi markets. In Yoruba culture, “e se” reminds everyone that no act is too small to recognize. Zulu speakers stretch “Ngiyabonga” with rolling warmth, and in many communities, repeating thanks three times is standard—because once is never enough when ubuntu (“I am because we are”) is your philosophy.

Indigenous & Island Cultures

For many indigenous peoples, gratitude extends beyond humans. Saying “mahalo” in Hawai’i is also a reminder to care for the ‘āina (land) that provided. Maori “kia ora” literally wishes good health and life force. Cherokee “wado” is short, but elders teach that true thanks is shown through reciprocity—returning the favor someday.

How “Thank You” Traveled the World

The English “thank you” comes from Old English “þanc” meaning thought—a thoughtful mind toward someone. The French “merci” began as “mercy” (have mercy on me for the debt I now owe you). Arabic “shukr” and Hebrew “todah” both trace back to ancient Semitic roots meaning “to recognize goodness.” Across continents, the concept is the same: acknowledging that we did not do life alone.

Beautiful Proverbs About Gratitude

• Japan: “One kind word can warm three winter months.”
• India (Sanskrit): “Gratitude is the memory of the heart.”
• West Africa (Yoruba): “However much the world deceives you, never forget to give thanks.”
• Latin: “Gratia gratiam parit” – Gratitude begets gratitude.
• Thailand: “Whoever forgets a kindness is like a tree without roots.”

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do so many languages use similar-sounding words?

Trade, conquest, and religion. “Shukran” spread with Islam, “gracias” and “grazie” with Latin and the Catholic Church, “terima kasih” with Malay traders across Southeast Asia.

What’s the oldest recorded “thank you”?

One of the earliest comes from ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs (around 2000 BCE) using “dwe r” – “praise” or “give thanks” to gods and pharaohs.

Are there cultures that rarely say thank you?

In some traditional East Asian contexts, close family almost never say it—actions show gratitude instead of words. In Inuit communities, “qujannamiik” was traditionally reserved for big favors because everyday help was expected.

A Final Thought

No matter how you say it—merci, xièxiè, asante, mahalo, danke, or just a silent nod with tears in your eyes—the feeling is universal. We all know what it’s like to be seen, to be helped, to be loved without deserving it.

So today, try this: say “thank you” in someone else’s language. Write it in the comments below, teach me how your grandmother said it, or share the moment someone’s gratitude changed your day.

Because every time we say it, we remind the world—and ourselves—that we are not alone.

What’s your favorite way to say thank you? Drop it in the comments—I can’t wait to learn from you. ❤️

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