Saying “Thank you” to someone 
orally and in writing are among the most powerful two words in all languages. Why not use it more often? There isn’t a person in the world who doesn’t appreciate hearing these words as an expression of appreciation, respect, and courtesy. In fact, I believe that if people were to say it more often to each other, we would all have a better sense of well being.The following is a list of languages showing how to say “Thank you” in various languages. The next time you are interacting with someone who speaks another language or comes from another country, have fun showing your savvy by thanking them in their own language.I am Chinese American of Cantonese ancestry. People either say Dah Jeh (Cantonese) or Shyeh Shyeh (Mandarin) to me, which I really appreciate.So, whether you are at work, at home, or out and about, first develop the habit of saying “Thank you” often, and then how to say it in many languages. I guarantee you will have made a tremendous stride toward becoming better friends. Print out this list and keep it handy at your desk or someplace visible to look up easily when the opportunity arises. I have mine pinned on a board in my office. Also, here’s something to try this next week. Pay attention to the number of times you say thank you in a day and as you go through the week, keep trying to up the number. By the end of just one week you will be on your way toward developing a great habit that will fill you life with great things.
orally and in writing are among the most powerful two words in all languages. Why not use it more often? There isn’t a person in the world who doesn’t appreciate hearing these words as an expression of appreciation, respect, and courtesy. In fact, I believe that if people were to say it more often to each other, we would all have a better sense of well being.The following is a list of languages showing how to say “Thank you” in various languages. The next time you are interacting with someone who speaks another language or comes from another country, have fun showing your savvy by thanking them in their own language.I am Chinese American of Cantonese ancestry. People either say Dah Jeh (Cantonese) or Shyeh Shyeh (Mandarin) to me, which I really appreciate.So, whether you are at work, at home, or out and about, first develop the habit of saying “Thank you” often, and then how to say it in many languages. I guarantee you will have made a tremendous stride toward becoming better friends. Print out this list and keep it handy at your desk or someplace visible to look up easily when the opportunity arises. I have mine pinned on a board in my office. Also, here’s something to try this next week. Pay attention to the number of times you say thank you in a day and as you go through the week, keep trying to up the number. By the end of just one week you will be on your way toward developing a great habit that will fill you life with great things.Thank You in Languages from A to Z
- Afrikaans: Dankie
- Albanian: Faleminderit
- Alsatian: Merci
- A’Leamona: Gra al or Gra [pronounced grah or grah ahl]
- Arabic: Shokrun (pronounced Shoe-krahn
- Armenian: Shnorhakalutiun
- Bengali: Dhonnobaad (written in Bengali similar to Hindi)
- Bosnian: Hvala
- Bulgarian: Blagodariya
- Buryat (Mongolian people): Hain daa
- Chinese (Mandarin): Xie Xie (pronouced: shyeh shyeh. Say it fast and keep it short)
- Chinese (Cantonese): Daw Jeh
- Croatian: Hvala
- Czech: Dekuju/Dekujeme
- Danish: Tak
- Dutch: Dank je (pronounced: dannk yuhh) or Bedankt (pronounced: buh dannkt)
- English: Thank You
- Filipino: Salamat
- Finnish: Kiitos (pronounced: KEE-tos. Like “toast” without the last “t”)
- French: Merci
- German: Danke (dahn-kuh)
- Greek: Euxaristo (efhar-ist-oh)
- Hebrew: Todah
- Hindi: Dhanyavad or Shukriya
- Icelandic: Tack Fyrir
- Irish: Go raibh (míle) maith agat [pronounced: gu rev (me-la) mah agh-ut]. It means: (a million) thanks to you.
- Italian: Grazie
- Japanese: Arigatou (informal; pronounced: A-rii-gah-to’) Domo arigato gozaimasu (formal; pronounced: A-rii-gah-to’ goh-zae-mas)
- Khmer (Cambodian): Or Kun
- Korean: Gamsahapnida (pronounced: gam-sa-ham-nee-dah)
- Korean: Gomapsupnida (pronounced: go-mahp-soop-nee-dah)
- Kurdish: Spaas
- Lao: Khopjai
- Lithuanian: Ači
- Malay: Terima Kasih
- Maltese: Grazzi
- Nepali: Dhanyavaad (isn’t said as frequently as a thank you in English)
- Norwegian: Takk
- Persian (Iran): Mamnoon
- Polish: Dziękuję
- Portuguese (Brazil, Portugal, etc): Obrigado [if male] and Obrigada [if female]
- Punjabi: Dhan Waad
- Romanian: Mul umesc (pronounced: mool-too-mesk)
- Russian: Спасибо (pronounced: spa-see-ba)
- Slovak: Dakujem (pronounced: dyock-we-em
- Spanish: Gracias
- Swahili: Asante
- Swedish: Tack
- Tagalog (Filipino): Salamat (po) (sir/madam)
- Tamil: Nandree
- Telugu: Dhanyavaadaalu; Kruthagnathalu
- Thai: Thai: Kop kun krap (if male) Kop kun ka (if female)
- Turkish: Teºekkür ederim
- Urdu: Shokriya (pronounced: shook-ree-ah)
- Vietnamese: Cam On (pronounced: caam-ungh)
- Waloon (Belgian community): Merci
- Welsh: Diolch (mam) Amino (sir)
- West Indian Creole: M si
- Xhosa: Enkosi
- Yiddish: A dank
- Yoruba: O Sheun
- Zulu: Ngiyabonga (literally means : I give thanks)
Here’s another site if you want to view how to say Thank you in more than 465 languages… at http://users.elite.net/runner/jennifers/thankyou.htm
Question of the Month: In what other languages do you know how to say “Thank You.” Share them with our viewers by submitting them to the list in the below area.
Happy Practicing!
THANK YOU!!
Japanese Formal: どうもありがとうございます。 In romanji, it is Doumo Arigatou Gozaimasu.
Korean Formal:감사합니다 Kam Sa Ham Ni Da
Korean Less Formal:고맙습니다 Go Map Sum Ni Da.
Korean Informal: There are many variants, including “Go Ma Wo Yo” “Go Map Da”
I wouldn’t even begin to know who I would speak Cantonese to and wouldn’t they be insulted if I either guessed their ethinicity wrongly or if I tried to speak their language?
Most often I try to speak spanish to a spanish-speaking person and I feel that they don’t really appreciate that. Not sure what do you think.
Dear Susan: While it is true a person may be insulted if you speak the wrong language to them. This is why you should get to know the person before “springing” your knowledge of a language with them. Otherwise, who knows what perceptions they may have about your speaking their language. Use this as a conversation tool to become better friends. Ask them first: “I recently read an article on how to say thank you in many languages. What is your country of origin and language? I’d like to look up how to say thank you and have you help me learn how to say it correctly. Would this be okay with you?” I think your friend would be thrilled you are interested in expanding your language abilities. Save and/or print the text on how to say thank you in the various languages and keep it handy for whenever you are meeting someone new on the telephone or in person. When presented with sincerity, it will bring you closer.
In Maltese there are three ways of saying thank you, actually:
niżżik ħajr (to-you-I-give thanks);
grazzi (thanks);
nirringrazzjak (I-thank-you).
The correct responses would be:
Merħba bik (you-are welcome);
Ta’ xejn (of nothing);
M’hemmx mn’hiex (there is nothing for which);
Xejn, xejn (nothing, nothing).
I just saw the attached article and want to submit it for continued consideration. It makes some interesting points…
http://www.linkedin.com/today/post/article/20131112175357-69244073-why-you-shouldn-t-say-you-re-welcome?goback=.gde_46009_member_5806802779192176641
Enjoy!