thank
A1neutral to formal (depending on context), universally polite
Definition
Meaning
to express gratitude or appreciation to someone for something they have done or given
also used as a noun in expressions of gratitude, and as a polite acknowledgement of service
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a performative verb—the act of saying 'thank you' itself constitutes the thanking. It establishes social reciprocity and acknowledges a favor or kindness.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is nearly identical. Minor differences exist in idiomatic phrases (e.g., British 'I'll thank you to...' as a rebuke). Spelling of past tense/past participle 'thanked' is the same.
Connotations
In British English, 'thanks' can be slightly more informal than 'thank you', whereas in American English both are common in formal and informal contexts.
Frequency
Both 'thank you' and 'thanks' are extremely high frequency in both varieties. American English may use 'thank you' slightly more in service interactions.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
thank + someonethank + someone + for + noun/gerundthank + yoube thanked + for + noun/gerundVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “thank your lucky stars”
- “I'll thank you to...”
- “have someone to thank for”
- “thank God/goodness/heavens”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Common in emails and meetings to acknowledge help, information, or collaboration: 'Thank you for your prompt reply.'
Academic
Used in acknowledgements sections of papers and to thank reviewers or colleagues.
Everyday
Ubiquitous in daily interactions for any favor, service, or gift.
Technical
Rare in pure technical prose but common in accompanying communications (e.g., thanking a user for a report).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- I must thank Mrs. Jenkins for the lovely scones.
- He didn't even thank me for holding the door.
American English
- I want to thank everyone who volunteered.
- She thanked the committee for their hard work.
adverb
British English
- She smiled thankfully when the rain stopped.
- He accepted the award thankfully.
American English
- I nodded thankfully as she handed me the umbrella.
- They ate the meal thankfully thankfully after the long journey.
adjective
British English
- She wrote a thank-you note for the wedding gift.
- He gave a thankful nod to the bus driver.
American English
- Please send thank-you cards to the donors.
- I'm feeling very thankful for my family.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Thank you for your help.
- I thanked my teacher.
- Thanks!
- We thanked them for the invitation to the party.
- He forgot to thank his colleague for covering his shift.
- I'd like to thank everyone who made this possible.
- She was profusely thanked for her invaluable contribution to the project.
- I'll thank you not to interrupt me while I'm speaking.
- They have only themselves to thank for the chaotic outcome.
- The director was duly thanked in the programme notes for her visionary leadership.
- I must thank you in advance for your discretion in this delicate matter.
- His pioneering work has yet to be properly thanked by the academic community.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the 'TH' sound at the start as putting your tongue out slightly—a small gesture like saying thanks. The word sounds like the clunk of a chest closing after receiving a gift you're thankful for.
Conceptual Metaphor
GRATITUDE IS A DEBT ("I owe you thanks"), GRATITUDE IS A GIFT ("I give you my thanks"), GRATITUDE IS WARMTH ("a heartfelt thank you")
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Russian 'благодарить' is more formal/literary than everyday 'thank'. English 'thank' is used constantly, even for tiny things.
- Avoid translating Russian 'спасибо' directly as 'save god' or similar. It is simply 'thank you'.
- In English, you thank the *person*, not the action: 'Thank you for helping' (not 'Thank for help').
Common Mistakes
- Using 'thanks you' (incorrect conjugation). Correct: 'He thanks you' or 'Thank you'.
- Using 'thanks for' without a direct object: 'Thanks for' is incomplete. Must be 'Thanks for the help.'
- Overusing 'thank you' in rapid succession, which can sound insincere.
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'thank' used correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The standard idiom is 'Thank God' (without the 's'). 'Thanks God' is grammatically incorrect as it uses the noun 'thanks' as a verb.
'Thank you' is slightly more formal and emphatic. 'Thanks' is more informal and casual. Both are grammatically correct and polite.
It is grammatically possible but very rare and usually stylistically awkward because thanking is typically a brief, punctual act. We use the simple present or past tenses: 'I thank you', 'I thanked you'.
Common responses include: 'You're welcome', 'My pleasure', 'No problem', 'Don't mention it', or 'It was nothing'. The choice depends on formality and region.
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Common Questions
A1 · 31 words · Question words and phrases for basic communication.
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