Gracias
- Pronunciation: GRAH-see-ahs in Latin America. In most of Spain the c sounds like the th in "think": GRAH-thyahs. Both are correct.
- Spelling: gracias has no accent mark, and it is always plural. There is no "gracia" for a single thanks.
- Thanks for something: use gracias por plus a noun or a verb: gracias por todo (thanks for everything), gracias por venir (thanks for coming).
- Thanks, and you? When someone asks how you are, the usual answer is Bien, gracias, ¿y tú?
Saying thank you more strongly
| Spanish | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Muchas gracias | Thank you very much | The everyday strong thanks |
| Muchísimas gracias | Thank you so much | Warmer, for a real favor |
| Mil gracias | A thousand thanks | Friendly and emphatic |
| Un millón de gracias | A million thanks | Playful, for a big favor |
| Gracias de nuevo | Thanks again | When you have already thanked them |
| Gracias de todo corazón | Thank you from the bottom of my heart | Heartfelt, for something that mattered |
Note that it is muchas gracias, not "muchos" or "muy": gracias is a feminine plural noun, so the word that describes it is feminine plural too.
Formal thanks: te lo agradezco and se lo agradezco
Agradecer is the verb "to thank" or "to be grateful for". It sounds more deliberate than gracias, and it changes with who you are talking to:
- Te lo agradezco. I appreciate it. To a friend (tú).
- Se lo agradezco. I appreciate it. To someone you address as usted: a client, an older stranger, an official.
- Se lo agradezco mucho. I really appreciate it.
- Le agradezco su ayuda. I thank you for your help. Common in emails.
- Muy amable. Very kind of you. Often added after gracias: "Gracias, muy amable."
- Estoy muy agradecido (a man) or agradecida (a woman). I am very grateful.
In a formal email, Gracias de antemano means "thanks in advance", and Muchas gracias por su atención is a common closing line.
How to reply to gracias
De nada (deh NAH-dah, literally "of nothing") is the standard "you’re welcome" and is understood everywhere. Native speakers mix it with these:
| Spanish | English | Where you hear it |
|---|---|---|
| De nada | You’re welcome | Everywhere |
| No hay de qué | Don’t mention it | Everywhere, slightly more polite |
| Por nada | It was nothing | Common in Latin America |
| Con gusto | With pleasure | Colombia, Central America, and many service settings |
| A la orden | At your service | Colombia and Venezuela, especially in shops |
| Un placer or Es un placer | My pleasure | Everywhere, a little warmer |
| No es nada | It’s nothing | For a small favor |
If you both have something to thank each other for, answer Gracias a ti (thank you) or just A ti (to you). With usted: Gracias a usted.
Example sentences
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Gracias por tu ayuda. | Thanks for your help. |
| Muchas gracias por el regalo. | Thank you very much for the gift. |
| Gracias por invitarme. | Thanks for inviting me. |
| Mil gracias, de verdad. | Thanks so much, really. |
| No, gracias. | No, thank you. |
| Sí, gracias. | Yes, please. (when offered something) |
| Te agradezco mucho que hayas venido. | I really appreciate you coming. |
| Gracias a ti, todo salió bien. | Thanks to you, everything went well. |
Common mistakes
- Muy gracias. "Very thanks" does not work in Spanish either. Say muchas gracias.
- Gracias para. Thanks are always por: gracias por la cena, not "gracias para la cena".
- Pronouncing it "gracious". The stress is on the first syllable, GRAH, and the ending is a clear "see-ahs" (or "thyahs" in Spain).
- Te lo agradezco to your boss. Te is the familiar you, so it can sound too casual with a boss or an older stranger. Use se lo agradezco.
Polite phrases that go with it
Thank you rarely travels alone. Pair it with please in Spanish when you ask, and sorry in Spanish when something goes wrong. For more everyday phrases, see common Spanish phrases.