22 Ways to Say “Thank You” in English

Big and Little Phrases to Show You Are Thankful

A simple “thank you” always works. You can say a little “thank you” to a stranger who holds
the door open for you, and you can say a big “thank you!” to the woman who saw you drop
your wallet and returned it to you. Sometimes a little “thanks!” is all you need. Other times,
to someone who has done something really nice for you, you may want to say a little more.
You could try one of these:
“Thanks a lot!”
“Thanks so much!”
“You’re the best!”
“That’s so kind of you, thank you!
“I really appreciate it!”
“You rock!” (very casual – you are telling them that they are a wonderful person)
“Thank you, I owe you one!” (meaning that you will be sure to help them in the future)

How to Say Thank You in More Formal Situations

Maybe your co-workers brought a cake to work for your birthday, or your boss just told you
that he gave you a raise. It might not be appropriate to say, “You rock!” so here are some
more formal ways to express your gratitude:
“You’re very kind, thank you.”
“This means a lot to me, thank you.”
“I’m really grateful, thank you.”
“I’m touched by your thoughtfulness, thank you.”

The Biggest Thank You’s

Sometimes we all have very difficult circumstances in our lives. Maybe you’ve just lost your
job, or someone you love is ill or has died. Other people will do what they can to help us
when things are difficult. At these times, we want to offer the most sincere thanks we can.
You could say something like this:
“Words can’t express how grateful I am for your kindness.”
“I want you to know how much I value your support.”
“How can I possibly thank you enough?”
“I couldn’t have made it without your help.”
“I don’t know what I would do without you.”
“I’ll never forget what you’ve done for me.”
“How can I repay you?”

Ways to Say “Thank You” in English When Writing

It’s always a good idea to mention what you are thankful for and how it helped you. That
helps tell the other person that you truly appreciate what they did for you. This is also a good
way to say thank you in an email, in a more formal situation like a job interview, or a
handwritten thank you note.
Thank you for loaning me your vacuum cleaner! I was able to get everything ready
for the party on time.
Thank you for the beautiful necklace! It looks really nice with my blue dress.
Thank you for giving me this opportunity. I won’t let you down!
Thank you for coming. Your presence meant a lot to me!
Receiving Thanks in English
If someone says thank you to YOU, here are some extra ways you can say

“You’re welcome.”
“It was my pleasure.”
“Don’t mention it.”
“I was happy to do it for you.”
“Not at all.”
“No problem.”

Don’t Forget to Smile!

Body language is very important when thanking someone, too. With friends and family,
you’ll want to smile and maybe give them a hug! Smiling is important with more formal
phrases, too, but you probably won’t need to hug your boss for giving you a raise! Just lean
towards them a little, make eye contact, and smile. In formal business situations you might
shake hands. Be sincere!

Whatever words you choose to say, be sure to say them with a smile! That will do more to
express your thanks than words alone, and the other person will feel appreciated.