From Spain to Mexico to the tip of Argentina, the culture of Spanish-speaking countries is famous for being exceptionally warm and welcoming.
If you are a little lost in translation or just looking for that trendy restaurant, you can count on finding buena gente ready and willing to point you in the right direction. And, of course, there’s no better way to return the favor than by saying gracias!
But what about those times when a little gracias just doesn’t cut it? When, for example, a good samaritan saves you from getting pickpocketed on the bus or a waiter returns the phone you accidentally forgot on the table? Honestly, they both deserve a medal, but when you don’t have one handy, it’s important to use words to show how much you truly appreciate the help. Here we discuss all the different ways to say thank you in Spanish so you can show your gratitude no matter how big or small the helping hand.
Gracias
Chances are you’re already familiar with the word gracias, the most common way of saying “thank you” in Spanish. It is a handy word that is easy to pronounce and can be used in any social situation, both formal and informal. It is also the building block for more elaborate and specific ways to show your gratitude.
Just remember: if you want to thank a certain someone specifically by adding their name after gracias, stick to social situations that are relatively informal. If the situation calls for more formality, use gracias señor or gracias señora.
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Building onto gracias
It’s time to explore the different variations of gracias used to express varying degrees of gratitude. Take a look at the expressions listed in the table below to find the perfect phrase that will show how much you appreciate the helping hand.
| Spanish | English | Example |
| Muchas gracias | Thanks a lot | ¡Qué bonito, muchas gracias! Translation: “How pretty, thanks a lot!” |
| Muchísimas gracias | Thank you so much | ¡Muchísimas gracias por haber venido! Translation: Thank you so much for coming! |
| Gracias por todo / Gracias por… | Thank you for everything / Thank you for… | ¡Gracias por todo lo que haces por mí! Translation: Thank you for everything that you do for me! |
| Gracias de todo corazón | Thank you from the bottom of my heart | ¡Gracias de todo corazón por tu ayuda! Translation: Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all of your help! |
| Gracias a todos | Thanks to everyone | Gracias a todos por su paciencia. Translation: Thank you everyone for your patience. |
| Mil gracias / Un millón de gracias | Thanks a million | ¡Un millón de gracias por el favor! Translation: Thanks a million for the favor! |
| Gracias de todos modos / Gracias de todas formas | Thank you anyway / Thanks anyway | Buscaba una chaqueta más grande, pero gracias de todos modos. Translation: I was looking for a bigger jacket, but thanks anyway. |
Other ways to say thank you
Even though gracias and its many variations have a strong monopoly in the Spanish gratitude game, there are still more ways to say thank you. And guess what? They don’t even use gracias at all.
| Spanish | English | Example |
| Te/le agradezco | I thank you / I appreciate… | Te agradezco que me dejes vivir en tu casa. Translation: I appreciate you letting me stay with you. |
| Te/se lo agradezco (mucho) | I appreciate it (a lot) | Gracias por venir, te lo agradezco mucho. Translation: Thank you for coming, I appreciate it a lot. |
| Estoy muy agradecido/agradecida | I’m extremely thankful / I’m very thankful | Estoy muy agradecido por mi familia. Translation: I am very thankful for my family. |
| ¡Qué amable (de tu/su parte)! | How sweet! / That’s so kind of you! | Sí, por favor, ¡qué amable! Translation: Yes, please, that’s so kind of you! |
| Es muy amable (de tu/su parte). | That’s very kind of you | Gracias, es muy amable. Translation: Thank you, that’s very kind of you. |
Just remember: The table above includes some expressions that change based on the social setting (formal or informal). It’s important to choose the appropriate phrase to fit the setting, so remember that tu (“your”) is used in informal social situations and su (“your”) is used in formal situations where you would address someone using usted (“you”).
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Using a compliment to say thank you
Everyone loves a compliment, right? And when a compliment is done right, it can be one of the most powerful ways to tell someone you value and appreciate them. This is true for any language and Spanish is no exception! Check out all the lovely ways you can compliment someone to say thanks.
| Spanish | English |
| Eres muy amable | You are so kind / You are so sweet |
| Eres un ángel | You are an angel |
| ¡Sois geniales! | You guys are great! / You guys are awesome! |
| Eres un amor | You are a sweetheart |
Just remember: These compliments are written using the informal tu form of “you” in Spanish because they are best suited for informal situations.
Saying thank you in writing
Politeness is a virtue and can go a long way in building mutual respect in relationships. Also, it’s a great way to make a good first impression. If you are writing a formal thank you, don’t forget to include a closing like the examples listed below to score some extra politeness points.
| Spanish | English |
| Agradeciéndole su atención | Thank you for your attention |
| Estamos agradecidos por su interés | We appreciate your interest |
| Se lo agradezco | I appreciate it very much / I am grateful to you |
Saying “you’re welcome”
Of course, you won’t always be the one saying thanks. When the tables turn and you are the one giving a little ayuda, the most common way to respond to someone saying thanks is with de nada in Spanish. De nada literally translates to “of nothing” in English, but it really just means “you’re welcome”. It can be used in almost any setting, but when the occasion calls for a bit more formality, it’s best to use por nada, or “it was nothing” in English. We have listed a few other ways to say “you’re welcome” to keep things from getting repetitive.
| Spanish | English |
| Con gusto | It is/was my pleasure / My pleasure |
| Con mucho gusto | It is/was a great pleasure |
| No hay de qué | Don’t mention it |
| No es nada | It is/was nothing |
A little gracias can certainly go a long way, but why not go all the way with Hotel Borbollón? Take your Spanish to the next level with our online Spanish lessons free for 7 days!
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