cassidain
Senior Insider
No 2
Same rules, Pascale, Islander, Rosita, Ellen, DidierB, DaddyleCool, et al, n'hésitez pas à corriger mes fautes de français.
Expressions of Gratitude
Merci - everybody knows this one. the universal “thank you”.
Merci bien - just a bit more than plain “merci”. I like this a lot. the best translation I’ve seen is “thank you kindly”.
Merci beaucoup - and, everybody knows this one, too. used when you want to be more exuberant with your expression of gratitude. not over-the-top, it’s used quite commonly.
Mille mercis - I would reserve this for more heart-felt expression of gratitude. for when someone has done something particularly special for you.
C’est vraiment gentil(le) de votre part - if you’re feeling a bit ambitious and want to move up to an entire sentence, this formula is perfect for acknowledging someone’s kindness or thoughtfulness.
Responses to Expressions of Gratitude
Je vous en prie - the standard and formal formula for “you’re welcome”. old french like old english would have you saying something like “I beg you to think nothing of it” or something of the sort. this is that kind of expression. as un étranger especially, it seems appropriate to use in most contexts.
De rien - probably the most commonly used non-formal expression for “you’re welcome”. another is “(il n’y a) pas de quoi”, but there seems to be some difference of opinion from frenchman to frenchman as to the tone and interpretation of this expression. as un étranger, I would use “de rien” in casual contexts and for rather insignificant matters.
C’est moi (qui vous remercie) - used as a polite response to an expression of gratitude to turn the “thanks” around. for example, you’ve just spent a very enjoyable evening dining out, and the restaurant owner says, “merci”, as you’re leaving, you might say in response, “c’est moi (qui vous remercie)”.
To Accept an Offer
Oui, s’il vous plaît - this is the perfectly straightforward, “yes, please”. “another glass of wine, monsieur?”...”oui, s’il vous plaît”.
Je veux bien - used to accept an offer in a rather neutral tone similar to the above.
Volontiers - a more enthusiastic “yes” to an offer. more like “gladly”. perhaps more suitable to accept an offer to join someone for dinner or an afternoon on their sailboat than the offer of a second glass of wine.
Avec plaisir - similar to “volontiers”. another enthusiastic “yes”. literally “with pleasure”.
To Turn Down an Offer
Non, merci - the universal “no, thank you”.
Merci, mais non - similar to the above but slightly more stridently polite.
Non, mais merci quand même - even slightly more emphasis on expressing your appreciation of the turned down offer.
note: alas, I think in order to turn down the afternoon yachting excursion politely you’ll have to resort to English as I think that would run into a complete sentence or two.
Same rules, Pascale, Islander, Rosita, Ellen, DidierB, DaddyleCool, et al, n'hésitez pas à corriger mes fautes de français.
Expressions of Gratitude
Merci - everybody knows this one. the universal “thank you”.
Merci bien - just a bit more than plain “merci”. I like this a lot. the best translation I’ve seen is “thank you kindly”.
Merci beaucoup - and, everybody knows this one, too. used when you want to be more exuberant with your expression of gratitude. not over-the-top, it’s used quite commonly.
Mille mercis - I would reserve this for more heart-felt expression of gratitude. for when someone has done something particularly special for you.
C’est vraiment gentil(le) de votre part - if you’re feeling a bit ambitious and want to move up to an entire sentence, this formula is perfect for acknowledging someone’s kindness or thoughtfulness.
Responses to Expressions of Gratitude
Je vous en prie - the standard and formal formula for “you’re welcome”. old french like old english would have you saying something like “I beg you to think nothing of it” or something of the sort. this is that kind of expression. as un étranger especially, it seems appropriate to use in most contexts.
De rien - probably the most commonly used non-formal expression for “you’re welcome”. another is “(il n’y a) pas de quoi”, but there seems to be some difference of opinion from frenchman to frenchman as to the tone and interpretation of this expression. as un étranger, I would use “de rien” in casual contexts and for rather insignificant matters.
C’est moi (qui vous remercie) - used as a polite response to an expression of gratitude to turn the “thanks” around. for example, you’ve just spent a very enjoyable evening dining out, and the restaurant owner says, “merci”, as you’re leaving, you might say in response, “c’est moi (qui vous remercie)”.
To Accept an Offer
Oui, s’il vous plaît - this is the perfectly straightforward, “yes, please”. “another glass of wine, monsieur?”...”oui, s’il vous plaît”.
Je veux bien - used to accept an offer in a rather neutral tone similar to the above.
Volontiers - a more enthusiastic “yes” to an offer. more like “gladly”. perhaps more suitable to accept an offer to join someone for dinner or an afternoon on their sailboat than the offer of a second glass of wine.
Avec plaisir - similar to “volontiers”. another enthusiastic “yes”. literally “with pleasure”.
To Turn Down an Offer
Non, merci - the universal “no, thank you”.
Merci, mais non - similar to the above but slightly more stridently polite.
Non, mais merci quand même - even slightly more emphasis on expressing your appreciation of the turned down offer.
note: alas, I think in order to turn down the afternoon yachting excursion politely you’ll have to resort to English as I think that would run into a complete sentence or two.
