How to answer to thank you

How do native English speakers respond to «Thank you»?

In my school and university I was taught to say «Not at all» or «Don’t mention it» in response to «Thank you!». Now I rarely hear these phrases used, but rather something like «You’re welcome», «It’s OK», «My pleasure», or «No problem».

My real life conversation experience is very poor. I often listen to some English learning podcasts, and watch some films in English. So I listen to dialogs, which are probably not from the modern real life world.

How do native English speakers tend to respond to «Thank you!» now? What I should care about, when choosing from the available options?

19 Answers 19

In common conversation in the US Midwest I rarely hear «Not at all» or «Don’t mention it.» «No problem» is very common, and «You’re welcome» is also pretty well-used.

My personal usage:

I use «Not at all,» «Don’t mention it,» and «No problem» when the activity I’m being thanked for was really no big deal. I use «My pleasure» when emphasizing that I’m happy to be of assistance (often in a customer service context), and «You’re welcome» when the action prompting the thanks was a little bit of a bother. In essence I use different phrases to indicate how «thanks-worthy» the activity was.

That’s probably not common usage, though.

EDIT

I think I misrepresented what I originally meant, so here’s a little clarification.

If someone thanks me for something I always do (for instance I always cook dinner in our house) then I would say «No problem» or «My pleasure» depending on context. If I did a chore that was someone else’s responsibility, I would say «You’re welcome» even if I was happy to have done it, because it took an extra effort on my part, not because it was a «bother.»

25 Better Ways to Respond to Any Kinds of “Thank You”

Posted on Published: August 26, 2019

When someone says, ‘thank you,’ the most obvious way to respond is by saying, ‘you’re welcome.’ But, returning the sentiment in the same way over and over again can often feel disingenuous.

So if you find yourself searching for a better way to answer, maybe even Googling ‘how to respond to thank you’ we’ve got a whole list for you. Some, you might not even have thought of before!

Here are 25 different options for how to respond to ‘thank you’.

Ways to respond to ‘thank you,’ verbally

When someone says ‘thank you’ in person, there are many ways you can respond without falling back on the standard ‘you’re welcome.’ Here are 15 ideas for how to respond to ‘thank you,’ verbally:

01 “Anytime”

This is a good response for someone with whom you are close, or have helped out in the past.

It demonstrates that you were happy to assist with whatever was asked of you and that you would gladly come to the aid of your friend again, should the need arise.

02 “I’m always happy to help”

A response like this can be great in both formal and casual settings. In a professional context, such as the workplace, it suggests that you are open and available for completing tasks.

When used in a casual setting, it shows that you have done whatever deed for which you’re being recognized, from the kindness of your heart.

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03 “It’s nothing”

This comment is a perfect response to use when someone is overly thankful or appreciative.

The dismissive nature of the phrase lets them know that more thanks aren’t necessary, and you were not at all disadvantaged by doing them a favor.

04 “Not a problem”

An answer with a casual tone like this lets the person you’re thanking know that the help you offered was not a bother to you. It also communicates that he/she is invited to ask for another favor in the future.

05 “No worries”

Use this option for how to respond to thank you if you feel like what you did was truly not a big deal. It conveys that you are humble and don’t feel that your efforts require further compensation.

06 “Sure”

‘Sure’ is a good response to use when you just want to get the moment over with. When there’s no need for a big show of gratitude, and it’s time to move on, this is the ideal phrasing.

07 “Think nothing of it”

If you do something for a close friend, no matter how big or small, this is a great way to return their thanks.

The simple but heartfelt statement implies that you acted for your friend without a second thought, and are not expecting anything in return.

Photo by yoav hornung on unsplash

08 “That’s okay”

Use this phrase when someone is offering to repay you for your kindness. ‘That’s okay’ suggests that a verbal thank you is sufficient, and no further appreciation is required.

09 “Happy to oblige”

When you do something because it makes you feel good, sometimes there’s no need for a thank you. This is a good choice of response because it suggests that you were just glad to be of assistance.

Photo by Lazare under pixabay license

10 “The pleasure was all mine”

This is a very polite way of saying you’re welcome.

It’s an especially good option for how to respond to thank you, because it shifts the pressure of showing appreciation off the person you did a favor for, making the engagement less awkward for him/her.

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11 “You’d do the same”

If someone is a good friend to you, sometimes there’s no real need to say ‘you’re welcome’ because you know they would do the same for you in a heartbeat.

You’d do the same’ is a perfect response to for a good friend, because it lets he/she know that that your confident in the foundation of your relationship.

12 “No, thank you”

If someone has invited you to an event and is thanking you for coming, this is a great response to let your host(s) know that you enjoyed yourself and appreciated the invite.

This comment can also work well when communicating with members of the service industry. When an employee thanks you for coming to a restaurant or hotel, this statement shows appreciation and a humble disposition.

13 “Absolutely!”

This is a good response to let someone know that you were more than willing to do them a favor in the first place and that you would gladly do so again.

14 “It’s my duty”

In an office setting where you have been presented with a task, this is a formal response to someone who thinks you have done them a favor.

This is a good response to thank you because it tells them that you don’t consider the action a favor and were acting within the scope of your professional duties.

Photo by PublicDomainPictures under pixabay license

15 “De nada”

This is Spanish for ‘you’re welcome.’ It is a not-too-serious response and can be seen as playful. ‘De nada’ shows that you don’t think too much of what you did. It wasn’t a big deal.

Ways to respond to ‘thank you’ in a text

When someone says ‘thank you’ through a text, your response can come in a variety of forms. Here are 10 different text-message-friendly ideas for how to respond to ‘thank you.’

16 “Emoji”

When someone says ‘thank you’ in text, your response can be in the form of an emoji. A simple smiley face lets the person know that things between you two are good and that you appreciate their gratitude.

Photo by Minesh Patel on reshot

17 “It was no big deal, really”

When someone sends you paragraphs upon paragraphs of thanks, this is a good way to let him/her know that the extra effort wasn’t really necessary.

18 “Oh, that’s alright!”

When someone offers to do something for you or give you a token of appreciation via text, this response is a great way to let him/her know that the action isn’t necessary, and you already know that he/she is grateful.

Photo by MJ Jakobs on reshot

19 “It’s all gravy”

When talking to friends, you probably don’t want to be too formal about accepting a thank you. This is a great option for how to respond to ‘thank you’ because it demonstrates that you are comfortable with the exchange, and don’t wish to make a fuss over it.

20 “Of course”

Offering this response shows that you had no problem doing the person a favor, and the effort expended was nothing to you.

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21 “I’d do it again!”

This is a great answer to ‘thank you’ because it implies that you were in no way hassled by being asked to do the task and that it was a pleasure to come to the aid of a friend.

22 “Don’t mention it”

When someone asks you for a favor, or you do something for them without even being asked, this is a good response that shows the aid didn’t take much out of you, so there is no real need for thanks.

This phrase implies that you are not looking for praises and that you were just happy to help.

23 “No biggie!”

This expression is commonly used among friends when they do each other small favors. This is a good statement because it shows that you are simply happy to help a friend out.

Photo by skeeze under pixabay license

24 “It’s the least I can do for you”

This is a good response to someone who has, at some point, helped you in the past. This phrasing demonstrates what you did was simply a way of repaying him/her.

It’s also good for someone that you share a strong bond with and wish to help in any way you can.

25 “Don’t sweat it”

If someone is going on and on in appreciation, this is a great way to encourage them to accept your assistance and move forward.

‘Don’t sweat it’ says that the favor took minimal effort, and the person you’re talking to doesn’t need to be overly thankful.

Conclusion

As you can see, when someone says ‘thank you,’ you don’t have to restrict your answer to ‘you’re welcome.’ There are many other ways that you can acknowledge appreciation.

Understanding how to respond to ‘thank you’ can add depth to your relationships and make it easier to accept praise. After you read this list, you should be well prepared for any kind of ‘thank you.’

Как ответить на «спасибо» на английском: 10 разных вариантов

Как по-разному благодарить на английском, мы уже разобрались. Продолжаем уроки доброжелательности — учимся подбирать ответ на «спасибо» под ситуацию. Ведь если постоянно повторять одно и то же, слова как будто теряют немного искренности.

А проверить, насколько вы уже овладели английским, всегда можно в нашем бесплатном тесте на уровень. Не благодарите 😉

Когда благодарят за что-то пустяковое

Подбросили коллегу домой, когда вам по пути. Придержали лифт для соседа. Помогли ребенку в супермаркете достать заветную пачку печенья с верхней полки. Когда вы делаете что-то на автомате, долго не раздумывая, просто потому что вы приятный человек, а вас за этой еще и благодарят, пригодится одна из этих фраз.

В no уже спрятано значение «not a/not one/not any», поэтому ставить артикль перед существительным не нужно. Очень удобная фраза на все случаи жизни — так можно отреагировать и на извинения и на просьбу.

Вообще, to mention означает «упоминать». Если нужно и правда настоятельно попросить друга не упоминать на двойном свидании о чем-то, что может подпортить репутацию (например, умолчать о бесячей привычке открывать сообщение и не отвечать два дня), просто добавьте please — сразу станет понятно, что это просьба.

— Thanks a bunch for the ride.
— Большое спасибо, что подкинул.

— No problem, I was going here anyway.
— Без проблем, мне все-равно было в эту сторону.

Когда всегда готов помочь

Взять к себе корги, пока хозяева в отпуске — с удовольствием, ведь его можно тискать целыми днями, а потом друзья вернутся и вы снова будете спокойно спать по утрам. Когда помогать было очень приятно и вы не прочь повторить, используйте эти фразы.

Как наречие anytime чаще встречается в слитном написании. Но если говорите полными предложениями, после предлога нужно писать два слова раздельно: «Call me at any time» («Звони в любое время»).

Еще есть вариант « The pleasure is all mine». По этой парочке удобно запоминать разницу между разными формами местоимений: my — перед существительным, mine — в конце предложения после глагола. Но в повседневном разговоре второй вариант прозвучит чересчур напыщенно.

— This is so nice of you to look after the house while we’re away.
— Так мило с твоей стороны, что ты присмотришь за домом, пока мы в отъезде.

— Anytime! As long as you don’t mind, I use the pool and bring a few friends around.
— В любое время! Пока вы разрешаете мне пользоваться бассейном и приглашать друзей.

Подпишитесь на наш бесплатный курс «Easy English» и получайте короткие уроки живого разговорного английского от носителей языка. В таком формате заниматься можно самостоятельно — по дороге на работу, в обеденный перерыв или в отпуске. Потом скажете нам спасибо. А мы такие: « Anytime! У нас еще много всего классного».

Когда переживают, что доставили вам неудобство

Коллега попросила просмотреть перед публикацией статью на 15 тысяч знаков и уже неделю благодарит вас при любом удобном случае. Можно, конечно, наслаждаться моментом, а можно сказать, что вам было несложно выручить. Эти фразы хорошо работают, чтобы остановить поток благодарностей.

Чаще встречается глагол to bother — «беспокоить, тревожить». Если вы с человеком совсем на короткой ноге, подойдет и еще более расслабленный вариант — «No worries!» («Не переживай!»).

Ответ знакомый многим еще со школьных уроков английского. Особенно уместен, когда благодарности начинаются с фраз вроде «it was very kind of you to…» («это было очень мило с вашей стороны»), «thanks for all your trouble…» («спасибо за все ваши усилия»).

— Thanks for filling in for me. Without your help, I wouldn’t have been able to meet sales targets.
— Спасибо, что подменила меня. Без твоей помощи я бы не закрыл план продаж.

— Not at all. It was an interesting experience.
— Да не за что, это был интересный опыт.

Когда благодарят в деловом общении

Если в компании принят неформальный стиль общения, на благодарности коллег вполне нормально реагировать смайликами. А вот для тех, с кем на русском вы бы общались на «вы» — например, зарубежных партнеров или потенциального работодателя после собеседования — лучше подобрать фразу посодержательнее.

Самый знакомый и, если честно, самый нейтральный вариант. Он будет звучать уместно в абсолютном большинстве ситуаций — и в общении на работе, и в кругу друзей, и с новыми знакомыми в баре. Не путайте с «пожалуйста», которое please — оно только для просьб.

Партнерам, коллегам или начальству будет приятно, если вы найдете за что поблагодарить их в ответ — для этого используйте предлог for: thank you for your quick reply/comments/assistance («спасибо за быстрый ответ/комментарии/помощь»). В письме получатель сам расставит акценты, а в разговоре важна интонация — ударение на you.

— I wanna thank the design team for the almost perfect mock-ups.
— Хочу поблагодарить команду дизайнеров за практически идеальные макеты.

— Well, thank you for such a detailed brief.
— Это вам спасибо за такое подробное ТЗ.

Когда действительно выручили

Фразы для самых близких. Их стоит использовать, только если вы действительно имеете это в виду — на вашу помощь и поддержку можно рассчитывать буквально в любой ситуации.

Если понадобится продолжить предложение, to count on — один из тех редких глаголов, которые хорошо сочетаются и с существительным, и с инфинитивом, и с герундием: count on her help («рассчитывать на ее помощь»), count on me to lend you money («рассчитывать, что я одолжу тебе денег»), count on this warm weather lasting («рассчитывать, что теплая погода будет долго длится»).

Два в одном: и готовность прийти на помощь другу в любой ситуации, и вежливая напоминалка, что от друзей вы ожидаете такой же отдачи. За «’d» прячется would — гипотетическая ситуация, которую на русский переводим с частицей «бы».

— I really appreciate that you’ve traveled halfway across the country to support me through the divorce.
— Я правда ценю, что ты проехала полстраны, чтобы поддержать меня во время развода.

— You’re my best friend, and I know you’d do the same for me.
— Ты моя лучшая подруга, и я знаю, ты поступила бы точно так же.

13 Different Ways to Respond to ‘Thank You’

Kate Wight, BA in English

Contributing writer

Cake values integrity and transparency. We follow a strict editorial process to provide you with the best content possible. We also may earn commission from purchases made through affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more in our affiliate disclosure.

In recent years, an interesting linguistic debate has begun to take place. Many young people and people in the service industry have begun saying “no problem” instead of “you’re welcome.” People saying this are generally trying to communicate a positive message.

Jump ahead to these sections:

Namely, they’re trying to say that thanking them for their service isn’t necessary because they’re just doing their job. They also tend to feel that “no problem” is better suited for casual interactions than the more stilted response of “you’re welcome.” This practice has begun to spread outside of the service realm and into day-to-day life.

But saying “no problem” isn’t always well-received. Some people believe that saying “no problem” implies that serving them is a problem, or at least has the potential to be. There ends up being a disconnect between the person delivering the message and the recipient. Here, we explore some other responses you can explore when someone thanks you.

Tip: It’s always appreciated to send someone a nice, handwritten note. We recommend keeping a pack of blank greeting cards around for when the situation arises.

How to Respond to ‘Thank You’ from a Family Member or Friend

Here are some ways you can respond to a thank you from your loved ones.

1. “Anything for you!”

Okay, so you probably don’t mean you would do literally anything for your friend or family member.

You might not help them flee from justice, for instance (although that might depend on what they did). But you would likely do anything in your power and within reason to help a loved one. These three words ably convey that sentiment.

2. “Happy I could be of help.”

When our friends and family members need support, we want to be able to help them however we can.

When we can help them, it is an incredibly gratifying feeling. It’s often all the reward we need. Saying that you’re happy you could help sounds like “you’re welcome,” but it can ultimately be taken at face value.

3. “Don’t mention it.”

This isn’t always an appropriate response. If you work in a customer-facing position, it may give off the same energy that “no problem” does. But for friends and family, this is a more than acceptable response.

If you consistently help a friend and family member out by babysitting or taking them to doctor’s appointments, they’ll thank you every time. Saying “don’t mention it” acknowledges their thanks, while gently letting them know you’re still happy to help.

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How to Respond to ‘Thank You’ at Work

As we stated above, the “no problem” response originated largely in service-oriented positions. If you work in retail or customer service, it may be tempting to default to this response. You may even want to use it if you work in a traditional office setting. But you never know who might find “no problem” to be less-than-polite. These responses convey a similar sentiment in different words.

Here are some ways you can respond to a thank you at work:

4. “I’m happy to be of service.”

This is a great alternative to “no problem” for people working in the service industry. It’s a more upbeat spin on the sentiment that helping someone is no problem.

That’s because you’re happy to be fulfilling the responsibilities of your job. You’re not really changing your message, just the words you’re using to convey it.

5. “I know you would help me if I needed it. I’m glad to do the same for you.”

There’s a saying attributed to author John Maxwell that goes, “Teamwork makes the dream work.” This saying emphasizes the importance of working together in a collaborative environment.

If you have a coworker that helps your work go more smoothly, be sure to repay the favor. And when they thank you, just point out that you didn’t do anything that they wouldn’t do (or haven’t done already).

6. “It’s my pleasure.”

This particular phrase works in basically every type of workplace you can imagine.

Once again, it gives a more positive spin to the message behind the phrase “no problem.” It explicitly states that you’re happy to help. It works for clients and co-workers alike.

How to Reply to a ‘Thank You’ Email

Here are some ways you can respond to a thank you in an email:

7. “My pleasure. Please feel free to reach out to me via this email address should you need help in the future.”

When someone thanks you out loud, your reply is usually a quick one. When you receive an email in gratitude for something, you have more time and space to choose your words carefully.

This particular response communicates that you take pleasure in helping out when you can. It also reinforces that the person you helped is welcome to approach you in the future.

8. “I’m glad to hear everything worked out well.”

Sometimes when you receive a thank you email, the gratitude is part of a longer message.

Perhaps you gave someone advice on how to handle a tricky situation. They may email you to let you know how your advice panned out and thank you for the help. If this is the case, you can simply acknowledge that you’re happy your advice led to a positive outcome.

9. “I was happy to be able to assist you.”

This is yet another variation of “no problem”. Once again, it conveys the same messaging. It just does it in a way that’s a little more palatable to people who might get touchy at the implication that a problem could exist.

It’s also a little more formal than “no problem,” which makes it ideally suited for written correspondence.

Funny Ways to Respond to ‘Thank You’

Often, it’s important to stay polite when responding to someone saying thank you. But on some occasions, it’s okay to keep your reply lighthearted.

Here are some ways you can respond to a thank you in a funny way:

10. “Anytime! Well, as long as it’s convenient for me, that is.”

This tongue-in-cheek response pokes fun at the fact that we often say things like “Anytime” or “Anything for you.” However, when we say those things, there are actually some caveats we might like to employ.

11. “Pas de probleme/de rien.”

If your parents or grandparents have scolded you for saying “no problem” in the past, you may want to avoid saying it around them. But it may still be your preferred way of responding when someone says thank you.

Change it up by saying “pas de probleme” (which translates to “no problem) or “de rien” (which means “it’s nothing”). These sayings sound fancy because it’s in French, but they still mean what you intend to communicate.

How to Respond to Someone Thanking You for a Gift

There are many ways to show gratitude for various occasions. If you give a gift to someone, they will likely immediately thank you in person.

Here are some ways you can respond to a thank you after giving a gift:

12. “I’m so pleased to hear that you liked it. It just really seemed like something you would enjoy.”

When someone thanks you for a present, you could just say “you’re welcome”. But if they’re really effusive with their thanks, they may want to talk more about what inspired you to select a particular present.

This sentiment provides a good segue into talking more about why you thought they’d enjoy a certain gift. It can give them a lot of insight into what you think of them and what you value about them. This can go so much deeper than the typical expression of gratitude and response.

13. “I hope you enjoy it/I hope it helps.”

When we get gifts for people, it’s usually because we think that gift will bring them joy or help them with something they need assistance with. This reply helps clarify the intent of your gift.

How to Respond to Thank You (In Any Situation)

13 Ways to Respond to Thank You

What’s the BEST way to reply to a ‘thank you’?

As you can see in the list above, there are many options to choose from, and they all differ based on the context.

I’ve jotted down a couple of ways to deal with informal and formal situations, so all of the heavy lifting is done! No more need to be a nervous wreck because you don’t know which response is appropriate.

Informal Situations

1. You’re Welcome

Mostly you’ll find yourself in casual situations where there isn’t any pressure to respond professionally.

This is where you’ll also get a majority of your practice in talking and learning the language, because studying grammar in a textbook is a different beast compared to talking to somebody during rush hour in a train station.

Take for example, the following interaction:

You step off a train. The doors are closing. A guy comes running and shouts ‘hold the door!’

Heroically, you decide to help him. But sadly this breaks every bone in your hands.

Guy: “Hey man, thank you for keeping the doors open for me!”

Now here’s test number one. In a situation like this, it isn’t in a professional setting, nor is it related to business or academics. It’s an interaction that needs no fancy reply, or stiff, formal replies.

So you have a wide variety of options:

For now, we’ll go with “you’re welcome” since it’s the most common, reliable response to a thank you at any given time, any place.

Now that you’ve negotiated this tricky social encounter, you can walk to the hospital. Let’s just hope there are no buttons to press along the way.

2. Thank YOU

When replying to thank you, another thank you is a completely viable option.

Take this example. A guy notices your hilarious T-shirt.

You: Thank you, stranger!

Guy: No, thank you! That joke made my day!

You: No thank YOU, that compliment made my day!

Guy: No, no no nononono my friend, thank you!”

Be cautious when matching thank yous, because a simple 3-second interaction could turn into a 5 minute thank-off.

3. My Pleasure

Want to make people like you without having to really do anything?

It’s actually easy to do a small favor for someone and get their approval.

And once the favor is done and you get that coveted thank you…

Give a light smile, lean in and whisper…

Saying my pleasure gives the image of you enjoying the act of helping another person out.

Not only do you get to use a killer response to thank you, but you also score brownie points with that person, which may or may not lead to actual brownies in the future.

There’s an even more useful version of this below. Keep reading!

Formal Situations

On the opposite side of the formality spectrum, you will be thanked a lot in professional settings as well, where the rules from the streets don’t apply.

Sincere, straight to the point replies are key here.

For example, you’re in a meeting with lots of executives.

Your Boss: Jim, thank you for your contributions to the team, I appreciate it very much.

You: You’re very welcome, boss! It was my pleasure!

See? Nothing too fancy or complicated, because in formal situations, simplicity and respect are majorly important. Avoiding slang is also important, because slang is best suited for the everyday casual interaction, not a meeting with an important label executive.

Let’s see how that could’ve gone if there wasn’t any respect, or if you used slang at the wrong time:

Your Boss: Jim, thank you for your contributions to the team, I appreciate it very much.

You, craving an unemployment check in the mail: No biggie, bro. That’s how I roll, you feel me?

Your Boss after security arrives: Get him out of here!

A Magical Alternative to You’re Welcome

It’s always safe to say ‘you’re welcome’, but in the opinion of one of my favorite authors, Robert Cialdini, it’s a missed opportunity.

Here’s what he recommends you say instead:

I know you’d do the same for me.

The genius of this phrase is threefold:

Then the next time you need help, this person is more likely to offer!

Quick Questions

What is the best response to a thank you?

The best response to a thank you is ‘you’re welcome’, which fits every occasion.

How do you respond to a thank you from your boss?

To respond to a thank you from your boss, say:

Should you respond to a thank you email?

You should respond to a thank you email. It can strengthen your relationship. Just keep the message brief.

Is it rude to say you’re welcome?

It is not rude to say you’re welcome. It’s one of the most polite phrases in English!

So there you have it! Replying to thank you can be hard if you don’t understand the nuances of how and why to reply in different ways.

But that’s a thing of the past now. I’ve armed you with the knowledge of how to kill it when replying, now go out there and get thanked so you can get some practice in!