gratias, quaeso (Thanks and Please)

Thank You and Please

Level 1

Thank with gratias and ask politely with quaeso.

How It Works

LatinEnglish
Gratias!Thanks!
Gratias tibi ago.Thank you (one person).
Gratias vobis ago.Thank you (several people).
Quaeso.Please.
Sis.Please (if you like).

Gratias sounds like GRAH-tee-ahs in classical Latin and GRAHT-see-ahs in Church Latin. The prayer Deo gratias (thanks be to God) uses the same word.

Gratia means grace, favor or thanks, so gratias is literally graces. Church Latin keeps the phrase in the Gloria: Gratias agimus tibi (we give you thanks).

Quaeso can stand almost anywhere in a request. Sis is shorter and more casual, like please in English. A reply to thanks is Nihil est (it is nothing) or Libenter (gladly).

Examples (4)

  1. Gratias!

    Thanks!

    The shortest way to say thank you.

  2. Gratias tibi ago, Marce.

    Thank you, Marcus.

    Tibi means to you, and Marce is the vocative.

  3. Gratias vobis ago, amici.

    Thank you, friends.

    Vobis means to you all.

  4. Aquam, quaeso.

    Water, please.

    Quaeso follows the request.

How It Connects

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gratias, quaeso (Thanks and Please)Level 1Thank You and Please

Learn This First

These polite words follow the greetings.

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Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

quaesosisgratias agonihil estquaeso