Merci de vs Merci pour


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Thank you for …

There are various ways to say “thank you” in French which you can use however you like when speaking in general. But when you want to name the object of your appreciation, there’s a bit of grammar involved.

Depending on what you’re actually saying "thank you" for, you must choose between two prepositions: de and pour.

Merci pour + noun

To say thank someone for something specific in the form of a noun, especially a concrete noun,* use pour.

Par exemple…

Merci beaucoup pour les vêtements.		Thank you very much for the clothes.
Je te remercie pour le déjeuner.		Thank you for lunch.
Remerciez-la de ma part pour les livres.		Thank her for me for the books.
Je tiens à vous exprimer notre gratitude pour votre gentillesse.		I wish to express our gratitude for your kindness.
En vous remerciant pour votre assistance, nous espérons …		Thanking you for your assistance, we hope …

Merci de + verb

Use de to thank someone for doing something (expressed with the French infinitive or past infinitive).

Par exemple…

C’est gentil de votre part de le dire.		It’s kind of you to say so.
Je te remercie de l’avoir trouvé.		Thank you for finding it.
Merci de m’avoir accompagné.		Thank you for accompanying me.
Merci mille fois de nous avoir aidés.		Thanks a million for helping us.
En vous remerciant de m’avoir parlé, je voudrais …		Thanking you for speaking to me, I’d like to …

* De is also sometimes used with abstract nouns and sounds more elegant.

Merci bien de votre assistance.		Thank you for your help.
Merci de toutes vos bontés.		Thank you for all your kindness.
Je vous remercie du soutien.		Thank you for your support.
Merci de votre attention.		Thank you for your attention.