Thanks

How to spell thanks

6 letters · 1 syllable

How to pronounce thanks

What does thanks mean?

1. interjectionA casual expression used to acknowledge a favour, gift, or kindness.
2. nounAn expression of gratitude or appreciation.
3. verbThird-person singular present of 'thank': to express gratitude to someone.

Thanks in a sentence

• interjection

  Thanks for picking up the parcel while nobody was home.

• noun

  The volunteers deserve our heartfelt thanks for their long hours.

• verb

  She always thanks the driver before stepping off the bus.

• interjection

  She gave him a quick wave and a cheerful thanks.

• noun

  He offered his thanks to the team before the meeting ended.

• verb

  He quietly thanks each guest as they leave the dinner.

Where does thanks come from?

Language of origin: Germanic

This word descends from the Old English noun 'thanc', which originally meant a thought, a kindly feeling, or goodwill rather than gratitude specifically. It belongs to a wide Germanic family, sharing roots with the German 'Dank' and the Dutch 'dank', all going back to a prehistoric Germanic word tied to the verb 'think'; gratitude was understood as the warm thought you hold toward someone who has helped you. Over the centuries the sense narrowed from 'kindly thought' to the modern idea of acknowledging a favour, and the plural form 'thanks' became the everyday expression. Because it grew directly out of native English rather than being borrowed from Latin or French, the spelling stayed short and plain, with the 'th' and the silent-feeling 'k' before the 's' being its only mild quirks. The connection to 'think' is a useful memory hook: thanks are the good thoughts you offer in return.

How the word is built

• thank (from Old English thanc: gratitude, kindly thought)
• -s (plural noun / third-person verb ending)