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How to Say ‘Thank you, ma'am.’ in French

Merci à vous, madame.

mehr-see ah voo mah-dam

[mehr-see ah voo mah-dam]

💬 Usage Tip: Merci à vous means 'thank YOU', sending the thanks back. With a friend it's Merci à toi.

🇫🇷 In France: Saying madame without a surname is the normal polite way to address a jury member in France. It isn't stiff at all.

Phrase Breakdown

Merci à vous,

mehr-see ah voo

Thank you,

'Merci à vous' is a polite 'thank you' that puts emphasis on the other person.

Example

Merci à vous tous.

Thanks to all of you.

Words in this phrase

Merci

[mehr-see]

thanks

Merci means thanks or thank you.

Example

« Oh, merci. » est une réponse simple et naturelle à un compliment.

“Oh, thanks.” is a simple and natural response to a compliment.

à

[ah]

to

Used with infinitive verbs to indicate purpose.

Example

Elle commence à chanter.

She begins to sing.

vous

[voo]

you

Used to refer to the person or people being addressed.

Example

Vous aimez le film?

Do you like the movie?

madame.

mah-dam

ma'am.

This is a polite way to address a woman. Stress the last syllable lightly: [ma-DAM].

Example

Bonjour, madame.

Hello, ma'am.

Words in this phrase

madame

[mah-dam]

Madam / Ma'am

Polite title for a female teacher or adult woman.

Example

En parlant à la professeure, je dis : « Super, merci beaucoup Madame. »

When speaking to the female teacher, I say: “Great, thank you very much, Madam.”

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