What Does "Thank You Kindly" Mean?

Download Article

Using “Thank you kindly," and other English phrases of gratitude

Co-authored by Tami Claytor and Luke Smith, MFA

Last Updated: July 31, 2023 Fact Checked

Download Article

Meaning

|

Using “Thank You Kindly”

|

Alternatives

|

Grammar

|

Related Phrases

|

Expert Interview

|

Tips

In English, there are many variations of the phrase “Thank you,” and “Thank you kindly” is one of the more cordial and agreeable forms. It’s sometimes seen as a bit old-fashioned or regional (since it’s most often said in southern parts of the U.S.), but it’s a warm and common expression of gratitude nonetheless. We’ll fill you in on exactly what it means and how to use it, as well as break down its grammatical structure. Plus, we’ll give you some valuable alternatives and related phrases to expand your vocabulary.

Things You Should Know

“Thank you kindly” is a way of saying “Thank you” that emphasizes your own appreciation for the other person’s words or actions.
Use “Thank you kindly” to accept compliments, close personal or professional emails, or express your gratitude for a gift or a gesture.
Other ways to say “Thank you kindly” include “Thank you so much,” “Much appreciated,” and “I can’t thank you enough.”

Section 1 of 5:

“Thank You Kindly” Meaning

Download Article

“Thank you kindly” is an especially courteous way of thanking someone. It’s used when someone wants to emphasize how thankful they are to another person. ^{[1]
X
Research source} It adds a bit of enthusiasm to a thank-you message, letting the recipient know that they’re appreciated and that the person saying it is truly grateful. It’s thought that the phrase originated from Irish immigrants in America, who often embellished their speech with extra words or phrases. ^{[2]
X
Research source}
- Person 1: “Here, I thought you might like some mangoes.”
- Person 2: “Oh! Thank you kindly!”

Section 2 of 5:

Using “Thank You Kindly”

Download Article

1
Say “Thank you kindly” to show appreciation for someone. We often want to tell people “thank you” for things they’ve done for us or to express appreciation, like thanking a teacher for their help. In these situations, use “Thank you kindly” to let the other person know how much their words or actions mean to you.
- “Thank you kindly for helping me study for my English test.”
- “The pie was great. Thank you kindly for the slice.”
2
Use “Thank you kindly” to close personal or professional letters. When sending emails or letters, especially in a business setting, a cordial sign-off is important to show respect for the person you’re writing to. Use “Thank you kindly” as a closing greeting in your emails or letters to let the recipient know that you value their time and that you’re grateful they took a moment to read it.
- “I’ll see you at the meeting tomorrow! Thank you kindly, -Amy”
- “Thank you kindly for your time. -Mark”
3
Use “Thank you kindly” to accept gifts or praise. Accepting compliments can be a bit awkward for people who aren’t used to them, but a quick, “Thank you,” usually does the trick. ^{[3]
X
Research source} To make your thanks a little more special, though, say, “Thank you kindly,” to let the other person know that you appreciate the effort they took to give you the compliment or gift.
- Person 1: “I really loved your speech! It was so thoughtful.”
- Person 2: “Thank you kindly!”
4
Say “Thank you kindly” after you decline an invitation or request. When someone asks you to go somewhere or do something for them, it can feel awkward to politely turn them down . Make it a bit less awkward by thanking them for the opportunity afterward. ^{[4]
X
Research source} Saying, “Thank you kindly,” lets them know that you appreciate the gesture, even if you can’t or won’t accept it.
- Person 1: “Will you come to the concert with me tonight?”
- Person 2: “No, I can’t go tonight, but thank you kindly for the invitation.”
5
Use “Thank you kindly” sarcastically to express disapproval. In English, people use sarcasm to express scorn at what another person does or says, usually by saying something that means the opposite of what it usually means. ^{[5]
X
Research source} Use “Thank you kindly” to let someone know that their actions were foolish or aren’t appreciated.
- Person 1: “I’m in a hurry, so I’m going to cut you in line, okay?”
- Person 2 (sarcastically): “Oh, well, thank you kindly for that.”

Section 3 of 5:

Alternatives to “Thank You Kindly”

Download Article

1
Thank you so much This is a simple and straightforward way to express your gratitude. “So much” emphasizes “thank you,” making this a slightly more earnest alternative to just a plain “Thank you.” You might also say something like, “Many thanks” or, “Thanks a million,” which suggest that just one thank you isn’t enough to express your appreciation. ^{[6]
X
Research source}
- “Thank you so much for all you do.”
- “I loved the flowers you sent, thank you so much.”
2
Cheers This is commonly used to sign off on emails or letters. ^{[7]
X
Research source} More broadly, though, it’s a general and informal word of thanks, derived from the ceremonial toast given while drinking. Use it as a brief or casual word of thanks.
- “The meal was excellent. Cheers.”
- “Cheers for the ride.”
3
Much obliged This is a formal way of saying, “Thank you.” ^{[8]
X
Research source} To be “obliged” means to be in someone’s debt, or bound to them. To say “Much obliged,” means that, in a sense, you have an obligation to someone because of what they’ve done for you. That said, people don’t often expect others to actually follow through on that obligation.
- “Thank you for dinner, I’m much obliged.”
- “I’m much obliged for your company, but I have to be going now.”
4
I can’t thank you enough This is a more formal way of saying that words aren’t enough to express your gratitude. ^{[9]
X
Research source} It’s often used when somebody does an enormous favor for someone else, or made a particular effort to help someone.
- “I really can’t thank you enough for watching the kids.”
- “You didn’t have to make me lunch. I can’t thank you enough.
5
I owe you one This is an informal way of saying that you’re indebted to another person. ^{[10]
X
Research source} “One” is an intentionally vague term that usually refers to a favor you might perform in return for what the other person has done for you.
- “Thanks for walking my dog! I owe you one.”
- “It's so sweet of your to do that, and I owe you one.”
6
You shouldn’t have This phrase is often used after receiving a gift, or when someone does a favor for you. ^{[11]
X
Research source} It’s a casual and deferential way to say that, in a way, you don’t deserve the effort they made to do something nice for you.
- “You went all that way to get me a coffee? You shouldn’t have!”
- “This dress is really too nice. Thank you for buying it, but you shouldn’t have.”

Section 4 of 5:

Is “Thank you kindly” grammatically correct?

Download Article

Yes, “Thank you kindly” uses proper grammar. Some people scratch their heads at the word “kindly” in the phrase, believing that it’s a misplaced adverb used as a substitute for “please,” as in, “Kindly take out the trash.” But in “Thank you kindly,” “kindly” means “in a kind manner,” rather than a word that indicates a request. When used like this, “kindly” is an adverb that comes after and describes the verb, “Thank you.” ^{[12]
X
Research source}
- When we consider this, we can see that “Thank you kindly” actually means, “I thank you in a kind manner.”

Section 5 of 5:

Related Phrases

Download Article

1
Kindly tell me… In this phrase, “kindly” is interchangeable with “please.” It’s an imperative adverb that precedes a request. ^{[13]
X
Research source} It means, “Would you be kind and tell me…” Use “kindly” before any request to make it more cordial. You might also see variations, like, “Would you kindly,” or, “Can you kindly…”
- “Kindly give this to your sister.”
- “Would you kindly tell me the time?”
2
I don’t take kindly to… If you “don’t take kindly” to something, it means you don’t appreciate it, or don’t respond well to it. ^{[14]
X
Research source} Here, “kindly” describes a sort of reaction that might be nice or cordial, but this reaction is negated by the words “don’t take,” and so the phrase becomes negative overall.
- “I don’t take kindly to being pushed around.”
- “They don’t take kindly to being called names.”
3
A kindly person “Kindly” can also be an adjective, as well as an adverb. In this case, it means “nice” or “agreeable.” ^{[15]
X
Research source} Use it to describe things that are pleasant, or that you enjoy.
- “The kindly man offered us some tea.”
- “A kindly dog licked my hand and let me pet its head."

Expert Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Tips

“Thank you kindly” is sometimes shortened to just, “Thanks kindly,” which means the same thing.

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

Submit a Tip

All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published

Name

Please provide your name and last initial

Submit

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

[15]

Log in

What Does "Thank You Kindly" Mean?

Things You Should Know

Steps

“Thank You Kindly” Meaning

Using “Thank You Kindly”

Alternatives to “Thank You Kindly”

Is “Thank you kindly” grammatically correct?

Related Phrases

Expert Q&A

Tips

You Might Also Like

Expert Interview

References

About This Article

Did this article help you?

Quizzes

You Might Also Like

Featured Articles

Trending Articles

Featured Articles

Featured Articles

Watch Articles

Trending Articles

Quizzes

Explore Categories