It fascinates me how in many languages the word for 'thank' or 'gratitude' comes from a different word with a similar but different meaning. Some examples:
In English and other Germanic languages, 'thank' is related to 'think', the idea being that if you think of someone, you thank them (or maybe the other way around).
In Latin, 'gratia' had a host of meanings: grace, agreeableness, favor, and also gratitude and thanks. (This is also the origin of 'gracias' in Spanish and 'grazie' in Italian, I believe.)
In French, 'merci' is related to the English 'mercy'. (I forgot exactly how. If someone knows, please tell.)
In Hebrew, 'to thank' and 'to acknowledge/admit' are the same word (lehodot - להודות).
In Hawaiian, 'mahalo' means thanks, and also admiration.
So my question is, does anyone know of other side meanings that words for thanks or gratitude have in other languages, or can you elaborate on anything I've said above?
2007-07-01 04:02:16 · 12 answers · asked by Sextus Marius 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
I don't want to know just how to say 'thanks' in different languages. There are web sites that list how to say 'thanks' in hundreds of languages. What I'm interested in is what additional meanings the word for 'thanks' or 'gratitude' has in different languages, meanings such as thinking, favor, agreeableness, grace, mercy, acknowledgement, admiration, from the examples I gave.
2007-07-01 04:14:45 · update #1
indonesian: terima kasih
terima means to except, and kasih means love
so thank you means that you've excepted love/caring affection from someone and thus you thank them
korean: kamsa hamnida
it just means to thank
but there are other variations of thank yous.
for example, if someone gives you something to eat, you shall say "jal mogkessumnida" which actually means "I'm gonna eat it well" - but it means thank you.
you can basically say "jal + any verb" to say that you're thankful (by saying you're gonna use/do it good)
japanese : arigatou
chinese : xie xie
2007-07-01 15:14:01 · answer #1 · answered by clueless 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I Dutch there may be: zandzeepsodemineraalwatersteenstralen (37) = to f*ck off elektriciteitsproductiemaatschappij (35) = electrical power construction enterprise hottentottententententoonstelling (33) = exhibition of tents of the khoikhoi (local black Africans of southwestern Africa) edit: In French, it is "anticonstitutionnellement" (with two n's) I understand it's no longer convenient for English talking men and women, however in French, the n is more commonly doubled. individual -> workforce constitutional -> constitutionnel revolutional -> révolutionnel
2016-09-05 11:34:22 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In Slovak thank you and gratitude have the same root - Thank you is Ďakujem (meaning I thank you, infinitive is Ďakovať) and gratitude is Vďaka (this can also be used for saying thank you). There´s no other meaning of the root "ďak", the root itself doesn´t mean anything.
2007-07-01 04:56:12 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
In Portuguese you use 'obrigado' which means thank you.
obrigado - masc. / obrigada - fem.
Muito obrigado (a) - Thank you very much
Another way for you to say that is 'grato' or 'muito grato'. They mean grateful (grato) and very grateful (muito grato).
grato - mas. / grata - fem.
People also use 'valeu', but it's very informal. That word is normally used by young people. It does not sound very polite though.
2007-07-01 12:26:12 · answer #4 · answered by Bella 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In Farsi: Merci (like the French "Thank You")
- Thank you my dear: مرسي عزيزم (merci azizam)
2007-07-04 08:30:53 · answer #5 · answered by compaq presario 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
In Arabic (shokren) شكراً
I don't know exactly other meanings for this word
2007-07-01 04:51:42 · answer #6 · answered by morningroses05 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
In Indonesian (I hope you know this country) terima kasih. Terima means accept or approve. Kasih means love, or it can be gratitude too.
So Terima Kasih means please accept my gratitude. Isn't it beautiful?
2007-07-01 05:17:48 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Mahalo nui loa roots from giving praise to ancient hawai'i which is now mahalo or mahalo nui loa "thank you" for thanks and respect.
2007-07-01 04:17:56 · answer #8 · answered by kuleana 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Shuhnorhagalem (Armenian)
Shookran (Arabic)
Tesekkur (Turkish)
2007-07-01 10:57:53 · answer #9 · answered by Talar 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
in Japanese, 'arigatou' means....
fortunately, somebody did to me very good thing. it's seldom happen
very beautiful word... i love that!!!
2007-07-07 13:13:19 · answer #10 · answered by askawow 47 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋