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"you're welcome" in seven languages

Meaningyou're welcome

Spanish

de nada

/de ˈnada/

other source · Latin (RĒS) NĀTA '(a thing) born', hence 'anything' and then 'nothing'

French

de rien

/də ʁjɛ̃/

other source · Latin RĒM 'thing'

Italian

prego

/ˈprɛgo/

other source · Latin PRECOR 'I pray, I beg'

Also 'please, go ahead' when offering something.

Portuguese

de nada

/dʒi ˈnadɐ/

other source · Latin (RĒS) NĀTA '(a thing) born', hence 'anything' and then 'nothing'

Romanian

cu plăcere

/ku pləˈtʃere/

other source · Romanian 'with pleasure' (plăcea ← Latin PLACĒRE)

Catalan

de res

/də res/

other source · Latin RĒM 'thing'

English

you're welcome

/jʊɹ ˈwɛlkəm/

native English · Old English wilcuma

English → Italianyou're welcomepregoNot relatedDifferent sources — learn this one fresh.What English and Italian share

The story

Spanish and French both answer 'of nothing', and both words for nothing began as 'something': nada was (RĒS) NĀTA 'a thing born', rien was RĒM 'a thing'. Italian prego is 'I pray (you)'.

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In a sentence

  • es—¡Gracias! —De nada.
  • fr— Merci ! — De rien.
  • it— Grazie! — Prego.
  • pt— Obrigado! — De nada.
  • ro— Mulțumesc! — Cu plăcere.
  • ca— Gràcies! — De res.
  • en— Thanks! — You're welcome.

More in Greetings & courtesy

All Greetings & courtesy words