How to Casually Say “Thank You” in English

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Maybe you’d like to thank a friend for some help, but don’t feel like “thanks” is enough. However, “Thank you very much” — the other option you learned in your English lessons — sounds too formal.

To help learners just like yourself, we’ve put together this list of casual ways to say “thank you.”

Note: Casual expressions of gratitude vary widely between English-speaking countries, so below we’ve labeled each expression as either “AmE” (American English), “BrE” (British English) or both.

Thank you so much. (AmE, BrE)

“Thank you so much” is a stronger way to say “thank you.” People also say, “Thanks so much" for short.

“This is amazing. Thanks so much!”
“Thank you so much for your help!”

I appreciate it! (AmE, BrE)

It’s common to add “I appreciate it!” or simply “appreciate it!” after a thank you.

“Thanks, appreciate it!”
“Thanks for your help. I really appreciate it!”

I owe you one. (AmE, BrE)

If you “owe” something to someone, you need to give something back to them.

If someone has done you a favor, you can reply to them with “I owe you one.” “One” in this situation means “a favor (in return).” So basically, what you’re saying is “I owe you a favor” or “I need to help you out next time!” Some people also just say “I owe you” for short.

“Thanks for covering my shift when I was sick. I owe you one.”
“Thanks for helping me work on this report so I could hand it in on time! I owe you!”

You’re a lifesaver! (AmE, BrE)

If you think someone helped you a lot, even if they didn’t actually save your life, you can call them a “lifesaver.”

“Thanks so much for your help with this. You’re a lifesaver!”
“You’re a lifesaver! I could have been fired if it weren’t for you.”

You’ll also hear people say words like “hero” or “star” instead of “lifesaver.”

Thanks a lot/bunch/ton/million. (AmE, BrE)

“Thanks a lot” is a common way to casually thank someone.

“This is super helpful. Thanks a lot!”
“Thanks a lot for the birthday presents!”

A more informal version of this is “thanks a bunch.” “A bunch” is a casual way to say “a lot.”

“This is so nice of you. Thanks a bunch!”
“Thanks a bunch for helping me with dinner.”

You’ll also hear people say “Thanks a ton” or “Thanks a million.” You might be familiar with the “tonne” or “metric ton,” which is 1000 kilograms. Well, a “ton” is a traditional unit of weight that’s either 907 or 1016 kilograms depending on the country.

So if you say “Thanks a ton” or “Thanks a million,” you’re extremely grateful for the help you received.

“Thanks a ton for helping me with this project. I owe you one.”
“Thanks a million for all you do! You’re a lifesaver.”

Keep in mind that people don’t say “Thank you a lot/bunch/ton/million.” It’s always “Thanks a lot/bunch/ton/million.”

Note: We marked this expression as both American and British English, but you will want to be careful about using it outside the US, because it is more likely to be taken sarcastically.

Cheers! (BrE)

“Cheers” is a more informal way for people in the UK to say “thanks”. Multiple surveys, including this 2019 poll of 2000 Brits, have found that “Cheers” is the most common way to thank someone in the British English.

“Cheers, mate!”
“Cheers for that!”

"Cheers" is also commonly used in countries such as Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand. Some Americans now also use it in writing, but you’ll rarely hear someone saying it instead of “thanks.”

Thanks for reading!

Which of these expressions did you like the most? Try to use it the next time you need to say “thank you” in English.

Want to know if a thank you card you’re writing is polite enough? Or whether the way you learned to say “thank you” in English classes is actually used? Or just want help improving your English?

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