Like in many major Indian languages, thank you in Telugu is a variation of the Sanskrit word Dhanyavadah, which is Dhanyavadalu (ధన్యవాదాలు). It’s the same word but with a different pronunciation. In old Telugu, or Accha Telugu, there used to be two more words: Dhanyosmi (ధన్యోస్మి) and Nenarlu (నేనర్లు), but both are no longer used or appear extremely rarely in some literature.
In modern times, due to the influence of English, everyone says “thanks.” Most Telugu people can understand basic English words, but depending on the context, how you say thanks can impact how people perceive you. With that in mind, let’s see how you can say thank you in Telugu in various contexts.
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Saying Thank You In Telugu
The simplest way to say thank you in Telugu is Dhanyavaadalu (ధన్యవాదాలు), pronounced Dhan-ya-wa-dhaa-lu. This formal phrase is often used in professional or respectful settings.
For casual conversations, Chaala Thanks (చాలా థాంక్స్) or just Thanks (థాంక్స్) is enough due to assimilation. If you know these three words, you can thank anyone in 90% of the situations.
But since we’re learning to say thanks with various contexts in mind, let’s see the other ways to express gratitude genuinely.
If You Receive Something
When you receive something, you can thank those who helped you by saying Tecchinanduku Chalaa Thanks (తెచ్చినందుకు చాలా థాంక్స్), which means “Thank you very much for bringing it.” If you want to be more specific, you can insert the item before the phrase.
And, if you intend to make it formal, add the suffix andi (అండి) at the end.
- Thanks for bringing the food/drinks – Food/Drinks Tecchinanduku Chalaa Thanks, Andi (ఫుడ్/డ్రింక్స్ తెచ్చినందుకు థాంక్స్, అండి)
If You Receive A Favor
Favors come in all shapes and sizes. You may need a lift somewhere, or help setting up your computer, and you can ask while having a simple conversation in Telugu.
More often than not, a favor includes someone telling, showing, giving, or guiding you with something.
So, if someone tells you or guides you with something, you can say:
- Thanks for telling me – Cheppinanduku Chala Thanks (చెప్పినందుకు చాలా థాంక్స్)
If someone shows you something, you can say:
- Thanks for showing – Chupinchinanduku Chala Thanks (చూపించినందుకు చాలా థాంక్స్)
And if someone gives you something, you can say:
- Thanks for giving – Icchinanduku Chala Thanks (ఇచ్చినందుకు చాలా థాంక్స్)
If You Receive A Compliment
Let’s say someone compliments you. Maybe they’re impressed with your Telugu, they like your outfit, or they learned that you’ve been traveling in Telugu regions for the past six months. In such instances, you should be able to thank them and gracefully accept the compliment. Let’s see how that’s done.
If someone appreciates your language skills and says you’ve done a great job, you can say:
- Thanks. I learned Telugu from the Ling app – Thanks, Nenu Ling app lo Telugu Nerchukunnanu (థాంక్స్, నేను Ling యాప్ లో తెలుగు నేర్చుకున్నాను)
If someone compliments the things you carry, you can say:
- Thanks, I got these at _____ – Thanks, Nenu Veetini _____ lo Konnanu (థాంక్స్, నేను వీటిని []లో కొన్నాను)
If someone compliments something you do, you can say:
- Thanks, I have “X” years of experience – Thanks, Naku “X” Ellu Experience Undi (థాంక్స్, నాకు “x” ఏళ్ల ఎక్స్పీరియన్స్ ఉంది)
Or you could say:
- Thanks, I learned from _____ – Thanks, Nenu _____ Daggara Nerchukunnanu (థాంక్స్, నేను [] దగ్గర నేర్చుకున్నాను)
If someone compliments something that’s on you, like a dress/outfit or a bag, you can say:
- Thanks, yours looks great as well. – Thanks, Meedi Kuda Chala Bagundi (థాంక్స్, మీది కూడా చాలా బాగుంది).
If You Receive Gifts
Receiving a gift or a hamper is always a delightful experience, and expressing your gratitude is essential. The way you thank someone depends on the nature of the gift.
For a thoughtful gift, you can say:
- This gift is very special. Thank you so much – Idi Chala Special Gift. Chala Thanks (ఇది చాలా స్పెషల్ గిఫ్ట్. చాలా థాంక్స్)
If You Are Invited
Let’s say you have a friend who invited you to their home or an event as a gesture of warmth; then you can say the following.
If you cannot attend:
- Thanks for the invite, but I cannot make it – Nannu Invite Chesinanduku Thanks, Kani Nenu Ralenu (నన్ను ఇన్వైట్ చేసినందుకు థాంక్స్, కానీ నేను రాలేను)
If you did attend:
- The event was great, thanks for inviting me – Event Bagundi, Invite Chesinanduku Thanks (ఈవెంట్ బాగుంది, ఇన్వైట్ చేసినందుకు థాంక్స్)
How To Respond To Thank You In Telugu
I’ve covered how to say thank you in Telugu in some common situations. Now, let’s see how you can respond when you are at the receiving end of thanks.
| English | Telugu | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| It’s okay | అదేం పర్వాలేదు | Adem Parvaledu |
| No big deal | ఇదేమి పెద్ద విషయం కాదు | Idem Pedda Vishayam Kadu |
| Don’t mention | అదేం చెప్పొద్ధు | Adem Cheppoddu |
| You’re my friend | నువ్వు నా ఫ్రెండ్ | Nuvvu Naa Friend |
| You’re Welcome | మీకు స్వాగతం | Meeku Swaagatam |
| Let me know if you need anything else | ఇంకేమైనా కావాలంటే చెప్పండి | Inkemaina Kavalante Cheppu |
Telugu Culture-Specific Tips
Here are a couple more things you should keep in mind when saying thank you in Telugu:
- Always use the suffix andi (అండి) when you are conversing with strangers or elders to keep the conversation formal. You can replace these with “Madam” or “Sir” if you are in an urban area.
- Don’t forget to smile. That’s a universal expression that opens many doors.
- Bring your hands together like Namaste while saying thanks. Don’t go in trying to shake someone’s hand, because a handshake is not something we do a lot. Learn about Indian gestures so you can avoid awkward situations.
How Do You Say Thank You In Telugu?
Generally, thank you in Telugu is pronounced as Dhanyavadalu (ధన్యవాదాలు). Dhan-ya-wa-the-lu.
FAQs On Saying Thank You In Telugu
1. How Do You Say Thank You Casually In Telugu?
You can say Thanks (థాంక్స్) or Chaala Thanks (చాలా థాంక్స్) in informal occasions.
2. If I Say “Nenarlu” Instead Of “Dhanyavadalu,” Will People Understand?
Probably not. Some elderly people might understand, but only if they are educated. Anyone else would be perplexed.
3. What Are Some Polite Ways To Express Gratitude In Telugu?
To express gratitude politely, you can use Dhanyavaadalu (ధన్యవాదాలు) or add a respectful gesture like a smile or a head nod.
Let’s Summarize Our Learning
We’ve learned how to say thank you in Telugu based on various contexts, to add andi (అండి) at the end to make it a formal phrase, and some ways to respond to thanks. On top of that, we discovered that due to the influence of English, 99% of people will have no trouble understanding “thank you.”
You should have no issues if you stick to these phrases and practice. And while you’re at it, take a look at our post on Telugu sentence structure. It has many examples that can help you form your sentences correctly while thanking others, making it easier for you to continue your conversations.
