SpeeekDownload on the App Store
Back to At The Restaurant

French Phrase

Merci d'avoir attendu.

/mɛʁ.si d‿a.vwaʁ a.tɑ̃.dy/
Meaning"Thank you for having waited."
💡

Meaning

A polite way to thank someone for having waited. It acknowledges that the listener spent time waiting and expresses gratitude for their patience.

🎯

When to use

Use this phrase right after the person you’re speaking to has waited for you—whether it’s after a meeting, a service delay, or simply after a brief pause. It works in both formal and informal settings, though it leans slightly more toward a courteous tone.

✦Grammar Breakdown

Mercid'avoirattendu

1

Merci + de + infinitif

After 'merci', the preposition 'de' (contracted to d' before a vowel) introduces an infinitive verb to express thanks for an action.

2

Infinitive passé composé

The construction 'avoir + past participle' after 'merci' refers to a completed action in the past.

3

Past participle agreement

With 'avoir' the past participle 'attendu' does not agree with the subject unless a direct object precedes it.

🗨In Conversation

A

Merci d'avoir attendu.

Thank you for waiting.

Pas de problème, je vous en prie.

No problem, you’re welcome.

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Merci pour avoir attendu.

    Use 'de' (contracted to d') after 'merci' when followed by an infinitive verb.

  • Merci d'attendre.

    The past infinitive (avoir + past participle) is needed because the waiting is already completed.

  • Merci d'avoir attendu ?

    Do not add a question mark unless you are actually asking a question; the phrase is a statement of thanks.

↔Alternatives

  • Merci d'avoir patienté.

    Thank you for having been patient.

  • Je vous remercie d'avoir attendu.

    I thank you for having waited.

  • Merci d'avoir attendu un moment.

    Thanks for waiting a moment.

fr

Cultural Tip

In French, 'merci de' is the standard way to thank someone for an action, while 'merci pour' is used with nouns (e.g., 'merci pour le cadeau'). The contracted form 'd'' appears before a vowel or mute h, so 'de' becomes 'd'' in 'd'avoir'. Using the past infinitive (avoir + past participle) signals that the waiting is already finished, which sounds more natural than the present infinitive 'merci d'attendre' unless you are thanking someone while they are still waiting.