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French Phrase

Merci d'avoir appelé.

/mɛʁ.si da.vwaʁ a.pə.le/
Meaning"Thanks for calling."
💡

Meaning

This phrase literally translates to "Thanks for having called." It's a polite and common way to express gratitude to someone who has made a phone call, especially in a professional or customer service context. It acknowledges their action of calling.

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When to use

You would typically use this phrase at the end of a phone conversation, particularly when you are the recipient of the call. It's suitable for both formal and informal situations, but it's especially prevalent in customer service, business calls, or when concluding a conversation where the other person initiated contact.

✦Grammar Breakdown

Mercid'avoir appelé

1

Merci de/d'

'Merci' means 'thank you'. When expressing gratitude for an action, it's often followed by 'de' (or 'd'' before a vowel) and then an infinitive or a noun. Here, 'd'' is a contraction of 'de' before 'avoir'.

2

Avoir appelé (Past Infinitive)

This is the 'infinitif passé' (past infinitive) construction, formed with the infinitive of the auxiliary verb (avoir or être) and the past participle of the main verb. It's used to refer to an action that has already been completed, in this case, the act of calling.

3

Appelé (Past Participle)

'Appelé' is the past participle of the verb 'appeler' (to call). In the past infinitive with 'avoir', the past participle generally does not agree unless there is a direct object preceding it, which is not the case here.

🗨In Conversation

A

Bonjour, je vous appelle concernant ma commande.

Hello, I'm calling you regarding my order.

D'accord, merci d'avoir appelé. Comment puis-je vous aider?

Alright, thanks for calling. How can I help you?

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Merci pour appeler.

    After 'merci de/d'' when expressing gratitude for an action, you must use the infinitive past (avoir + past participle) or a noun. 'Pour' is generally followed by a noun or an infinitive indicating purpose, not for thanking for a completed action.

  • Merci d'avoir appelle.

    The past participle of 'appeler' is 'appelé'. It must agree in gender and number with the direct object if it precedes the verb, but in this case, it's part of the infinitive past construction and remains 'appelé'.

↔Alternatives

  • Merci de votre appel.

    Thank you for your call.

  • Je vous remercie d'avoir appelé.

    I thank you for calling. (More formal)

  • Merci de m'avoir contacté.

    Thanks for contacting me.

fr

Cultural Tip

In French, politeness is highly valued, especially in formal interactions. Using phrases like "Merci d'avoir appelé" demonstrates good manners and professionalism. While it's common in customer service, it can also be used in personal contexts to show appreciation. The use of 'vous' (as in 'Je vous remercie') adds a layer of formality, which is often preferred in initial interactions or with strangers.