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You're Welcome (?)

C

citizenzen

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Mar 22, 2010
1,543
11,788
"You're Welcome"

I posted this phrase today and afterward wondered about its origins. It turns out that it wasn't popularized until the twentieth century. I searched to find what people said before "You're welcome" became popular but haven't found anything yet. Is there anybody here who could enlighten me?

Thank you.
 
citizenzen said:
"You're Welcome"

I posted this phrase today and afterward wondered about its origins. It turns out that it wasn't popularized until the twentieth century. I searched to find what people said before "You're welcome" became popular but haven't found anything yet. Is there anybody here who could enlighten me?

Thank you.
Click to expand...
I don't think we have any members who are 110 years old
 
What do we say besides, "you're welcome?"

Depending on the situation, you may say, "it's no bother," "my pleasure," "happy to oblige."

"You're welcome" just became a quick response to eliminate the need to specifically think of a response to, "thank you."

How do you respond to, "how are you doing?" More than likely, you mindlessly say, "fine" and the other person doesn't have genuine interest in how you're doing.
 
MrCheeto said:
"You're welcome" just became a quick response to eliminate the need to specifically think of a response to, "thank you."
Click to expand...

It's no shorter than "it's no bother," "my pleasure," "happy to oblige."

I was reading a blog complaining how "you're welcome" was being usurped by "no problem"... as if "you're welcome" held some sacred place in the English language.

Now I find it's just a Johnny-come-lately.
 
What I'm saying is, it takes no time to just say, "you're welcome." It fits every situation, you don't have to actually choose a response.
 
I'm going to try to come up with something new.

"You're welcome" is just so... weird.

Any ideas?
 
citizenzen said:
"You're Welcome"

I posted this phrase today and afterward wondered about its origins. It turns out that it wasn't popularized until the twentieth century. I searched to find what people said before "You're welcome" became popular but haven't found anything yet. Is there anybody here who could enlighten me?

Thank you.
Click to expand...

I asked my Russian teacher one day what the translation was for "you're welcome."

She replied, (paraphrasing) "Only smug westerners would say something like that like you did something great. If somebody thanks you, that's enough. No need to extend the conversation by getting the last word in."

So that's one person's opinion.

I usually just say "you bet", "no problem" or "no worries."
 
citizenzen said:
I'm going to try to come up with something new.

"You're welcome" is just so... weird.

Any ideas?
Click to expand...

What on earth is so weird about it? Of all the phrases that have murky etymology, that has to be among the most plainly obvious and apparent, considering the word welcome dates to antiquity (it appears in Beowulf), and has been in use—well, several uses and intents—since somewhere between the 8th & 12th centuries…

"Thank you (for x)."

"You are welcome (to x)."

As a specific phrase, you're talking about something that dates a wee bit further back than a century here:

Lodovico: "Madam, good night; I humbly thank your ladyship."
Desdemona: "Your honour is most welcome."

Othello, 1603
Wm. Shakespeare
 
JNB said:
What on earth is so weird about it?
Click to expand...

What's weird about it is that it's not a direct, clear response to the initial statement.


Think about it...

"Thank you for helping me across the street."

"It (helping you) was my pleasure."​


While "You're welcome" takes a roundabout way to say it...

"Thank you for helping me across the street."

"You are welcome to ask for my assistance (helping you) any time."​


It's far less straight forward... not to mention that many people mistakenly think it's "Your welcome."

What does THAT even mean?
 
Decrepit said:
I asked my Russian teacher one day what the translation was for "you're welcome."

She replied, (paraphrasing) "Only smug westerners would say something like that like you did something great. If somebody thanks you, that's enough. No need to extend the conversation by getting the last word in."

So that's one person's opinion.

I usually just say "you bet", "no problem" or "no worries."
Click to expand...

Thats incorrect, Пожалуйста is often used as please and you're welcome in Russian.
 
"De res" is my current favourite. It means both "it's nothing" and "it's something" simultaneously. How good is that? :cool:
 
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